STEM news

QCDA consulted on draft criteria for GCSEs in science subjects between Friday 19 June and Friday 11 September 2009.

A report on the consultation and the consultation versions of the draft GCSE subject criteria are available to download from the QCDA website.

http://www.qcda.gov.uk/21970.aspx (opens a new browser window)

The revisions to this criteria aimed to:

• update the content of GCSEs
• encourage innovative teaching, learning and assessment
• incorporate key elements of 14-19 curriculum developments
• ensure that the revised GCSEs complement the new Diplomas
• revise the assessment arrangements to provide stretch and challenge for all learners and make assessment less formulaic and predictable
• ensure that standards are maintained

The GCSE science criteria are the last subject criteria to be reviewed and new specifications for GCSEs in science subjects are due to start in September 2011.

Ofqual, together with its regulatory partners in Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA), has published new subject criteria for GCSE science subjects: science, additional science, additional applied science, biology, chemistry and physics.

One of the main purposes for developing the new criteria is to address actions from Ofqual's report:

Findings from the monitoring of the new GCSE science specifications: 2007 to 2008 (opens a new browser window)

This report was published in March 2009 and based on examinations offered by AQA, Edexcel and OCR. The changes to the criteria have addressed concerns expressed in the report about structural issues such as the significant variation found evident across the different specifications in the types of assessment used and the weightings allocated to them.

For more information about these criteria and the work that QCDA is doing on the mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills that candidates should be able to use in GCSE science subject courses please visit the link below:

http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/2627.aspx (opens a new browser window)

Download GCSE draft criteria for science:

GCSE subject criteria for science (opens a new browser window)

GCSE subject criteria for physics (opens a new browser window)

GCSE subject criteria for chemistry (opens a new browser window)

GCSE subject criteria for biology (opens a new browser window)

GCSE subject criteria for additional science (opens a new browser window)

GCSE subject criteria for additional applied science (opens a new browser window)