Details of important changes to the GCSE (9-1) grading decision in Northern Ireland

The Minister for Education in Northern Ireland announced on 28 June that the new 9–1 graded GCSEs will be available for learners in Northern Ireland. 

We welcome the news that the path is now clear to offer OCR’s new 9–1 graded GCSEs in Northern Ireland. We look forward to working with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to sort out the details as quickly as possible for teachers and students. 

September 2016 sees the launch of a range of new OCR GCSE (9–1) qualifications in the following subjects:

• Art and Design
• Citizenship Studies
• Classical Greek
• Computer Science
• Drama
• Food Preparation and Nutrition
• Geography
• History
• Latin
• Music
• Physical Education
• Religious Studies 

Please note: GCSE (9–1) qualifications in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Combined Science have also been developed for first teach from September 2016, but do not meet the requirement in Northern Ireland to include the assessment of practical skills in the final grade. More information on transition arrangements for centres in Northern Ireland will be provided once confirmed by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. 

OCR also developed new GCSE (9–1) in English Literature and Mathematics for first teaching from September 2015. We have been committed to providing exams in summer 2017 and resits in November 2017 to those centres already delivering OCR specifications for these qualifications. We are delighted that we can now offer these qualifications to future cohorts of learners, including leaners commencing their GCSE studies in English Literature and Mathematics from September 2016. 

Further information and support 

We will shortly be sending centres in Northern Ireland a full update on changes to GCSE, AS and A Levels from September 2016 and how we are supporting centres with these changes. 

We have also created the Qual Change Planner, an online tool designed to support schools and colleges in changing from the qualification currently being delivered to one of our new reformed qualifications or alternative provision. You can search a current qualification by subject or entry code to find out more about final assessment opportunities and replacement qualifications. The Qual Change Planner is available on the GCSE and A Level reform pages of the OCR website. 

For more information, contact Paul McGlade, National Manager Ireland and Wales on paul.mcglade@ocr.org.uk or OCR’s Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk.