OVERVIEW TIMELINE OF KEY EDUCATION REFORMS
(Click here to go the DfE mandatory timeline)
CURRICULUM TIMELINE
Academic
Year
2013-14 academic year
September 2013
2014-15 academic year
July 2014 September 2014
National
Curriculum
Disapplication of KS3 & KS4 current
national curriculum
Further info:
New national curriculum framework with
schools for planning purposes
2015-16 academic year
2016-17 academic year
July 2015 September 2015
First teaching of the majority of the new
national curriculum July 2016 September 2016
New national curriculum for English,
2017-18 academic year
July 2017 September 2017
July 2018
National
Curriculum
mathematics and science at KS4 to be
phased in
Further info:
DfE
GCSEs
Further info:
Ofqual
DfE
DfE
First teaching of the (current) revised
GCSE specifications for English literature
and history (reflecting changes required
by Ofqual)
Announcement that a student’s first
grade for a subject will count towards
school performance tables (with
immediate effect)
Specifications for new GCSEs in English
language, English literature and maths
with schools for planning purposes
Further info:
DfE
Ofqual
16-19 study
programmes
First teaching of 16-19 study
programmes
Further info:
DfE
Students required to study English and
maths towards GCSE A* to C if they did
not achieve it at the end of Year 11
Teaching of English and maths
qualifications to students who have not
achieved GCSE grade C becomes a
condition of 16-19 funding
First teaching of
the new,
standalone AS
qualification and
linear A levels in
the first group of
subjects
First exams for AS
as a linear,
standalone
qualification in the
first group of
subjects
Further info:
DfE
September 2013
July 2014 September 2014
2013-14 academic year
First exams for new
GCSEs in English
language, English
literature and
maths
First exams for new
GCSEs in other
subjects including
physics, chemistry,
biology, combined
science (double
award), history and
geography
GCSEs
First exams for
linear A levels in
the first group of
subjects
First exams for
linear A levels in
the second group
of subjects
A levels
First exams for
standalone, linear
AS qualification in
the second group
of subjects
Further info:
Ofqual
DfE
Further info:
DfE
Ofqual
16-19 study
programmes
Further info:
DfE
First teaching of redeveloped, high-value
vocational level 3 qualifications that meet
pre-defined characteristics (and reported
in the 2018 performance tables)
16-19
vocational
qualifications
Further info:
DfE
July 2015 September 2015
2014-15 academic year
First teaching of
the new,
standalone AS
qualification and
linear A levels in a
second group of
subjects
New high-quality ‘core maths’
qualifications will be introduced for
students who have passed GCSE and
want to continue to improve the
mathematics skills they need for further
education and work but don’t want to take
full AS or A level
Level 3 vocational qualifications taught
from this September (and reported in the
2016 performance tables) will be
categorised as either applied general or
technical level qualifications
16-19
vocational
qualifications
First teaching of
other new GCSEs
Ofqual will consult in the new year on the
principles for allowing subjects to be
included as GCSEs.
16-19 funding student-led rather than
qualification-led
November 2013
First teaching of new GCSEs in English
language, English literature and maths
The content for the remaining GCSEs will
be published in the spring
Specifications for the new AS and A
levels in the first group of subjects with
schools for planning purposes
A levels
Academic
Year
Academic
Year
July 2016 September 2016
2015-16 academic year
July 2017 September 2017
2016-17 academic year
July 2018
2017-18 academic year
Academic
Year
1
CURRICULUM HEADLINES
CURRICULUM HEADLINES
National
Curriculum
Further info:
DfE
GCSEs

There will be no national roll-out of training packages – schools will be expected to prioritise the use of their INSET days to help staff prepare.

Funding will be available for teaching schools to help other schools in their alliances.

Publishers and other providers are already producing new materials, and a number are organising events around the country.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership has produced an online tool for schools, while a number of government-funded programmes are available in specific subjects.
Following a recent consultation, Ofqual has confirmed some of the key features of new GCSEs in English literature, English language and maths to be introduced in England for first teaching from September 2015

Further info:
Ofqual
DfE
There will be a new 1-9 grading scale, with 9 being the top level. Students will get a U where performance is below the minimum required to pass the GCSE.
o
At the moment, no comparison can be made between the old grades and the new. Ofqual will be publishing proposals in December about where and how standards should be set.

