Autumn 2016 - Exams Officer Network Update - Scomis
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Autumn 2016 Exams Officer Network Update
The Customer Support Team – Delivering Local Support
Rachel Smith Nicola Claydon
Customer Support Manager Customer Support Manager
North East & Yorkshire & Humber London and East Anglia
T: 07834 601494 T: 07850 922411
E: rachel.smith@ocr.org.uk E: nicola.claydon@ocr.org.uk
Paul Jones “I am currently on maternity leave, however my colleague
Customer Support Manager Helen O’Leary will be on hand as much as possible to offer
North West and West Midlands support to you and attend networks in my absence. I will be
T: 07753 935637 returning Summer 2017.” Nikki Claydon
E: paul.jones@ocr.org.uk
Gail White
Helen O’Leary
Customer Support Manager
Senior Customer Support Manager
East Midlands
T: 07740 718235
T: 07809 594437
E: helen.oleary@ocr.org.uk
E: gail.white@ocr.org.uk
Alison Leather Jane Parsons
Customer Support Manager Customer Support & Regional Account Manager
South East South West
T: 07894 598460 T: 07711 466337
E: alison.leather@ocr.org.uk E: jane.parsons@ocr.org.uk
1|Page
OCR Customer Support
Essential Reading Teacher Networks
Keep up to date with the latest information, tips and reminders with our monthly Do your teaching colleagues need information or support?
publications - the Exams Officer Update newsletter and Subject Information
Updates. Your teaching colleagues can sign up to receive the subject updates We run free regional network meetings for teachers of our new GCSE and AS/A
direct. Level specifications. Led by our Subject Specialists, and held each term, these
support networks will give your colleagues the opportunity to hear the latest
In addition, our regular policy newsletter will keep you up to date with the latest news, discuss teaching specifications and resources and connect with other
educational news. teachers.
Social Media Training
Follow us on Twitter @OCRCustSupport. We post lots of useful tips, Cambridge Technicals and Cambridge Nationals
information and reminders. We are running Live Online Training Events (LOTES) for Cambridge Technicals
(new 2016 suite, available for first teaching from September 2016) and
OCR is active on the Exams Officer UK Facebook page. If you need to Cambridge Nationals qualifications. The free sessions will be held each term and
ask us a question simply tag Helen Hand at OCR for a response. will provide live, interactive training opportunities each focused on a specific
admin topic or area. Log in to the OCR CPD Hub or email cpdhub@ocr.org.uk to
find out more.
Support Videos New Exams Officers
Support videos on a variety of topics are available to view. These include guides We’re working with Exams Training (set up by the founders of The Exams Office)
to the examining process, onscreen testing and the new A Level Science Practical to deliver a series of training events for new exams officers in March 2017. These
Endorsement. Have a look at the videos on offer here. ‘Spring into Summer’ events are designed for those who have been in post for
less than 12 months and those requiring a ‘refresher’ course. The training will
Customer Support Blogs prepare exams officers for the summer 2017 series and provide comprehensive
Take a look at our regular blog posts which cover a range of useful topics – for support around the main exam-related tasks and activities relating to GCSEs and
example we recently published a blog on how the new GCSEs (9-1) will be graded. A Levels. More details (including how to book) are available via the Exams
Click here to access this particular post. Training website. OCR centres and members of The Exams Office can attend at a
discounted rate of £145 - www.examstraining.org.
Exams Officer Networks
We are actively engaged in exams officer network meetings around the country Contacting OCR
and continue to work with The Exams Office to support the exams The ‘Contact us’ page on the website now reflects different customer roles. There
officer community by providing information about local meetings. are specific links for Exams Officers and Centre Administrators - click here to view
A free-to-access map of local network groups is available from The the page. In addition we are trialling a new service – web chat. This is available
Exams Office website - click on the map (left) to view. from the Customer Contact Centre page of the OCR website.
2|PageExams Officer Organisations TEO Professional Development Conferences 2017
Membership Organisations The dates of the 2016/17 TEO National Conferences have been announced.
There are two independent organisations providing support for exams officers. Members will be forwarded booking details for the January conferences in
You may find it useful to explore what they can offer. October - the booking window opens in November.
