GCE Applied Art and Design qualifications to be withdrawn (H013, H213, H413, H613)

The former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, initiated the reform of GCSEs and A Levels in February 2013, asking Ofqual to implement changes that would lead to new qualifications. As part of this programme of reform, Ofqual decided that the AS and A Level GCE Applied Art and Design qualifications listed below would be withdrawn, due to overlapping content with one or more of the subjects reformed for first teaching in 2015. OCR will of course continue to support and assess the qualifications up to the final certification date/conclusion of the final assessment series.

This notice for AS and A Level Applied Art and Design qualifications replaces our email update that was issued to centres on 16 January 2015. The information provided in this notice is up-to-date and should be followed by all centres taking this qualification. 

*Following public consultation, Ofqual have confirmed arrangements for legacy AS and A Level results. 

When the results of the consultation and Ofqual’s position on resits are announced, we will send out a notice to all centres confirming the position and arrangements for centres. 

For further information on deadlines for submitting entries, amending or withdrawing entries and submitting marks for internal assessment, please see the administration section of the website.

For centres looking for an alternative AS and A Level course to replace Applied Art and Design, we recommend our new AS and A Level Art and Design (H200, H600) qualifications. These qualifications have been developed for first teaching in September 2015. Details are available on the qualification page.

Alternatively, you may be interested in the Level 3 Cambridge Technical in Art and Design. Cambridge Technicals are vocational qualifications designed to give a work-focused alternative to A levels. You can find more information on the qualification page.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk