New GCSE grades

There are a number of changes to GCSE courses and examinations over the next few years. The following provides you with some information on the key changes.

• The “old” GCSE English and Maths will finish in summer 2016, with resits available in November 2016.
• Other GCSEs will also end over the next few years.  Some will completely cease; others will be replaced by “new” GCSEs.
• From September 2015 English Language, English Literature and Maths GCSE courses will change to the new reformed specification. This will have the first exam in the Summer of 2017.
• From September 2016 most other subjects will come on line with the reformed GCSE’s which will be first examined in the Summer of 2018.
• From September 2017 the final subjects follow the reformed specification which will be examined for the first time in the Summer of 2019.
• “New” GCSEs will have different grading systems.  Instead of A* – G, they will have grades 9 to 1 where 9 is the highest.
• “New” GCSEs will be more demanding and use end of course examinations (and as little coursework as possible).

Explaining the new GCSE grades; comparing these to the “old” ones

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR CURRENT YEAR GROUPS:

Mr Foster’s year group – ending KS4 in Summer 2019

Nearly all the GCSE examinations for this year group will be “new” GCSEs with the 9 to 1 gradings.

Mr Tyrell’s year group – ending KS4 in Summer 2020

By this time, all GCSE examinations should be on the new 9 to 1 gradings.  This year group however is also the year group targeted by the government to take the EBacc group of subjects.  This would mean they only have a maximum of two option choices at KS4 as nearly all students would be expected to take English, Mathematics, Science, Languages, Geography or History.  It is not yet clear whether this restriction on course choice will be enforced by the government and we are undecided as to what our own policy will be.