Consultation outcome

GCSE reform: regulations for computer science

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 17 February 2015
• Last updated: 4 August 2015 — See all updates

Applies to England and Northern Ireland

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

GCSE Computer Science: Decisions on Conditions and Guidance

Ref: Ofqual/15/5748

PDF, 220 KB, 3 pages

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Analysis of Responses to our Consultation on Conditions and Guidance for GCSE Computer Science

Ref: Ofqual/15/5749

PDF, 419 KB, 14 pages

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Detail of outcome

We have decided to adopt some of our proposed rules and guidance for reformed GCSEs in computer science. We have also made a number of changes to reflect concerns raised in response to our consultation. In particular, we have:

• changed our approach to setting non-exam assessment tasks - we will now permit exam boards to set tasks themselves, as well as approaches that use teacher-set tasks
• decided not to make exam boards use statistical moderation at this time - we will instead carry out further work to determine the controls (and support for teachers) that will be needed to ensure the non-exam assessment in GCSE computer science provides a reliable indication of students’ programming abilities

We have already published our:

• GCSE (9 to 1) Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Computer Science
• GCSE (9 to 1) Subject Level Guidance for Computer Science

Our new rules will require reformed GCSEs in computer science to:

• comply with the Department for Education’s subject content for GCSE computer science, and with our assessment objectives
• assess programming skills through non-exam assessment (weighted at 20% of total marks) - requiring students to complete a programming project of around 20 hours, evidenced by the completed program and a written report

Our guidance explains how awarding organisations should interpret our assessment objectives.

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Original consultation

Summary

Proposed regulations and guidance for the design, delivery and award of new computer science GCSEs.

This consultation ran from
11am on 17 February 2015 to 11:45pm on 16 March 2015

Consultation description

This consultation is about the rules and guidance we need to put in place for new GCSEs in computer science. These rules will apply to the exam boards that want to offer new computer science GCSEs from September 2016. This is part of Ofqual’s work supporting the government’s changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels.

Documents

GCSE Computer Science Consultation on Conditions and Guidance

Ref: Ofqual/15/5620

PDF, 428 KB, 34 pages

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Published 17 February 2015
Last updated 4 August 2015 + show all updates

1. 4 August 2015

   Published consultation outcome

2. 17 February 2015

   First published.