Consultations on arrangements for academic year 2021/2022

DfE/Ofqual have issued two joint consultation on proposed changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels, plus vocational, technical and other general qualification for 2022.

For GCSEs, AS and A Levels, the consultation proposes a package of measures to help mitigate the impact of disruption to students’ education, and seeks views on:

• choice of topics in GCSE English Literature, History, Ancient History and choice of content in GCSE Geography
• changes to the requirements for the delivery of practical activities in science subjects, and assessment in art and design
• the provision of advance information on the focus of the content of exams, in the majority of subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level
• the provision of support materials in GCSE Mathematics, Physics and Combined Science exams.

This consultation closes on 1 August at 23.45 and outcomes and decisions will be announced early in the next academic year.

For vocational, technical and other general qualifications, this two-part consultation sets out the arrangements for assessing and awarding in the academic year 2021/2022.

In Part A, the DfE sets out its policy position and the scope of adaptations to assessments and qualifications that may be necessary to address the ongoing impact of the pandemic and is only consulting on the equalities impacts of this policy.

In Part B, Ofqual sets out the changes to its regulatory arrangements to implement the Department’s policy position. Ofqual is consulting on the impact of changing the categorisation of qualifications in its regulatory framework and on minor updates to the drafting of that framework to reflect the context of the academic year 2021 to 2022.

The consultation closes on 26 July at 23.45 and outcomes and decisions will be announced as soon as possible.

We’ll be working closely with Ofqual on the arrangements so we can give you the clarity you need for the new academic year.