Members of TEO can attend the January and summer conferences FREE of charge
as part of their membership. Non-members can also attend if capacity allows (a
The Examination Officers’ Association (EOA) fee will be charged).
supports the professional development of exam office personnel working in
centres throughout the UK. Find out more here - www.examofficers.org.uk.
Professional Development Conferences 2017
The Exams Office (TEO) offers comprehensive Dates
support for exams officers and data managers. OCR
works collaboratively with TEO to provide support for January
the exams community - www.theexamsoffice.org. OCR centres can join for a
discounted price of £125 per annum.
Leeds 13 January 2017
Support and services available include: Birmingham 20 January 2017
Exams and education updates – free to access for non-members
A new newsletter produced in association with JCQ and leading awarding
London 30 January 2017
bodies (issued September & March) - free to access for non-members
Exam policy templates (updated for 2016/17 and available mid-October) Summer
JCQ latest news and guidance – free to access for non-members
Ofqual page with latest news – free to access for non-members London 3 July 2017
Professional Development Plan (PDP) and New Exams Officer Induction
Programme – free to access for non-members
Exams timetable tool
Key dates calendar tool - free to access for non-members
Exams support documents
TEO are expanding their support by attending JCQ and Ofqual meetings and
forums.
3|PageOCR Admin Updates and News
Key Dates June 2016 Series Certificate Despatch
Key dates for OCR’s qualifications are all available from the updated key dates You’ll receive certificates from the June 2016 series by 7 November 2016. We’ve
and timetables page of our website. You can use our online tool to search (by made the latest you can receive them slightly later than originally published so
type, month and/or series) for key dates for general qualifications and Cambridge that any final deliveries don’t arrive during the October half term.
Nationals or use our new spreadsheet if you want a printable/wall planner
version. If you have any outstanding enquiries about results, certificates for these
candidates won’t be included in the main despatch and will be sent separately
Estimated Entries once the enquiry has been resolved.
Submit these via Interchange. The deadlines are:
Update Your NCN Record
January 2017 series – 21 September 2016
During the first week of October the annual NCN update email will be issued. This
June 2017 series – 10 October 2016 is crucial in providing the JCQ with updated centre information and ensuring your
centre receives all necessary communication.
Estimated entries are required for Cambridge Nationals – these qualifications are
available in the January series. This year you’ll see there’s a more detailed ‘declaration’ which has to be
approved by your Head of Centre. Your Head of Centre must confirm they are
Interchange Top Tip aware of (and adhering to) the latest versions of the JCQ regulations, and the
Selecting ‘Entry estimates’ from the drop-down menu in ‘Restrict search’ will relevant exam board specifications and guidelines.This also avoids the need for
limit the search to show your rolled over final entry data only. Leave individual awarding bodies to have separate declarations for the new A Level
‘Qualification type’ set at ‘All’ and the ‘Search subjects’ box blank. Science practical activities and the new GCSE English Language Spoken Language
endorsements.
Basedata The deadline for returning the update is 31 October 2016.
The publication schedules for the 2016/17 basedata files are available from the
OCR website. The release dates for general qualifications and Cambridge Internal Assessment Forms Finder
Nationals are: You can use our handy 'forms finder' to find all the forms you need to administer
November 2016 series – 1 September 2016 internal assessment for a particular qualification. Simply select your options from
January 2017 series – 9 September 2016 the dropdown menus and click 'Search'!
June 2017 series – 14 November 2016.
Fees List 2016/17
The Fees List provides details of all entry fees and services for the current
academic year and is available from the OCR website.
4|PageOCR Admin Updates and News
Changes to Internally Assessed Marks Process 14-19 Qualifications Entry Codes Booklet
It is no longer possible to submit centre marks to OCR using the hard copy You should have received a printed copy of our 14-19 Entry Codes booklet for
internal assessment marks sheets (MS1) - these have now been removed. Marks 2016/17. We've also added this to our website in case you need to save or print
will need to be submitted electronically via EDI or Interchange. additional copies.
Centre authentication forms (CCS160) should now be retained in the centre This year, following your feedback, information about reformed AS/A Levels and
rather than submitting them to the OCR moderator. GCSEs has been incorporated alongside details about existing qualifications,
rather than including them in separate sections.
