The government will reduce the volume of exams taken at GCSE, along with the overall size of the curriculum, following the warnings in Cambridge OCR’s Striking the Balance report that too much content and assessment was preventing in-depth learning.

The government-commissioned Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis, made the recommendations in a report published today.

Last year our Striking the Balance report sparked widespread agreement that the volume of assessment at 16 had reached a point of imbalance, with students in England spending far more time in exam halls than those in most other countries. Referencing the evidence in Striking the Balance, the curriculum and assessment review agreed is recommending that the government reduces the volume of assessment by at least 10%, and more where possible.

Myles McGinley, Managing Director of Cambridge OCR, said: “Teachers and students are held back by an overfull curriculum and an examination burden far in excess of other countries. More content does not necessarily equal more rigour. The sheer volume of content at GCSE is preventing mastery of topics and in-depth study.

“When Cambridge OCR warned of over-assessment at GCSE, it touched a nerve. We’re heartened to see such a constructive response from the Review and the Government.”

A more relevant curriculum

The review also called for updates to the curriculum to make it more up-to-date and relevant for students. Last year, we consulted with over two thousand students and teachers and found strong desire for the curriculum to better reflect the modern world, and provide the skills needed by students now and in the future. This informed our recommendations in Striking the Balance and elsewhere that the curriculum is updated with skills like financial literary and oracy.

Myles McGinley said: “When Cambridge OCR warned last year that the curriculum was out of date and lacked vital skills like financial literacy and oracy, we were struck by the strength of feeling from students and teachers. Young people are leaving school without the fundamental skills they need to thrive, and that has to change. Today’s announcement is a positive sign that the government understands these concerns.

The review highlights sustainability and climate science as another key skill that must be better represented in the curriculum. Cambridge University Press & Assessment has long called for, and contributed to, the use of education to fight climate change.

Schools will need support

Responding to the review, Cambridge OCR Managing Director Myles McGinley praised its pragmatic nature, but warned that schools will need support to implement any changes, with very little capacity in the system.

Myles McGinley said: “The thoughtful, targeted reforms in this review will be welcomed by a sector with limited capacity. But even laser-focused change will cost schools and colleges time and resources that are in short supply. With no slack in the system, schools will need support to properly implement changes. Otherwise this will be a wasted opportunity.”

English and maths

Two major priorities for Cambridge OCR have been the improvement of GCSE English and Maths, and this year on results day we highlighted the ‘resits crisis’. This led to government action to change the post-16 resit policy, and today’s review also calls for changes to both subjects to help support those students who are falling behind earlier than GCSE. This will include earlier diagnostic tests to identify where students have gaps in their knowledge before it is too late.

Cambridge OCR Managing Director Myles McGinley welcomed the changes, but warned that diagnostic tests must never be used for school accountability measures. He said: “Early testing at Key Stage 3 could help provide more students with the fundamental knowledge that they need.

“What early testing at year 8 must never become is yet another accountability measure – schools will rightly expect reassurance that these tests will be about identifying and helping left-behind students, not about league tables.”