Tiering will be used only for subjects where a lack of it would cause problems at either end of the ability range. Where tiering is used, the model will be decided on a subject-by-subject basis.

The GCSEs will be fully linear: content will not be divided into modules, and all assessment will be at the end.

Exams will be the default method of assessment, except where they cannot assess the skills with validity.
o
Ofqual will announce decisions on non-exam assessment on a subject-by-subject basis.
o
Exams will only be held in the summer, apart from English language and maths, where there will also be exams in November for students who were at least 16 on the preceding 31st August. Ofqual is considering whether
November exams should be available in other subjects for students of this age.

Ofqual will consult in the new year on the principles for allowing subjects to be included as GCSEs. The aim will not be to stop established subjects, but rather to make sure everyone is clear about what a GCSE is and is not.

New GCSEs in other subjects will be introduced from 2016.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has published the outcome of a consultation on subject content for the new GCSEs in English literature, English language and maths

The maths GCSE will provide greater coverage of key areas such as ratio, proportion and rates of change, and require students to apply their knowledge and reasoning to provide clear mathematical arguments.
o

The English language GCSE will ensure that students can read fluently and write effectively, and will have 20% of the marks awarded for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
o
A levels
Further info:
DfE
Ofqual
16-19 study
programmes
Further info:
DfE
November 2013
It will encourage the study of literature for those who do not take the English literature GCSE.

The English literature GCSE will involve students studying a range of whole texts in detail including Shakespeare, 19th-century novels, Romantic poetry and other high-quality fiction and drama.

The content for the remaining GCSEs will be published in spring 2014.
The DfE has published a consultation on proposals for A level subject content being made by awarding organisations, following a review by Professor Mark Smith. The closing date is 20 December

The review concluded that, of the 15 A levels originally considered, only maths could not be revised in time for first teaching in 2015.

The subjects covered by the consultation are: art & design; biology; business studies; chemistry; computing; economics; English language; English literature; English language and literature; geography; history; physics; psychology;
and sociology.
Ofqual has published a consultation on proposals to improve the way the same 14 A level qualifications are assessed in England. The closing date is 17 January

Subject-by-subject arrangements are designed to create a better balance between exams and coursework.

A levels will only include non-exam assessment where it is necessary in order to assess the required skills.
o
It will be designed to be manageable for schools while providing valid assessment.
o
Where it is used, the percentage of marks allocated to it will be fixed.

The proposals include details of the new AS qualification. Although stand alone, awarding organisations will be able to design the AS so that it can be taught alongside the first year of an A level course.

From September 2013, new 16-19 study programmes will be introduced, supported by changes to post-16 funding.

All students in full or part-time education aged 16 to 19 will be expected to follow a study programme tailored to their individual needs, education and employment goals, including students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

The English and mathematics requirement of study programmes means that students who have not achieved an A*-C GCSE in these subjects by age 16 will continue to study towards achieving them as a part of their 16-19 study
programmes. This requirement will be enforced by making the study of English and mathematics a condition of the student place being funded from September 2014.
16-19

vocational
qualifications 
Further info:
DfE
It will be more demanding and will probably require more teaching time than the current 116 hours a year.
Following consultation, three separate categories of 16-19 Level 3 qualifications are to be made available: ‘Tech-Levels’, suitable for a particular employment sector (and, from 2016, involving local employers in their delivery); Applied
General, providing progression into employment, an apprenticeship or HE; Academic.
In future, to be included in performance tables, vocational qualifications will need to comply with requirements on purpose, size, recognition by higher education institutions and employers, assessment, progression and track record.

In November 2013 the DfE will publish a list of vocational qualifications that meet new interim requirements and which will be taught from September 2014. They will be reported in the 2016 tables.

Awarding organisations will have until September 2015 to develop qualifications that meet the full requirements, which will be taught from 2016 and reported from 2018.

