The document provides information about summer 2010 examinations in the UK, including key dates, changes to qualifications, and Ofqual's role in maintaining standards. It notes that new A-levels have been introduced with changes to coursework and grading, while GCSEs and diplomas are being reformed on a rolling timetable. Ofqual will review awarding bodies, monitor results, and ensure consistency in maintaining standards for 2010 and beyond.

1. Summer 2010 examinations Briefing for Parliamentarians 27 th July 2010

2. Welcome Jim Cunningham MP

3. Welcome and Setting the Scene Dame Sandra Burslem, Deputy Chair

4. Maintaining standards of qualifications for Summer 2010 Dennis Opposs, Director of Standards

5. Some facts and figures Summer 2009 Nearly 8 million GCE/GCSE student entries 50,000 examiners 16 million exam papers 150,000 queries from schools/colleges/students

6. Summer 2010 What’s changed New A levels New Level 3 Diploma awards More Diploma awards at Levels 1 and 2 Business as usual GCSE AS

7. Guiding principles Fairness for all learners in 2009, 2010 and 2011 Accountability Openness and transparency for awarding organisations for teachers/learners/parents for other stakeholders Targeted and proportionate

8. Ofqual’s role  Setting out principles for setting/ maintaining standards Setting expectations for awarding bodies Overview of the system Taking action where necessary Talking to all stakeholders Listening to all stakeholders  Micro-managing awarding bodies Agreements in secret Quotas

9. New A levels 6 to 4 units (for most subjects) Stretch and challenge Revised, updated and re-packaged content Changes to coursework Standards maintained New A* grade Awarded to candidates who have achieved an A grade in their A level, and 90% overall at A2

10. A* examples (4 unit specifications) Points to note: High uniform marks at AS will not necessarily mean a candidate achieves an A* grade - candidates will still need 90% at A2 to achieve an A* Some students with grade A will have higher total uniform marks than those who have achieved an A* if they scored high marks on their AS units A 178 378 83 95 100 100 4 A* 187 362 92 95 85 90 3 A 177 362 85 92 95 90 2 A* 187 367 92 95 90 90 1 Grade A2 marks Total marks A2 Unit 4 A2 Unit 3 AS Unit 2 AS Unit 1 Candidate

11. Maintaining standards of qualifications for Summer 2010 Cath Jadhav, Head of Qualifications Standards

12. Diplomas Pass components Principal Learning qualification Project qualification Functional Skills in English, maths and ICT Additional and specialist learning (ASL) Personal learning and thinking skills (PLTS) Work experience + Level 1 = 5 GCSEs, grades D - G Level 2 = 7 GCSEs, grades A* - C Level 3 = 3 ½ A levels Graded components

13. Diplomas – timetable for introduction First L3 awards Aug 2011 First teaching Sept 2010 First L1/L2 awards Aug 2011 Phase 3 Public services Retail business Sport and active leisure Travel and tourism First L3 awards Aug 2011 First teaching Sept 2009 First L1/L2 awards Aug 2010 Phase 2 Business, administration and finance Environment and land-based studies Hair and beauty studies Hospitality Manufacturing and product design First L3 awards Aug 2010 First teaching Sept 2008 First L1/L2 awards Aug 2009 Phase 1 Construction and the built environment Creative and media Engineering IT Society, health and development 2011/12 2010/11 2009/10 2008/09

14. GCSEs – timetable for changes Timetable for changes to GCSEs 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013 on New unitised GCSEs English, maths, ICT Sciences First certification points

15. GCSEs Final certification of legacy specifications for all except: English, maths and ICT (last certification summer 2011) Sciences (last certification summer 2012) First certification of new (unitised) short course GCSEs GCSE sciences Follow up work to 2009 and 2010 reports Review outcomes of award meetings before results Ongoing accreditation of new specifications

16. Ofqual’s role – summer 2010 and beyond Reviewing data from awards meetings Consistency across awarding bodies Review results before cut-off Monitoring progress of re-marks Scrutiny monitoring work Setting/maintaining standards in 2011

17. Maintaining standards of qualifications for Summer 2010 Isabel Nisbet, Chief Executive

18. Key dates this summer 19 th August - AS and A level results - Level 3 Diploma results 24 th August - GCSE results - Level 1 and 2 Diploma results 27 th August - Deadline for priority Level 3 Enquiry About Results (EARs) (20 September for other EARs)

19. More information… Ofqual - www.ofqual.gov.uk AQA - www.aqa.org.uk Edexcel - www.edexcel.com OCR - www.ocr.org.uk WJEC - www.wjec.co.uk CCEA - www.ccea.org.uk Post results enquiries (JCQ booklet) http://www.jcq.org.uk/attachments/published/1257/13.%20Post%20Results%20Services%20Booklet%2010-11.pdf

20. Panel Discussion Panel Chair: Isabel Nisbet Dennis Opposs, Director of Standards Cath Jadhav, Head of Qualification Standards Richard Garratt, Programme Leader, Diploma