Ofqual publishes new subject criteria for GCSE English, maths and ICT

2 April 2009

Ofqual and the regulators of external qualifications in Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) have today published the new GCSE qualification and subject criteria for English, mathematics and ICT.

The three subjects are the last to be revised as part of the 14-19 education reform programme and will be available for first teaching in September 2010.

In total five sets of criteria have been published: English, English language, English literature, mathematics and ICT. This follows a three month public consultation that took place last year. The criteria will ensure that the revised qualifications test functional and practical skills.

Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, said:

"The GCSE is a well-established qualification and the main measure of academic attainment at the end of 11 years of compulsory education. It is important that GCSEs properly measure whether young people have achieved a strong level of functional skills in these three key subjects, as well as providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate their talents in other areas of the subjects. These new criteria for GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT should enable both, and I expect awarding bodies to develop interesting and robust new specifications that will both test the basics and stretch the brightest.

"We all want our young people to be given a chance to demonstrate their abilities and to impress employers, higher and further education with their skills. I want these new GCSEs to play a part in improving the skills of the nation."

The majority of other GCSE subjects were revised and accredited last year ready for first teaching in September 2009.

With approved criteria now published, awarding bodies will begin to develop detailed syllabuses for each subject. These will be submitted to Ofqual for accreditation in summer 2009. Ofqual will ensure these syllabuses meet its highly demanding and stringent standards.

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