gcse science cath jadhav 15 july 2009. who we are and what we do independent regulator of...
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Who we are and what we do
Independent regulator of qualifications, tests and assessments
Established in 2008
Legislation gives five objectives:– Standards for regulated qualifications– Standards for regulated assessments– Public confidence– Public awareness – Efficient provision, representing value for money
Ofqual Standards Group– Scrutiny programme– Code of Practice Monitoring– Standards over time
What are subject criteria?
Two different sets of criteria:– GCSE qualification criteria– Subject-specific criteria
The ‘rules’ for qualification development– State the high level aims of the qualification– Make clear the assessment objectives– Define the common content– Define some structural requirements– But still leave scope for differentiation between different
specifications
Qualification development – who does what?
QC(D)A– Write the subject criteria in consultation with stakeholders– Support awarding bodies through qualification development– Report to Ofqual on each draft qualification
Ofqual– Approve the subject criteria– Accredit qualifications against the criteria
Awarding Bodies– Write qualifications that meet the subject criteria
GCSE Science – our findings
Variation across specifications → many different routes to the same grade
Differences in types of assessment make comparability difficult to ensure
More and ‘smaller’ assessments differentiate less effectively
Context-based questions not always working
Some issues with internal assessment (addressed for 2008/9)
Grading judgements on written papers not in line with expectations
Recommendations for revised subject criteria
Next steps
Ongoing monitoring of current GCSE science specifications
Revised subject criteria for science taking into account Ofqual’s recommendations
QCA currently consulting on the revised subject criteria http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_21855.aspx
Criteria published November 2009
Awarding bodies submit new specifications May 2010
Regulators accredit new specifications August 2010
First teaching September 2011
First GCSE awards August 2013