Developing geology, politics and PE short course for 2017 teaching
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Assessment arrangements
When deciding on assessment arrangements for these subjects, we considered responses to our consultation and potential impacts of our decisions, in terms of regulatory burden and in relation to protected characteristics. Alongside this document, we publish an evaluation of responses to our consultation together with our assessments of potential impacts of our decisions.
Tiering
In line with our consultation proposals, we decided that GCSE physical education (short course) should not be tiered. In line with current practice, all reformed AS and A levels will be untiered.
Non-exam assessment
| Subject | Legacy GCSE | New GCSE | Legacy A level | New A level | Legacy AS level | New AS level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE short course | 60% | 40% | - | - | - | - |
| Geology | - | - | 20% to 30% | 0% † | 20% to 30% | 0% |
| Politics | - | - | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
† with a separately reported assessment of practical skills
Assessment Objectives
The majority of respondents were broadly supportive of our proposed assessment objectives and their relative weightings. We also received helpful suggestions to improve the clarity of our requirements in each subject. After considering the responses to our consultation, and reviewing the changes the DfE made to the content requirements following their consultation, we finalised the assessment objectives for the subjects on which we consulted. The final versions are set in the attached document.
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
In total, 25 valid consultation responses were analysed to inform this report, of which 24 were received in the form of completed questionnaires and one as a free-format email.
Of these, the majority (16) provided official (i.e. organisation-level) views and the remainder (9) provided personal views.
Most responses (19) were received in relation to AS and A level politics, with 4 attributable to AS and A level geography and four attributable to GCSE physical education (short course).
Based on responses to the Likert-scale questions (‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’), the majority of respondents agree with most of Ofqual’s proposals. These findings should be treated with caution given the low base number of respondents, especially for AS and A level geology and GCSE physical education – short course.
There are no clear patterns in the extent of agreement ordisagreement by ‘type’ of respondent. The main exception is GCSE physical education – short course, for which awarding organisations are generally favourable and representative bodies generally unfavourable with respect to the split of exam/non-exam assessment, as well as the appropriateness of the proposed assessment objectives. A number of specific suggestions have been given for enhancing the assessment objectives in certain subjects. These are set out in the main body of the report.
Original consultation
Consultation description
This is Ofqual’s third consultation about developing new GCSEs, AS and A levels for first teaching in September 2017.
The subjects covered in this consultation are:
| GCSE | AS and A level |
|---|---|
| Physical education (short course) | Geology |
| Politics |
The Department for Education is consulting on content for these subjects.
Documents
Updates to this page
Published 3 November 2015Last updated 1 March 2016 + show all updates
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Updated with the final outcome.
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First published.