ACME Invitation to comment on Draft Subject Criteria for Linked Pair GCSE
26 June 2008
ACME has been involved in ongoing discussions with DCSF, QCA and
Ofqual about the purpose and role of GCSE Mathematics prior to
QCA's statutory 3-month consultation on new GCSE criteria for
Mathematics, English and ICT, including functional skills.
QCA will point consultees towards the below information
on the ACME website.
As recommended in the Smith Report (2004), the Government is
committed to the development of a second Mathematics GCSE which it
anticipates would be taken up by more than half of the KS4
cohort. ACME's continued view is that the second GCSE should
be accessible to at least two thirds of the KS4 cohort and this was
made clear in its position statement on
GCSE Mathematics published in February 2007, which linked
attainment at KS3 Mathematics to entry to the second Mathematics
GCSE.
Below is a PDF document that outlines draft criteria for GCSE 1
(Mathematics) and GCSE 2 (Mathematical Thinking) which have been
developed by ACME at short notice, as well as a letter from Ofqual
to the Minister of State for Schools and Learners outlining the
principles that Ofqual will apply to judge GCSE Mathematics
criteria before they can be accredited for wider use.
ACME would encourage all comments on both of these draft
criteria to be copied to acme@royalsociety.org. ACME
will contribute to a mathematics community response to the criteria
over the summer period led by the Joint Mathematical Council of the
UK (http://www.jmcuk.org.uk/) and
hopes that this will also engage with other subject communities
through the Council for Subject Associations and other appropriate
vehicles. One of its purposes will be to answer the following key
question: "When and how should the new GCSEs in Mathematics be
rolled out nationally? Jointly or staged, and in 2010 or 2011?"
ACME maths criteria and Ofqual response
ACME looks to be reassured at the end of the statutory
consultation period that:
- QCA has genuinely welcomed an appropriately weighted range of
views on the possible distinction and refinement of GCSE
Mathematics criteria, whether along the lines proposed by ACME or
not;
- Ofqual will make an independent assessment of the views
expressed on GCSE Mathematics criteria, before final advice goes to
Ministers on the risks associated with Awarding Bodies using two
separate sets of differentiated GCSE Mathematics criteria, as is
currently happening in a number of pilots;
- ACME will continue to be consulted by DCSF, QCA and Ofqual on
this important issue that will have an impact on mathematics
progression within 14-19 education.