Summer Qualification Awarding Season Parliamentarian Briefing

16 May 2011

Welcome

Sandra Burslem, Deputy Chair

Setting the scene

Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive

Ofqual’s approach to regulation

Fiona Pethick, Director of Regulation

Maintaining standards in the Summer 2011 GCSEs and A levels

Dennis Opposs, Director of Standards

Summer 2010 A levels – grades A and A*

2008 2009 2010

Grade A Grade A Grade A Grade A*

AS 18.7% 19.5% 19.4%

A level 25.9% 26.7% 27.0% 7.1%

Timetable for awards of new GCSEs

2011 – All subjects except English, mathematics, ICT and the sciences

2012 – English, English language, English literature, mathematics and ICT

2013 – Science, additional science, biology, chemistry and physics

Summer 2010 and 2011 – principles

Consistent standards between years

Consistent standards across awarding organisations

Candidates should not be advantaged or disadvantaged by sitting new syllabuses

Proactive approach

Intervene if necessary before results are issued

Changes to GCSEs in 2011

For all subjects except English, mathematics, ICT and the sciences

Most syllabuses unitised– No more than four units– No unit smaller than 20% of the GCSE

Only one re-sit per unit allowed…

…subject to meeting the ‘terminal rule’ (at least 40% of the assessment at the end)

Units available up to twice a year, in January and June

GCSE Geography – an example

Summer 2010 Paper 1 (1h 45m) – written exam on compulsory content – 45%

Paper 2 (1h 15m) – written exam on optional content – 30%

Coursework – 25%

Summer 2011 Unit 1 (1h) – written exam on compulsory content – 25%

Unit 2 (1h) – written exam on optional content – 25%

Unit 3 (1h) – written exam on optional content – 25%

Unit 4 – controlled assessment – 25%

Before results days

AUGUST 2011Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

GCE results

GCSE results

Our key activities in summer 2011

New GCSEs

AS and A levels (including A* grade)

Diploma qualifications

Key Stage 2 tests

Question and answer session

Sandra Burslem (Chair)

Glenys Stacey

Dennis Opposs

Fiona Pethick

Closing remarks

Glenys Stacey