BTEC & A-level
qualifications: An
Update
David MacKay
27 November 2013
Content of presentation
2
1.
GCSE reforms
2.
A level reforms
3.
16-19 vocational qualification reforms
4.
Drivers: 16-19 study programmes, funding and
accountability measures
Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
GCSE reforms
3
Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
GCSE review – timetable for GCSE subjects
First teaching 2015/first results 2017
•
English language, English literature and mathematics
First teaching 2016/first results 2018
4
•
The sciences, history, geography and languages
•
Other subjects? – Ofqual consultation in the New Year to
establish principles for determining which other subjects
should be allowed as GCSEs
Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Changes to be made to GCSEs
•
A fully linear structure, with all assessment at the end of the course
and content not divided into modules
•
Exams as the default method of assessment, except where they
cannot provide valid assessment of the skills required. Non-exam
assessment on a subject-by-subject basis
•
Tiering to be used only in exceptional cases. It will be decided on a
subject-by-subject basis
•
A new 1–9 grading scale, with 9 being the top level
•
DfE consulted on content for named phase 1/2 subjects in the
summer – revised content and assessment objectives now published
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gcse-subject-contentand-assessment-objectives
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Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
The new grading system and the GCSE standard
6
•
The new qualifications will be significantly different and
the new grading scale will make this clear
•
Currently there is a “bunching” of grades as most
students are awarded grades B, C and D. Adding in an
extra grade will improve the spread of grades in this area
and provide better discrimination
•
Having 9 grades will avoid the risk of people mapping
new grades to old grades
•
Consultation proposals will be out for consultation in
December on how the new GCSE standard should be set
Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Arrangements for the 2015 subjects
•
English language:
o untiered
o fully
assessed by an external exam
o as now, a speaking assessment that will be reported separately.
•
English literature:
o untiered
o assessed
•
by external exam only;
Mathematics:
o Tiered
with an improved overlapping tiers model – foundation tier
covering grades 1-5 and higher tier covering grades 4-9
o assessed by external exam only, as now.
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Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
A level reforms
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Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
A level developments:
decisions made autumn 2012
●A
levels to be linear
● AS
levels to be linear, stand-alone and at the same level
as at present
● The
content of the AS could be a subset of the A level
content to allow coteachability with the A level
● No
common elements of assessment – i.e. scores on the
AS assessments will not contribute to the A level
● Removal
9
of the January series from 2014 onwards
Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Further developments since autumn
2012: the Smith Review
Professor Mark Smith of the University of Lancaster was invited to independently review
the inter-awarding body proposals for each subject and, following some additional work,
submitted his report including an outline of all of the changes needed to the subject
criteria for each of the subjects under review
DfE and Ofqual announced the timeline for development of each subject:
Subjects for phase 1 (first teaching from September 2015):
art and design; biology; business studies; chemistry; computer science; economics;
English language; English literature; English language and literature; geography;
history; physics; psychology; and sociology.
Subjects for phase 2 (first teaching from September 2016):
mathematics; further mathematics; languages + other subjects to be confirmed
10 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Phase 1 consultation
There are two consultations currently under way:
− DfE
is consulting on the content proposals.