During the autumn term criteria for new ‘core’ maths qualifications will be published, to form part of a Technical Baccalaureate measure that will be introduced for teaching from September 2014.
2
OVERVIEW TIMELINE OF KEY EDUCATION REFORMS
(Click here to go the DfE mandatory timeline)
ACCOUNTABILITY TIMELINE
Academic
Year
2013-14 academic year
September 2013
(30 November)
KS4
accountability Publication of the
Further
information:
Gov.UK
DfE
DfE 14-16
qualifications
list of qualifications
that will be
included in the
2016 KS4
performance tables
2014-15 academic year
July 2014 September 2014
A maximum of 2
approved
vocational
qualifications count
in KS4
performance tables
A student’s first
grade for a subject
will count towards
school
performance tables
(November)
Publication of the
list of qualifications
that will be
included in the
2017 KS4
performance tables
July 2015 September 2015
50% floor standard
for 5 A*-C incl
E&M
Opportunity for
schools to opt-in to
new accountability
measures
(Progress 8, etc.)
one year early
Consultation on changes to the existing
KS5
accountability accountability arrangements for
(November) Publication of list of high
value vocational qualifications that will be
reported in 2017 performance tables
Further
information:
Gov.UK
DfE Tech Bacc
Technical Baccalaureate performance
measure introduced alongside the
teaching of qualifications
Academic
Year
providers of 16 to 19 education and
training in England.
(30 November) Publication of list of high
value vocational qualifications that will be
reported in 2016 performance tables
September 2013
July 2014 September 2014
2013-14 academic year
2015-16 academic year
2014-15 academic year
July 2016 September 2016
(November)
Publication of the
list of qualifications
that will be included
in the 2018 KS4
performance tables
KS4 performance
tables to reflect
new accountability
measures
(Progress 8, etc.)
(November)
Publication of list of
high value
vocational
qualifications that
will be reported in
2018 performance
tables
Technical
Baccalaureate
performance
measure reported
in performance
tables
July 2015 September 2015
2016-17 academic year
2017-18 academic year
July 2017 September 2017
Academic
Year
July 2018
KS4
accountability
Further
information:
Gov.UK
DfE
DfE 14-16
qualifications
(To be confirmed)
KS5 performance
tables to reflect
new accountability
measures for Level
2 and Level 3 (Top
line measures, etc)
July 2016 September 2016
2015-16 academic year
KS5
accountability
Further
information:
Gov.UK
DfE Tech Bacc
July 2017 September 2017
2016-17 academic year
July 2018
2017-18 academic year
Academic
Year
OTHER
Academic
Year
2013-14 academic year
September 2013
July 2014 September 2014
Raising the
Participation
Age (RPA)
Current year 12 students required to
participate until the end of the academic
year in which they turn 17
Further
information:
DfE
Current year 11 students required to
participate until their 18th birthday
Careers
Guidance
Duty to secure independent careers
guidance extended to include Years 8 to
13 pupils in schools and 16- to 18-yearsolds in FE settings
Further
information:
DfE
Academic
Year
November 2013
2014-15 academic year
2015-16 academic year
July 2015 September 2015
2016-17 academic year
July 2016 September 2016
Young people participating until their 18
birthday
2017-18 academic year
July 2017 September 2017
July 2018
th
Raising the
Participation
Age (RPA)
Further
information:
DfE
All education and training institutions
required to promote the good attendance
of 16-year-olds.
Careers
Guidance
Further
information:
(Autumn) Publication of revised statutory
guidance for schools and colleges
September 2013
DfE
July 2014 September 2014
2013-14 academic year
Academic
Year
July 2015 September 2015
2014-15 academic year
July 2016 September 2016
2015-16 academic year
July 2017 September 2017
2016-17 academic year
July 2018
2017-18 academic year
Academic
Year
3
ACCOUNTABILITY HEADLINES
ACCOUNTABILITY HEADLINES
KEY STAGE 4
We will require schools to publish a range of important information on their website so that parents can easily see
how well each school is performing. The indicators are:
Progress across a suite of 8 subjects
This will show whether pupils have performed better than expected at the end of Key stage 4 considering their
starting point. Key stage 2 results will be used to predict each pupil’s likely grades across 8 subjects at the end of
Key stage 4. The predicted results are calculated using the actual performance of other pupils with the same prior
attainment. For example, pupils with a point score of 29 on their Key stage 2 tests achieve, on average, 8 C
grades at GCSE. If a pupil with this level of prior attainment achieves 8 B grades in a GCSE then she has made an
average of one grade more progress than expected. The average of all pupils’ progress scores across 8 subjects
will create a school’s result.
Attainment across 8 subjects
This will show the school’s average grade across the same suite of 8 subjects as the progress measure. This will
show achievement across a broad curriculum in a clear way. This will show, for example, that pupils in a particular
school typically average a high B grade or a low D grade in their GCSEs. We are calling this measure ‘Attainment
8’.
The percentage of pupils achieving a C grade or better in English and maths
This shows whether pupils achieve a good level in the most important subjects.
The EBacc
This will continue to show the percentage of pupils who achieve good grades in a range of academic subjects.
We would also like to include a destination measure as a fifth headline indicator. This will show the percentage of
pupils who went on to sustained education, employment or training during the year after they finished their Key
stage 4 qualifications. We currently publish experimental statistics to show this information. We want to be sure
the statistics are robust before committing to using this destination measure as a headline indicator.
We will require schools to make these headline indicators available in a standard format so they are easy to
interpret. So that parents can make comparisons between schools, we would like to show each school’s position in
the country on these measures and present these results in a manner that is clear for all audiences to understand.
We will discuss how best to do so with stakeholders, to ensure the presentation of the data is clear, fair and
statistically robust.
Two of these indicators of school performance – Progress 8 and Attainment 8 – are based on pupils’ performance
across 8 subjects. These subjects are:

