OCR has reported excellent feedback for its range of new science GCSE specifications.

Feedback has been extremely positive and it is clear that the new courses have prompted a real enthusiasm for science in many schools and colleges. For the June 2008 series, 428 000 entries have been made for GCSE qualifications in OCR's two major suites of qualifications: Twenty First Century Science and Gateway Science.

OCR is very grateful indeed for comments on the new qualifications provided by teachers both directly and through the networks of cluster meetings around the country. In response to these comments, we have been considering whether small changes could be made to improve the schemes of assessment for both suites of qualifications and QCA will be asked to approve these proposals.

Twenty First Century Science suite

The 'objective' papers which are found within the schemes of assessment for GCSE Science, GCSE Additional Science and the separate sciences, test both 'Ideas about Science' (How Science Works) and knowledge/understanding of the scientific concepts within the modules concerned. It has proved to be much more difficult than anticipated to set short objective questions which address Ideas about Science and we are therefore proposing to include a small number of questions requiring longer answers on each of these papers. If approved by QCA, this change will be implemented for the January 2010 examination series and all centres will be sent details during autumn 2008.

Gateway Science suite

Small changes are being proposed to the wording of some of the assessment criteria for the Science in the News report. These amendments will clarify the meaning of the criteria so that teachers are able to prepare candidates more effectively and reach decisions on the award of marks more easily. Because there will be no changes to the requirements for candidates or the standard of the assessment, the amendments proposed can be implemented as soon as approval is granted by QCA. Teachers will not need to revisit any assessments already completed. All centres will be sent details during autumn 2008.

OCR is confident that these developments will improve these qualifications and that they will be well received by teachers.