4. No more AS Levels?
Christine Blower, general
secretary of the National
Union of Teachers, said that
2015 would be “the year
when everything changes”,
adding: “This is an
unmanageable level of
change which could lead to
a collapse of the system.”
5. Key dates…
Current Y10
2012 New GCSE entrants study linear qualifications
2013 New National Curriculum published
Current Y11/12
January 2014 No AS/A2 exams
Current Y8
2014 New National Curriculum implemented down?
Current Y7
2015 EBac subjects – GCSEs replaced with EBCs?
Current Y9
2015 return to linear A Levels?
6. Increasing ‘rigour’
“…academic rigour is liberating, not limiting.
Students with good passes, especially in
traditional subjects, have more
opportunities in life.”
Michael Gove 2012
• Harder to get higher grades (80% Singapore model?)
• Taking more ‘difficult’ subjects (EBac GCSEs, not vocational
subjects and at A Level the ‘facilitating’ subjects)
• No modular exams – fewer chances to retake
• Focus on knowledge and facts, rather than skills
• Tougher exams, less coursework
8. No more tiers
“Under the shake-up, the foundation and
higher level will be scrapped in the EBC
subjects, meaning there will be no cap on
how well pupils can achieve.”
Daily Mail 16 September 2012
• Can one exam both stretch the more able and be accessible
for the less able?
• What do those who ‘aren’t ready’ to take the exam leave
school with?
9. Facilitating subjects
“There are some subjects that are required
(by universities) more often than others.
These subjects are sometimes referred to
as facilitating subjects.”
Informed Choices, Russell Group 2012
• The myth of ‘difficult’ A Levels
• Linear courses in these subjects from 2015 (no AS level)
• Other subjects will continue with AS/A2 level structure
• How will this affect university applications?
10. Meeting the challenge
• Raise standards from Year 7
• Intensive literacy and numeracy focus for least able
• Challenge the most able
• Protect curriculum diversity
• Strengthen internal assessment and challenge
complacency (Y10/12)
• Strengthen advice and guidance
• Avoid knee-jerk responses and stay informed
• Be sure of our own values and needs of our students
11. Opportunities for Farmor’s School
• Academy status – freedom from
National Curriculum statute
• Strong in academic subjects
• Challenging the more able
• Deeper learning
• Enjoying learning
