Ofqual launches consultation on GCSE Reform
Monday 26th September sees Ofqual launch a consultation into the implementation of reforms to GCSEs. The consultation covers the changes being made to current GCSE specifications.
Following the publication of the White Paper, The Importance of Teaching (2010), the Secretary of State for Education asked us how best to reform GCSEs so that exams are typically taken only at the end of the course and to advise on how mark schemes could take greater account of the importance of accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar in examinations. The White Paper also asked us to change the rules on re-sits to prevent students from re-sitting large numbers of units. Our advice to the Secretary of State was accepted in full.
The specifications for GCSEs are to be made linear rather than modular, and greater account will be taken of the accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in some subjects. The consultation will ask specific questions on how these changes will be implemented.
The consultation will take place from Monday 26th September until Friday 4th November.
Correspondence between Ofqual and the Secretary of State on the GCSE reforms can be found on our website at http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk.
We will publish the results of the consultation towards the end of the year. |