a double weighted English element (the English Language qualification will count for this element, but will only
be double weighted if the pupil has also taken English Literature);

a double weighted maths element;

three slots reserved for other EBacc subjects (sciences, computer science, geography, history and languages);

three slots that can be taken up by further qualifications from the range of EBacc subjects, or any other high
value arts, academic, or vocational qualification. The DfE will produce a list of approved, high value vocational
qualifications every year. English Literature will count in this group of subjects.
KEY STAGE 5
1. The DfE is consulting on proposed changes to the accountability arrangements for providers of 16-19 education
and training in England, including performance tables and minimum standards for provision both at level 2 (for
the first time for 16-19 providers) and at level 3.
2. The changes are intended to help parents, students and inspectors to understand the quality of provision
through a combination of:

top line data giving a snapshot of a provider’s overall performance, and

additional data on specific areas of the provider’s performance (eg. particular types of course or particular
students).
3. Level 2 – proposed 5 top line performance measures:

a combined completion and attainment measure comparing a provider's attainment in each subject to the
national average performance in that subject with non-completion shown as a failure;

absolute attainment measures showing the average level of attainment of students at level 2;

proportions studying substantial vocational qualifications showing the percentages of students studying
these high quality qualifications;

destination measures showing where students have gone after leaving an institution; and

completion measures showing how many students who start a course are retained until the end of the
course.
4. Level 3 – proposed 5 top line performance measures:

a progress measure showing the progress of similar students nationally who, according to their results at
the end of Key Stage 4, were of the same level of ability;

a combined attainment and completion measure comparing a provider's attainment in each subject to the
national average performance in that subject with non-completion shown as a failure;

absolute attainment measures showing the average level of attainment at level 3;

destination measures showing where students have gone after leaving an institution; and