What’s New On The OCR Website? OCR Instructions for Conducting Examinations
Administration Section & Admin Overviews
The 2016/17 OCR ICE booklet is available from the OCR website. These
Lots of information and guidance on administering OCR’s qualifications has been
regulations are applicable to the externally assessed components of Functional
added to the OCR website over the last year. To make it easier to access the
Skills, Cambridge Progression and Digital Employability Qualifications. A summary
information, we've created a new ‘Administration’ section. Currently, this page
of the differences between the 2015/16 version is provided at the start of the
links to the exams officer area but we're planning on creating a dedicated
instructions and highlighted throughout in yellow.
'administration' area in the coming weeks.
In response to customer feedback we have revised the regulatory requirements
This new section will replace the PDF admin guides previously produced. To make
regarding the transportation of exam material to alternative exam venues:
it easy to navigate these web pages, ‘admin overviews’ are being created – we
‘If examination materials are being transported to an alternative exam venue they
have recently published overviews for Cambridge Technicals (2016 suite) and
can be removed from the centre’s approved secure storage to accommodate
general qualifications. These will direct you to all the available guidance and key
appropriate travel time to the venue. This can be any time on the day the exam is
information for specific qualifications. A ‘print’ button has also been added to
scheduled to take place, without requesting permission from OCR.’
each of the web pages so that you can print anything you find particularly useful.
Vocational Qualifications Entries Pages Explaining Examining Resources
We’ve also published new vocational entries pages. These replace the old PDF We have a range of resources available to help explain the basic processes of
step-by-step guides, providing instructions on how to make entries via examining.
Interchange – including how to make test unit entries for the new 2016 Videos: including -‘From exam to results day’; ‘Six checks on marking’
Cambridge Technicals suite. Factsheets: including – ‘Ten things you didn’t know about OCR
examining’; OCR’s six quality checks on marking’
Your Feedback
We will be continually adding to the website over the coming year so if you have Take a look at our explaining examining pages on the OCR wesbite
any suggestions for things you’d like to see, please email us at cast@ocr.org.uk. www.ocr.org.uk/about-us/explaining-examining/
www.ocr.org.uk/about-us/explaining-examining/all-about-marking/
5|PageOCR Admin Updates and News
Text, Task and Title Approval Cambridge Technicals (2016 Suite) - Administration
For some of our new A Level qualifications, approval is required for the texts, Need to know how to administer the new Level 3 Cambridge Technicals? Our new
tasks and/or titles of the non exam assessment that candidates will be carrying admin overview outlines the main administrative processes and will guide you to
out: the relevant, detailed information on the OCR website. Some of the key points to
be aware of are:
• GCE A Level English Language and Literature (EMC) (H474) Getting Approved: make sure you are an approved centre
• GCE A Level English Language (H470) Qualification Entries: you will need to make qualification entries. Entries
• GCE A Level English Literature (H472) can be made via EDI or Interchange
• GCE A Level History A (H505) Test Unit Entries: test unit entries must be made for timetabled exams by
the relevant deadline. Late entries are possible up to the late entry
Centres must submit the chosen texts, tasks and/or titles using an online form, deadline. Entries can be made via EDI or Interchange. The main
which can be accessed via the relevant qualification pages of the OCR website. qualification entry must be made and processed before you can make any
This must be done by 31 January in the year of submission for each series even if test entries
the same texts, tasks and/or titles have been approved previously. Entry Key Dates
Series Test Unit Entry Entry Window Late Entry
Centres should wait for approval before candidates begin working on their non Deadline Deadine
exam assessment. Approval will be provided within ten working days of January 2017 21 October 2016 7-21 October 2016 28 November
submitting the online form. 2016
June 2017 21 March 2017 6-21 March 2017 28 April 2017
Science Practical Endorsement
The practical endorsement applies to the new A Level science qualifications.
Videos Entry Rules: rules apply. Information is available from the OCR website
Our science Subject Specialists explain key aspects of the Practical Endorsement Internal Assessment & Moderation: this can take place at any time and
in a new series of videos. Find out about how the Practical Endorsement works, centres are entitled to two moderation visits per year
what records you need to keep, how to use the OCR tracker, and how the External Assessment: all Level 3 exams are paper-based (with the
Practical Endorsement will be monitored. Watch the videos on our Positive about exception of some Extended Diploma units which run as onscreen tests
Practical page. only). Examination arrangements are governed by JCQ ICE. Paper-based
exams will use the Parcelforce ‘yellow label’ service from January 2017
Activities Results Issue: January 2017 series – 2 March 2017 (restricted release 1
Practical endorsement activities and the tracking spreadsheet are now available March); June 2017 series – 17 August 2017 (restricted release 16 August).
on Interchange. Visit the science coordinator page to access the latest
documents. Don’t forget about our Live Online Training Events (see page 2 for information).
