 The first teaching of revised A levels is due to start in September 2008.
These revised courses are designed to reduce the assessment burden on
teachers and learners. To achieve this, the majority of A level qualifications
will be reduced from six to four units, with some exceptions in the Sciences,
Music, Modern Languages and Maths. As part of the redevelopment there
will also be the introduction of 'stretch and challenger' to allow the
most able learners to demonstrate their full potential. Draft specifications
and specification overviews are now available at: www.ocr.org.uk/14-19alevels
The 14-19 Education and Skills white paper (2005) introduced Functional
Skills in English, Mathematics and ICT to address the concerns of employers
that people and adults are not achieving a firm grounding in the 'basics'.
The White Paper also stated that candidates' achievement in GCSE English,
Mathematics and ICT at grade C or above would not be possible without
the achievement of Functional Skills at level 2 in these subjects. The
achievement of Functional Skills will be a requirement for Specialised
Diplomas (in fact functional English and mathematics will be mandatory
components of the generic learning of the Specialised Diploma). The Functional
Skills will also be available as stand-alone qualifications that are
likely to replace the basic skills and key skills qualifications in due
course.
The Qualifications and Curriculum authority (QCA) recently contracted
a range of awarding bodies to test the standards and possible assessment
approaches for Functional Skills in a variety of learning contexts.
In the world of NVQs a number of new developments will be introduced
over the coming months resulting from the Foster Report (2005) which identified
the unnecessary bureaucracy experienced by centres that have to deal with
several different awarding body systems.
QCA recently issued a revised NVQ Code of Practice. There are no fundamental
changes to the Code, but the revisions are designed to improve the quality
of the document. Centres will no longer be graded following External Verifier
visits. Instead, centre performance will be monitored through the application
of the 'tariff of sanctions". Stand-alone system audits will cease
to exist and there will soon be a single External Verifier report form.
The QCA website as well as those of exam bodies will provide further
information on all 14-19 developments and changes
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