14-19 changes

Changes to A Level specifications for first teaching in September 2008

Why are there changes?

Along with all awarding bodies, OCR is redeveloping A Levels for first teaching in 2008 (excluding GCE Maths - first teaching from September 2011) in line with revised QCA subject criteria.

The changes are designed to:

  • Reduce the amount of assessment for teachers and learners, and internal marking for teachers
  • Ensure reliability and fairness
  • Help all young people maximise their potential
  • Help universities differentiate between HE applicants.

What are the changes?

The QCA subject criteria's stipulate the following:

  • A Levels are to be reduced from 6 to 4 units*

    *Biology, Chemistry, Electronics, Geology, Human Biology, Music, Physics, Science remain with 6 units. Biblical Hebrew, Dutch, Gujarati, Persian, Portuguese and Turkish remain with 2 units.

  • Coursework has been reviewed and only remains in practical or expressive subjects. The following subjects will include coursework:

    Art, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Home Economics, History, ICT, Media Studies, Music, Performance Studies, Physical Education, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Electronics and Science

  • A Levels will include 'Stretch and Challenge', intended to allow all young people to maximise their potential
  • Synoptic Assessment*, a feature of current A Levels has been reviewed to ensure that it is effective.

    *Synoptic Assessment explores connections between different levels and areas of a subject.

For more information about QCA developments, visit www.qca.org.uk/14-19/developments.

For more information about the A Level changes, download and read the OCR Changes to A Level brochure.

Case studies

OCR were the first awarding body to develop 4 unit A Levels. A Level Law, Accounting and Critical Thinking have been available for teaching since September 2006.

We asked teachers of these qualifications to tell us about their experience of the change.

Read about the transition for Truro College and Worthing College.

Publishing partners

We are working closely with our publishing partners to ensure effective delivery of endorsed materials to support our A Level provision.

Heinemann, Hodder Education, IOP and Oxford University Press will publish endorsed resources for A Level subjects as follows:

Publishing Partner

Subject Groups

Hodder Education

ICT and Computing

Business, Leisure and Recreation

Arts, Media and Life and Work

Heinemann

Science and Mathematics

History and Social Sciences

IOP

Physics B

Oxford University Press

English

Modern Foreign Languages

Keep up to date

Draft specifications and SAMs for the new A Levels (for first teaching from Sept 2008) are now available.

Sign up now and recieve email updates on all future 14-19 developments.

Further information will be added here as it becomes available, so please continue to visit this site for the latest on A Level redevelopments.