6|PageOCR Qualifications
Qualification Information and Updates Withdrawal of Selected Entry Level Certificates
Please tell your teaching colleagues that they can keep up to date with the latest We have a requirement to ensure that our Entry Level provision allows
news and developments by signing up to receive subject email updates and progression to our new GCSE (9–1) qualifications. As part of our review of Entry
subject information updates. They may also like to complete our expression of Level qualifications we have made the difficult decision not to redevelop our
interest form if they are thinking of teaching OCR qualifications. Entry Level Certificates in Business Studies, Child Development, Classical Greek,
Design and Technology, Food Studies, French, German, Spanish, ICT and Religious
Studies due to overlapping content and declining numbers. The final assessment
Qual Change Planner opportunity will be Summer 2018, with a resit opportunity in Summer 2019.
We have created the Qual Change Planner, an online tool designed to support
centres in changing from the GCSE, AS or A Level qualification currently being Further information available from the OCR website.
delivered to one of our new reformed qualifications or alternative provision. You
can search a current qualification by subject or entry code to find out more about
the final assessment opportunities and replacement qualifications.
Cambridge Nationals
Cambridge Nationals are vocational qualifications at Level 1 and Level 2 for
students aged 14-16. They are equivalent in size to GCSEs. The administration will
Entry Level Certificates be familiar to anyone who runs general qualifications.
New Entry Level Certificates
We have re-developed a number of our Entry Level Certificates to align with our Fill the GCSE Gap
new GCSE (9-1) qualifications. As GCSEs in Health and Social Care, ICT and Child Development are not being
First teaching from September 2016 and first assessment from Summer redeveloped our Cambridge Nationals offer the perfect alternative.
2017 Find out more.
100% internal assessment – tasks and tests can be taken at any point
during the course New Replacement for Business and Enterprise
Can be co-taught with the new GCSE (9-1) qualifications offered by any We will be launching a relacement for Cambridge Nationals in Business and
awarding body Enterprise. The new OCR Level 1/2 Certificate in Enterprise and Marketing will be
ready for first teaching in September 2017 and will be be submitted for inclusion
Can be taught across any timespan
on the 2019 performance tables. Find out more.
Suitable for many types of learner
New qualifications in Art & Design, Computer Science, English,
Qualification Extension
Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Physical Education and Science
Cambridge Nationals qualifications in ICT, Health and Social Care, Sport Science
and Sport Studies have been extended until 31 August 2020. By extending the
The final assessment opportunity for the current qualifications in the re-
review date we are making the qualifications available for a further three years.
developed subjects will be Summer 2018 with a resit opportunity in Summer 2019
You will now be able to start a Year 10 cohort in September 2018.
– more information available from the OCR website.
7|PageOCR Qualifications
Cambridge Technicals 2016 Suite
Cambridge Technicals are vocational qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3 for New suite for first teaching September 2016 (Engineering - first teaching
from September 2015)
students aged 16+. They’re designed with the workplace in mind and provide a
high-quality alternative to A Levels. Designed to meet the DfE technical guidance
Externally assessed content
Take a look at our website and the new Cambridge Technicals Explained Visiting moderation for internally assessed content
document for more information. Sign up and express your interest to be kept up- Attracts UCAS points
to-date with the latest developments. Key Stage 5 performance points from 2018 (confirmed for all
qualifications submitted for inclusion)
Subjects: Business, Digital Media, Engineering, Health and Social Care, IT,
Level 2 Cambridge Technicals Laboratory Skills, Performing Arts, Sport and Physical Activity
2012 Suite
Launched September 2012
Extension of 2012 Suites
100% internally assessed content
We have extended the 2012 Level 2 and the 2012 Level 3 qualification suites
Visiting moderation
giving you the flexibility to choose between the 2012 and the new 2016 suites to
meet the requirements of your centre and students. The updated last entry and
2016 Suite
certification dates are listed in the Cambridge Techncials Explained document.
