Reformed GCSE and A level content published

The government has released a statement concerning the final subject content expected to be seen in further GCSE and AS and A level subjects.

The changes are designed to make the qualifications more rigorous and knowledge-based in order to match the qualifications used in education systems in other parts of the world.

In particular, the new GCSEs will be more academically demanding so that the resulting grades command the confidence of students, employers and the further education institution system. Furthermore, the reforms to A level curriculums have been enforced to ensure that they properly prepare students for undergraduate study and the working world.

Some changes to GCSEs and AS and A levels have already begun and will be taught from September 2016, while other reforms will begin later in September 2017.

The GCSE subjects which are due to incur changes include: astronomy, business studies, economics, engineering, geology and psychology.

The A level subjects that have been reformed include environmental science, design and technology, music technology and philosophy.