GCSE and A Level Health and Social Care qualifications no longer available after 2018

Earlier in the year we informed you that the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual had decided to allow the redevelopment of GCSE and A level H&SC for first teaching in 2017. Regrettably, we must now inform you that, despite the collective best efforts of all awarding organisations and stakeholders, we have not been successful in meeting the DfE and Ofqual’s requirements. 

On 10 September 2015 the DfE announced that GCSE and A Level H&SC qualifications will not be redeveloped for first teaching in 2017, and that the subject will no longer be offered as a GCSE or an A Level after the current course finishes in Summer 2018. 

This information can be found within ‘further additional GCSE and A level content consultation’ document page 11. Resits in AS and A level H&SC will be offered in 2019, but only to those candidates who certificated in 2018. The OCR GCSE and A Level H&SC qualifications affected by this decision are listed below for your information:

We understand this is immensely disappointing news and this is not the outcome we wanted. We want to assure you we’ll be working hard to support you until the final award date in 2018, and to support your transition to a suitable alternative qualification. Your current Year 9 students for GCSE H&SC and current year 11 students for A level H&SC will be the last teaching group for June 2018 exams. 

Looking to the future, OCR is committed to continue offering a wide range of H&SC qualifications to enable your learners to achieve their aspirations of pursuing H&SC related further education and careers. The Cambridge National in Health and Social care offers an alternative to the GCSE for Key stage 4 students, with the Cambridge Technicals at Levels 2 and 3 offering Key stage 5 students a broad and in-depth foundation for either the modern workplace or further studies. 

These H&SC courses can be viewed within the qualification pages of the OCR website. Many of these vocational qualifications will contribute to key stage 4 and 5 performance measures:

• OCR Cambridge National Certificate in H&SC Level 1/2 - J801, J811, J821. This is a vocationally related qualification that takes an engaging, practical and inspiring approach to learning and assessment. The Cambridge Nationals in Health and Social Care will equip students with a sound, specialist knowledge along with skills for everyday use. The hands-on approach reflects the way in which students use new technology and will underpin a highly valid method of assessing their skills for the many progression routes available.
• OCR Cambridge Technicals in H&SC Level 2 Extended/Certificate/Diploma – 05300, 05302, 05305. (GLH 180)/Extended Certificate (GLH 360)/Introductory Diploma (GLH 360)/Foundation Diploma (GLH 540)/Diploma (GLH 720) – (2012 suite).
• OCR Cambridge Technicals in H&SC Level 3 Certificate/Extended Certificate/ Foundation Diploma/Diploma – 05830-05833 (2016 suite). Launching for first teaching September 2016, our Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in Health and Social Care offer specialist pathways in health science, social care and support, and working with children and young people.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or email OCRHealth&SocialCare@ocr.org.uk