New suite for first teaching September 2017
Designed to meet the DfE technical guidance
Externally assessed content Cambridge Technicals - Extended Diploma (1080 GLH)
Visiting moderation for internally assessed content As part of the overall re-development of the Level 3 Cambridge Technicals, we
Submitted for Key Stage 5 performance points from 2019 have developed Extended Diplomas (1080 GLH) to meet the demands of centres
who wish to offer a full 3 x A Level size equivalent vocational qualification. These
Subjects: Business, Engineering, Health and Social Care, IT, Sport and
are available for first teaching from September 2016 and will be submitted for
Physical Activity
inclusion on Key Stage 5 performance tables from 2019.
Level 3 Cambridge Technicals
2012 Suite
Launched September 2012
100% internally assessed content
Visiting moderation
Attracts UCAS points
No Key Stage 5 performance points from 2018
8|PageJCQ Update
Autumn 2016 Despatch Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE)
During September centres will receive the Autumn despatch. It consists of three Scope of the publication extended – additional qualifications covered.
copies of the blue General Regulations booklet, two copies of the Essential Key Invigilators can act as the additional member of staff who checks the
Dates Wall Planner, four copies of the Access Arrangements booklet and one time/date/papers details before a question paper packet is opened, (1.9,
memory stick containing the essential JCQ documents. page 6).
Where candidates are taking two or more exams in a session and are
being given a short supervised break between papers within the session,
JCQ Regulations for 2016/17 they must remain under formal examination conditions within the exam
We have highlighted some of the main changes – please refer to the JCQ room whilst their scripts are being collected, (2.9, page 10).
documents for full information. Additional invigilators for a timed Art exam should be deployed at the
head of centre’s discretion, (6.4, page 18).
General Regulations for Approved Centres Where the candidate and practical assistant are accommodated
Greater onus placed on role and responsibilities of head of centre – e.g. separately, on a one to one basis, the invigilator may additionally act as
the title of the document has been amended to state that the regulations the practical assistant, (7.2, page 19).
are ‘For the attention of heads of centre, senior leaders within schools Where the invigilator additionally acts as a practical assistant, a reader
and colleges and examination officers’. and/or a scribe, the centre must use a ‘roving’ invigilator who checks the
Heads of centre are required to confirm (as part of the NCN annual room(s) from time to time, (page 19).
update) that they are both aware of and adhering to the latest version of Invigilators should instruct candidates to write their name and surname
the regulations. A head of centre cannot delegate this responsibility to a on answer booklets and additional answer sheets. This replaces the
member of SLT or the exams officer, (1.1, page 1). instruction to candidates to write their name exactly as it appears on the
The regulations must be read by heads of centre, SLT and the exams attendance register, (12.3, page 31).
officer (previously it was ‘should’), (2.2, page 2). Centres must refer to the relevant awarding body’s instructions when
The examination contingency plan/examinations policy should also completing the word processor cover sheet as different arrangements
reinforce procedures in the event of the centre being unavailable for apply, (8.8, page 25); other cover sheets, e.g. scribe cover sheet, must be
exams owing to an unforeseen emergency, (5.3, page 9). placed inside the script, (21, page 41); candidates must insert any loose
Centres must ensure that they have appropriate accommodation to additional answer sheets inside the answer booklet, (19, page 40).
support the size of the cohorts being taught, (5.3, page 9). Centres may wish to ask candidates to place their watches on their desk
Question papers must not be released to centre personnel until after the in sight of the invigilator prior to the start of the exam, (11.1, page 30).
awarding body’s published finishing time for the examination or, in the Countdown clocks are not permissible, (5.7, page 15).
case of a timetable variation, until all candidates within the centre have
completed the examination, (6.13, page 18). In the 2015/16 regulations it
was recommended that question papers were not released to centre
personnel until 24 hours after the published finishing time for the
examination.