https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consult
ationDetails&consultationId=1934&external=no&menu=1
– Launch date: 25 October 2013
– Closing date: 20 December 2013
− Ofqual
is consulting on the technical issues relating to structure and
assessment
http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/a-level-regulatory-requirementsoctober-2013/
– Launch date: 25 October 2013
– Closing date: 17 January 2014
11 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Specific proposals in the DfE consultations - Content
•
AS content generally nested in the A level content
•
AS/A level content updated
•
Computing now ‘Computer Science’ – computational thinking skills
•
English Literature – A level requires study of a minimum of 8 texts:
at least 3 pre-1900 works (1 Shakespeare play); a post-2000 work;
unseen text – AS 4 texts, one pre-1900
•
Geography – ‘coursework’ added; new annex of quantitative skills
•
History – A level students to study topics from a chronological range
of at least 200 years (including one 100-year period); 20% British
•
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology – mathematical
requirements revised with exemplifications; appendix of
requirements for working scientifically
12 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Assessment proposals in the Ofqual consultation
Subject
Current % coursework
Proposed
Additional assessment
Biology
20–30%
100% exam
Yes of practical skills
Chemistry
20–30%
100% exam
Yes of practical skills
Physics
20–30%
100% exam
Yes of practical skills
Psychology
None
100% exam
No
English Language
15–40%
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
English Literature
15–40%
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
English Lang. and Literature
15–40%
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
History
15–20%
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
Geography
None
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
Art and design
100%
100% non-exam
No
Business
None
100% exam
No
Computing
15–40%
80% exam, 20% non-exam No
Economics
None
100% exam
No
Sociology
None
100% exam
No
13 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Ofqual proposals – question types
“Taken together, assessments should include questions or tasks which
allow learners to:
(a) provide extended responses
(b) demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of
knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across a full course of
study for that qualification,
and that learners are appropriately rewarded for doing so.”
“An ‘extended response’ is evidence generated by a Learner which is
of sufficient length to allow that Learner to demonstrate the ability to
construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent,
relevant, comprehensive and logically structured.”
14 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Specific proposals in the Ofqual consultation standard
•
“The grading standard of the new A levels and AS qualifications will
not be different from that of the current versions and despite the
changes, we are proposing A levels and AS qualifications will remain
substantially the same qualifications as at present. The exam boards
that are already recognised to award A levels and AS qualifications
will therefore continue to be recognised to award the new versions of
the qualifications.”
•
“There will no longer be a need for [A level] assessments to be at
different levels of demand. All A level assessments must therefore be
at the same level of demand – the level of demand of the
assessments now taken by A level students at the end of the course”
15 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
A Level Content Advisory Board (ALCAB)
The ALCAB will seek to advise and inform Ofqual of the views of Russell Group
institutions, and others within the Higher Education Sector, on the content of
A levels.
The guidance from this group will focus on the subjects categorised by the
Russell Group as facilitating for entry to leading universities. Its first task will
be to review Maths, Further Maths and Languages
It will contribute to the Ofqual annual review of A levels.
Facilitating subjects to be reviewed by ALCAB
Mathematics
Physics
Further Mathematics
Geography
English Literature
History
Biology
Modern Languages
Chemistry
Classical Languages
16 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
16-19 vocational qualification reforms
17 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
New categories of vocational qualifications
There will be two categories of vocational qualifications for 1619 year olds:
Technical Level
• Applied General
•
“Technical Level Qualifications are for students wishing to
specialise in a technical occupation or occupational group. They
will equip a student with specialist knowledge and skills,
enabling entry to employment or an Apprenticeship in that
occupational group or progression to a related further or higher
education course. In some cases they can provide a ‘licence to
practise’ or exemption from professional exams.”
18 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
“Applied General Qualifications are for students wishing to
continue their general education at advanced level through applied
learning. They equip a student with transferable knowledge and skills.
They will fulfil entry requirements for a range of higher education
courses, either by meeting entry requirements in their own right or
being accepted alongside other qualifications at the same level. They
may also enable entry to employment or an Apprenticeship.”
19 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Characteristics that level 3 vocational qualifications
must demonstrate
Interim
requirements
(Reporting
2016)
Full
requirements
(Reporting
2018)
A. Declared Purpose
X
X
B. Size (AG 150; TL 300)
X
X
C. Recognition (HE/employers)
X
X
Characteristic
D. Synoptic Assessment
X
E. External Assessment
X
F. Grading
X
G. Employer involvement (Technical
Level Qualifications only)
X
H. Progression
X
I. Proven Track Record
X
20 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
E: External assessment
Ofqual definition of external assessment:
“A form of independent assessment in which question papers,
assignments and tasks are set by the awarding organisation, taken
under specified conditions (including details of supervision and
duration) and marked by the awarding organisation.”
