Phil Beach, Director of Strategic Relationships for General Qualifications, spoke to the AoC conference about A level reforms.

1. A Level Reform
Phil Beach
Director of Strategic Relationships, General Qualifications

2. Responsibilities for reform
Government – Department for Education
Decides overall policy on qualifications
Arrangements for content/curriculum development
Ofqual
Responsible for securing overall standards in qualifications
Set rules for, and monitors, exam board performance
Set criteria for design of qualifications (structure and assessment) and checks
that these rules are met
Oversee awarding of AS and A levels to ensure standards are maintained
consistently and fairly
Exam boards
Design and deliver qualifications

3. Ofqual’s reform decisions
A levels should:
define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding
needed by students to progress to further study and employment
set out a robust and internationally comparable post-16 academic course of
study to develop this knowledge, skill and understanding
permit UK universities to accurately identify the level of attainment of students
provide a basis for school and college accountability measures at age 18 and
provide a benchmark of academic ability for employers

4. What will reformed A levels look like?
Structure
All exams in the summer at the end of the course
Assessment
Exam where possible
Other forms of assessment only where necessary
Grading
Staying the same as now, A* to E (and U)
Demand
Same level of challenge as current A levels

5. A Level reform timeline
Geography
Modern foreign languages
Ancient languages
Religious studies
Drama and theatre
Dance
Music
Physical education
September 2016September 2015
English language
English literature
English language and literature
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Psychology
Computer science
Business
History
Art and design
Economics
Sociology
September 2017
Maths
Further Maths
Remaining subjects

6. Find out more
 Find out which qualifications have been accredited so far here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-gcses-as-and-a-levels-
accredited-to-be-taught-from-2015
Questions?
Ofqual at www.gov.uk/ofqual
Ofqual helpdesk – 0300 303 3346
email – public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
tweet – @ofqual
For more information on curriculum and content:
Department for Education at www.gov.uk/dfe