9|PageJCQ Update
Conditions for Storing Question Papers/Confidential Material A Guide to the Special Consideration Process
Supplementary document to ICE. The minimum requirements for enhanced grading in cases of acceptable
Centres must not keep a spare set of keys in a cabinet or safe which can absence from timetabled component(s)/unit(s) have changed. For GCSE,
be accessed by members of staff who are not involved in exams AS and A Level a minimum of 40% of the total assessment must have
administration. Keys must either be kept on the key holder’s person or been completed.
kept in a coded key safe which is only accessible to the designated key
holders.
Instructions for Conducting Non-Examination Assessments
Centres must remind candidates to keep their own work secure at all
Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments
times and not share completed or partially completed work on-line, on
The deadline for submitting applications for the summer series is 21 social media or through any other means. The JCQ document Information
February (31 January for modified papers). All applications must be for candidates – Guidelines when referring to examinations/assessments
submitted by the relevant deadline; a ‘soft’ deadline no longer applies through the internet should be brought to the attention of candidates.
(except for applications for temporary injury or impairment).
For applications processed on or after 1 September 2016, the amount of
extra time awarded to a GCSE candidate using a bilingual dictionary is Post-Results Services and Appeals
10% (where the candidate meets the published criteria), (5.18, page 71). Following Ofqual’s announcements on changes to reviews of marking and appeals
Also in ICE, (8.2, page 22). JCQ issued a supplementary document in August 2016, Notice to Centres – Post-
The use of a transcript where a candidate’s handwriting may be hard to Results Services and Appeals.
decipher is no longer permitted. If a candidate’s handwriting is illegible
he/she should use a word processor. If a word processor is not
appropriate to the candidate’s needs then he/she must meet the A2C Update
published criteria for a scribe. Candidates must be reminded that they are A JCQ statement on the A2C project has been published and is available from the
responsible for producing legible writing, (page 56). Also in ICE, (page 24). JCQ website.
If a candidate has never made use of an approved arrangement, then it is
not their normal way of working. The regulations now stipulate that the
SENCo may consider withdrawing the arrangement, (4.2.8, page 18).
Further clarification provided on the criteria for separate invigilation
within the centre. A candidate may only take their examinations under
separate invigilation where he/she has an established difficulty. The only
exception to this would be a temporary illness, injury or other temporary
indisposition which is clearly evidenced, (5.16, page 69). Also in ICE, (8.6,
page 24).
10 | P a g eGCSE and A Level Reform
Information and guidance on reform is available from the OCR website.
GCSE and A Level reform is being introduced in three phases. The table below lists the subjects being offered/redeveloped by OCR.
Use our online Qual Change Planner tool to help you manage transition.
PHASE 1 (September 2015) PHASE 2 (September 2016) PHASE 3 (September 2017)
GCSE (9-1) AS/A Level GCSE (9-1) AS/A Level GCSE (9-1) AS/A Level
English Language Art and Design Art and Design Classical Greek Ancient History Ancient History
English Literature Biology A & B Biology A & B Drama and Theatre Business Classical Civilisation
Maths Business Chemistry A & B Geography Classical Civilisation Design and Tech
Chemistry A & B Citizenship Studies Latin Design and Tech Further Maths A
Computer Science Classical Greek Music Economics Further Maths B (MEI)
Economics Combined Science A & B Physical Education Film Studies Film Studies
English Language Computer Science Religious Studies Media Studies Geology
English Language and Lit Drama Psychology Law
English Literature Food Preparation & Nutrition Maths A
History A Geography A & B Maths B (MEI)
Physics A & B History A & B Media Studies
Psychology Latin
Sociology Music
Physical Education
Physics A & B
Religious Studies
Reform Phase GCSE First Assessment AS First Assessment A Level First Assessment
Phase 1 – September 2015 2017 2016 2017
Phase 2 – September 2016 2018 2017 2018
Phase 3 – September 2017 2019 2018 2019
11 | P a g eGCSE and A Level Reform
Phase 1 Qualifications (First Teaching September 2015)
Check the OCR Administration section of these notes for any information you and your teaching colleagues may need.
Phase 2 Qualifications (First Teaching September 2016)
All our 2016 subjects have been accredited by Ofqual and the specifications are available on the OCR website. If your centre is teaching a two-year GCSE, AS or A Level, or a
one-year AS Level course in the 16/17 academic year in any of the phase 2 subjects, you need to be teaching the new reformed specifications or alternative qualifications.