completion measures showing how many students who start a course are retained until the end of the
course.
We will continue to set minimum requirements for schools. If a school’s performance falls below this minimum
standard, then the school will come under scrutiny through inspection. In some cases intervention may be required,
and could result in the school becoming a sponsored academy.
The minimum requirement will be set on the Progress 8 measure. This measure will be used because it takes into
account each school’s intake, and so is the fairest way to identify an underperforming school. It rightly focuses
attention on schools which are contributing least to the development of their pupils.
November 2013
4
OFQUAL’S REFORM TIMETABLE (cut and pasted from the Ofqual website)
Date
Current GCSEs
New GCSEs
A levels
Academic year 2012/13
Final summer exams of unitised (modular) GCSEs.
Marks awarded for spelling, punctuation and grammar
June 2013
in English literature, history, geography and religious
studies exams.
Consultation on reformed GCSEs
July 2013
Consultation on reformed GCSEs
August
2013
Results for final, unitised (modular) GCSEs. First
results for the new biology, chemistry, physics and
additional science GCSEs.
Consultation on reformed GCSEs
Academic year 2013/14
September First teaching of the new specifications for history and
English literature.
2013
Consultation on new A level
requirements (ends 17 January 2014)
October
2013
Final re-sits for unitised (modular) GCSEs in maths,
November
English and English language. All students must ‘cash
2013
in’ results for certificates.
Publication of the design details of new
GCSEs.
Technical consultation on the
implementation of GCSE reforms.
Consultation on new A level
requirements.
December
2013
January
2014
Consultation on new A level
requirements.
No exams.
No exams.
Results for final re-sits for unitised (modular) GCSEs in
maths, English and English language.
Consultation on new A level
requirements ends.
March 2014 No exams.
All exams & assessments for GCSEs in this series. New
GCSE
geography exams. All students must ‘cash in’
June 2014
results for certificates.
August
2014
First results for linear GCSEs (where the exam is at the
end of the course) including the new geography GCSE.
Academic year 2014/15
Specifications for new GCSEs in English
Specifications for the new AS and A
language, English literature and maths with levels in the first group of subjects with
schools from September 2014 onwards.
schools from September 2014 onwards.
September
2014
Resit exams for linear maths, English and English
November
language only. All students must ‘cash in’ results for
2014
certificates.
January
2015
Results for November’s re-sits in linear maths, English
and English language.
June 2015 First new history and English literature exams.
August
2015
First results from new history and English literature
GCSEs.
Academic year 2015/16
First teaching of new GCSEs in English
language, English literature and maths.
September
2015
June 2016
August
2016
Final exams for current GCSEs in English, English
language, English literature, maths.
Final results for the above GCSEs.
First teaching of the new, standalone AS
qualification and linear A levels in the
first group of subjects.
Last exams for unitised (modular) AS
and A levels in the first group of
subjects.
First exams for AS as a linear,
standalone qualification in the first group
of subjects.
Last results for unitised (modular) AS
and A levels in the first group of
subjects.
First results for linear, standalone AS in
the first group of subjects.
5
OFQUAL’S REFORM TIMETABLE (cut and pasted from the Ofqual website)
Academic year 2016/17
September
2016
First teaching of other new GCSEs.
Teaching of linear AS and A levels
in a second group of subjects.
November Last chance to re-sit maths, English and English
language exams.
2016
Final exams for many current GCSEs including
May/June biology, chemistry, physics, science, additional
science, additional applied science, history and
2017
geography.
First exams for new GCSEs in English language,
English literature and maths.
First exams for new A levels in the
first group of subjects.
First exams for standalone, linear
AS qualification in the second
group of subjects.
First results for new A levels in the
first group of subjects.
August
2017
First results for new GCSEs in English language,
English literature and maths.
First results for standalone, linear
AS levels in the second group of
qualifications.
Last results for unitised (modular)
AS and A levels in the second
group of subjects
Academic year 2017/18
November
2017
Opportunity to take new GCSEs in English
language and maths (for students who were 16 or
over on 31st August 2017).1
May/June
2018
First exams of new GCSEs in other subjects
including physics, chemistry, biology, combined
science (double award), history and geography.
First exams for linear A levels in
the second group of subjects.
August
2018
First results of new GCSEs in other subjects
including physics, chemistry, biology, combined
science (double award), history and geography.
First results for linear A levels in
the second group of subjects.
November
2018
1
Opportunity to take new GCSEs in English
language and maths (for students who were 16 or
over on 31st August 2018).
We are still considering whether November exams should be available in other subjects for students of this age.
6