DfE expects, as a minimum, for both Technical Level and Applied
General Qualifications:
•
“all knowledge and understanding to be subject to external
assessment (for Applied General Qualifications this should make up
the majority of the qualification’s content)
•
all internal assessments of skills-based content to be subject to
external moderation.”
21 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
BTEC Nationals – first teaching 2014 for 2016
Performance Tables
•
We have submitted 187 QCF BTEC Nationals (including
some WBL) for the first list of approved qualifications –
confirmation due 2nd week of December
• All
QCF Certificates(150 GLH) have been submitted as
‘Applied General’ qualifications because they are fewer
than 300 GLH.
• All
QCF Sub-Diplomas, Diplomas, 90-credit Diplomas and
Extended Diplomas have been submitted as ‘Technical
Levels’
22 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Review of BTEC Nationals – for first teaching 2016
for 2018 Performance Tables
•
Being reviewed to meet all 9 criteria for 2018 Performance Tables
•
Revised qualifications will be on the NQF
•
External Sector Advisory Group set up for each subject – employer,
HE, professional body and teacher representation
•
Employers to be involved in setting assignments
•
Pearson World Class Qualification methodology being used
•
o
demanding, rigorous, inclusive, empowering
o
benchmarked against high performing jurisdictions
o
signed off by panel of experts from around the world
First teaching September 2016
23 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Drivers: 16-19 study programmes, funding and
accountability proposals
24 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
16-19 Study Programmes (Sept 2013 on)
All students will take:
• an
A level or ‘substantial’ vocational qualification which is
recognised by employers and HE
• Work
experience where appropriate
• GCSE
Mathematics and English if not already achieved at
grade C
25 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
16-19 funding
•
The new funding system for 16-18 year olds being
introduced from August 2013 is based on a standard sum
per student rather than an amount per qualification
•
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) expects that the
average for full time student programmes will be 600
hours, and has set the funding rate on this basis
•
The national funding rate for 2013/14 is £4000 per
student
26 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
16-19 accountability measures
proposals
A DfE consultation on proposals for accountability
measures for courses to be reported in performance tables
in 2016 ran from 12 Sept 2013 to 20 Nov 2013.
Proposals are for those taking level 2 as well as level 3.
27 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Level 2 qualifications – DfE statement
“We expect the majority of students studying at level 2 will
either be retaking qualifications like GCSE mathematics and
English or will be taking substantial vocational qualifications.
Level 2 substantial vocational qualifications are large
qualifications which provide the knowledge and skills necessary
to enter a particular trade or skilled occupation e.g. plumbing.
We plan to establish an approved list of level 2 substantial
vocational qualifications that will be recognised within
performance tables.
We propose that this list will apply to students starting level 2
courses in September 2015.”
28 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Accountability measures proposals
Five Top Line performance measures at level 3:
•
A level/applied general: a progress measure showing the progress
of similar students nationally who, according to their results at Key
Stage 4, were of the same level of ability (min standards set)
•
Tech level/level 2: 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 (minimum standards to be set)
•
All quals: absolute attainment measures showing the average
level of attainment at level 3
•
All quals: destination measures showing where students have
gone after leaving an institution
•
All quals: completion measures showing how many students who
start a course are retained until the end of the course
29 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13
Accountability measures proposals –
additional measures at level 3
•
AAB in 2 or 3 facilitating subjects at A level
•
A Tech Bacc measure
An approved L3 Technical Level qualification
o Core mathematics (an approved L3 maths qual)
o The Extended Project Qualification
o
•
Closing the Gap measures (attainment by those in receipt
of pupil premium)
•
Attainment of an approved level 3 mathematics
qualification
30 Qualifications reform update – 27.11.13