Phase 3 Qualifications (First Teaching September 2017)
We are in the process of submitting a range of qualifications to Ofqual for accreditation. We publish the draft specification and sample assessment materials on the website
when we submit the qualifications to Ofqual. GCSE Business (9-1) and GCSE Economics (9-1) have already been accredited.
OCR Teaching and Learning Resources
Use our online resource finder to quickly locate the free resources available for the new specifications.
Resources from Ofqual
Ofqual has updated and added to their collection of postcards. There are new documents on topics such as grading for the reformed AS and Levels, awarding for new GCSE
student cohorts and the new marking review and appeal arrangements. They have also produced a PowerPoint presentation designed to help teachers explain GCSE, AS
and A Level qualification reforms to students and parents. This new resource contains information on various topics including:
What is happening and when
The new GCSE grading structure (including what does a ‘good pass’ mean)
What a GCSE certificate might look like in 2017
The National Reference Test
Re-sits of legacy qualifications
Key stage 4 performance measures.
GCSE (9-1) Awarding
Following a second consultation, Ofqual confirmed in September how GCSE grades, including grades 8 and 9, will be awarded from 2017. The full decisions document is
available on their website. Ofqual has developed subject grade descriptors for the reformed GCSEs to assist teachers by providing an indication of average performance at
the mid-points of grades 2, 5 and 8. These are available on their website.
12 | P a g eGCSE and A Level Reform
Calculating Linear Grades
Want to know more? Take a look at our new page on the OCR website and the Customer Support blog.
Resit Arrangements for Legacy Specifications
Ofqual has published their consultation outcome regarding resits for legacy GCSE, AS and A Levels.
Read the new OCR subject information update for full details of what this means for our legacy qualifications ending in 2016.
AS and A Levels
Students taking AS and A Levels in the last scheduled sitting will have the opportunity to resit these qualifications. Resits will take place in the June series following the final
assessment opportunity and will be available in all AS and A Level subjects and all units.
GCSEs - English and Mathematics
OCR will provide a resit opportunity for the qualifications in the table below.
Subject Legacy qualification Final assessment opportunity 1st resit opportunity 2nd resit opportunity
English English (J350)
June 2016 November 2016 June 2017
English Language (J355)
Mathematics N/A
Mathematics A (J562) June 2016 November 2016 Candidates are able to use
Maths B (J567)
Mathematics Mathematics B (J567)
Application of Mathematics (J925) June 2016 November 2016 June 2017
Methods in Mathematics (J926)
GCSEs - Science
OCR will provide a resit opportunity for the Science and Additional Science qualifications (both A and B suites) in November 2017.
GCSEs – Other Subjects
OCR will not be offering resit opportunities in any other GCSE subjects.
Resit Rules
Resit rules apply for students wishing to resit legacy qualifications. Full details are available from the entry rules pages on the website.
13 | P a g eEducational Reform
Changes to GCSE, AS and A Level Marking Reviews and Appeals
In early July Ofqual announced a number of further decisions (following on from those already published at the end of May):
Reviewers, when deciding if the first mark should stand, should consider whether the first marker made any administrative errors, properly applied the mark
scheme and exercised their academic judgement appropriately.
Awarding bodies must provide the reasons for marking and review decisions on request, but there will be no express requirement to do this within a specific
timescale in 2016.
A Level Physics, rather than Maths, will be included along with A Level Religious Studies and Geography in this summer’s pilot to test the new appeals process
following a review of marking.
Ofqual also decided to defer decisions in a number of areas to a later date and they will continue to consult on these topics. These include:
When the requirement for awarding bodies to make GCSE scripts available in time for centres to consider whether to ask for a review will be introduced.
The detail of the framework to be used by awarding bodies to set dates for completion of reviews and appeals.
When the requirement for learners to be able to ask for the results of centre-marked assessments should be introduced.
When the automatic grade protection that currently applies following a review of moderation will be removed.
Ofqual’s new postcard helps explain the changes and our updated blog contains useful information on what these changes mean for you.
National Reference Test (NRT)
The first tests in English and maths will be held in February and March 2017 following a successful development phase. Read the Ofqual blog for the ‘10 things you need to
know’.
Post-16 Education
Recommendations in the Sainsbury report on technical education have been accepted by the government as part of its post-16 Skills Plan. The report proposes that from
2019 all pupils will be presented with a choice at age 16: the academic or the technical option with bridging provision established to enable individual to move between the
options. More information is available from the July 2016 OCR Policy Briefing.
Compulsory Maths to Age 18?
A review to consider the potential for extending the study of maths beyond age 16 is underway. The review will report by the end of 2016.
14 | P a g ePerformance Measures
Guide to Performance Tables
Schools Week, in partnership with OCR, have published a revised league tables guide.
Cambridge Nationals Approved for Performance Points 2018
Level 1/2 Cambridge Nationals Certificates in 11 subjects have been approved and are included on the DfE list for KS4 Performance Points for 2018 (in the technical award
category). The subjects are: Business & Enterprise; Principles in Engineering and Engineering Business; Engineering Design; Engineering Manufacture; Systems Control in
Engineering; Health & Social Care; ICT; Creative iMedia; Sport Science, Sport Studies; Child Development. Cambridge Nationals in Science and Science in the Workplace are
not included in the performance tables due to their overlap with Science GCSEs.
You can view the full list here.
Early Entry Rule and Cambridge Nationals
Information on how the revised ‘early entry’ rule for vocational qualifications applies to Cambridge Nationals is available from the OCR website.
16-19 Accountability Headline Measures from 2016
A summary and technical guide to the new measures is available here. The five new measures are Progress, Attainment, Retention, English and maths and Destinations.
Progress - a value added progress measure to show how well students have progressed when compared with students with the same prior attainment for students
taking Level 3 academic and Applied General qualifications. A completion and attainment measure which compares the attainment of students with the national
average attainment for each qualification and treats non-completion as a fail for students taking Tech Levels (and Technical Certificates from 2017)
Attainment – continuing the average point score per entry measure and removing the average point score per student measure
Retention - a measure showing the proportion of students being retained in their core aim and aligned as far as possible with the retention element of the funding
formula
English and maths – an average change in grade measure for students who did not get a good pass (currently a grade C) in these subjects at GCSE
Destinations –the measure shows the percentage of students going to or remaining in a sustained education or employment destination in the academic year after
taking A Levels or other Level 3 qualifications.
From 2017 performance tables are to include Level 2 outcomes and disadvantage measures will be introduced showing how students who were eligible for the pupil
premium in Year 11 compare to their peers in each of the five headline measures. From 2018 it is planned to include apprenticeships and work based learning in
performance tables.
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Key Stage 5 Performance Tables 2018
The DfE has published an updated list of Applied General and Tech Level qualifications which will count in the 2018 KS5 Performance Tables. We are delighted to confirm
that all of our 2016 Level 3 Cambridge Technicals qualifications submitted to the DfE have been included on the 16-19 Key Stage 5 Performance Tables for 2018. The
remaining qualifications (Extended Diplomas and Performing Arts Diplomas) will be submitted for inclusion in the 2019 tables.
Discount Codes
RAISEonline has been updated with the Key Stage 4 discount codes for 2018. The list can be found under “Further details of the revised performance tables
qualifications…”
The Key Stage 5 discount codes for 2018 have been released and can be found in the Department for Education section of the Gov.uk website.
Performance Measure Points for Reformed GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals
The DfE has confirmed how points will be allocated to new and legacy GCSEs in the 2017 KS4 performance tables. For a new GCSE, the point values will match the grade a
student receives (e.g. 9 points for a grade 9, 8 for a grade 8, etc). The point score scale for performance table measures in 2016 will change from the current 16-58 scale to
a 1 - 8 point scale, where 1 is equivalent to a Grade G GCSE and an increase in one point represents an increase of one GCSE grade up to 8, which is equivalent to an A*
GCSE. During this transition period where a combination of new and old style GCSEs can count towards performance measures, point scores from old style GCSEs will be
mapped onto the 1 - 9 scale and the Progress 8 measure calculated on this basis. Full details can be found in the updated Progress 8 guidance document. As reformed
qualifications become available for first assessment, their equivalent legacy qualifications will no longer count.
Points values for 2016 and 2017 for Cambridge Nationals can be found on RAISEonline in the Library under ‘Further details of the revised performance table qualifications…’
in the Progress 8 measure in 2016, 2017 and 2018 PDF document.
16 | P a g eYou can also read
