Chemistry for our Future Seminar

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Chemistry for our Future Seminar - 8th June 2009
New Developments in the 14-19 Curriculum.
Phil Harley Lead Adviser for Schools Action on
Access
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Background to 14-19 Reform

• Low participation rates post 16
• Low skill levels low status and quality of
  vocational courses and qualifications
• The problem of differentiating between high
  achieving students
• The high assessment burden for learners and
  teachers
• A complex web of qualifications

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14-19 Reform

• Rejection of Tomlinsons vision
• The creation of a new 14-19 phase through a
  series of piecemeal but interlocking reforms
• Making progression a twin objective alongside
  attainment
• Independent institutions working in partnership

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Academic concerns

• Numeracy and literacy
• Personal thinking skills
• Ensuring retention and progression
• Employability
• Recruitment to a balance of provision
• Sustainability.

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The myths of the current curriculum

• That all A levels give access to all degree
  courses
• That A levels provide seamless progression to the
  first year of a degree
• The A level is the ideal preparation for degree
  courses
• That humanities students do not need mathematics
  or IT that science students do not need
  enhanced literary skills.

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At a time of increasing demand for graduates, but
lower and lower numbers of young people.
Source HEPI, Demand for Higher Education to
2020 and beyond (2007) ONS and Government
Actuary's Department (2005 based projections,
published in August 2006), adjusted by DfES for
academic years.
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Government Aims

• To ensure participation to 18 (to 17 by 2013 and
  to 18 by 2015)
• To provide the knowledge and skills required by a
  21st century economy
• To close the attainment gap more statutory
  requirements on schools related to widening
  participation

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A Learning Entitlement

• KS4 core curriculum English, maths, science
• KS4 foundation subjects ICT, PE, Citizenship
• Work related learning and enterprise
• Religious education
• Sex, drug, alcohol and tobacco education and
  careers education
• A course in at least one of the arts design and
  technology the humanities modern foreign
  language and all four if they wish to

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Supporting the Learner

• Excellent IAG statutory guidance, revised
  Ofsted Inspection Framework etc
• Area wide 14-19 prospectus
• A Common Application Process one system by 2010
• The September Guarantee

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Clear Learning Routes

• A streamlined set of qualifications within four
  routes
• Apprenticeships full entitlement 2013
• Diplomas 17 areas of study by 2011
• Foundation Learning Tier with Progression
  Pathways from 2010
• General qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels
• Functional skills in English, Maths and ICT and
  PLTS across all routes

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Changes to A Levels

• Fewer units of study
• Fewer structured questions, and more open-ended
  questions which require extended essay responses
• More questions which require a synoptic overview
  of the subject
• The introduction of an extended project and
• The introduction of a new A grade which
  recognises very high achievement.
• The new syllabuses will be introduced for first
  teaching in 2008 with first awarding taking place
  for the new as levels in 2009 and the new a
  levels in 2010.

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The A Grade at A Level

• Concerns about the lack of evidence to accurately
  predict the new grade
• Fear that this would disproportionately impact on
  students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Work with UCAS over three years to evaluate
  accuracy of predictions against actual and the
  thus the value of the grade to the HE
  applications process
• Some HEIs have already announced they will accept
  A

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14-19 Diplomas

• Who will they attract?
• Are they vocational?
• Will the stage 4 diplomas be different?
• Will they be able to compete with A levels?
• How will they be viewed?
• Will HEIs accept them? 80 of HE courses accept
  the current 5 advanced diplomas and all HEIs at
  least one of the lines of learning
• Do students find them attractive?

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Complex Progression routes
Employment
Level 7
Postgraduate degrees
CPD Professional qualifications
Honours degree Yr 3 Yr 2 Yr 1
Level 6
Level 5
Foundation degree
Level 4
A - level
Advanced Apprenticeship
Advanced Diploma
Level 3
NVQ3
GCSE A-C
Intermediate Diploma
Level 2
Apprenticeship
NVQ2
NVQ1
Level 1
Young Apprenticeship
Foundation Diploma
GCSE D-G
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What about BTEC?

• 2013 review of 1419 qualifications in England -
  firmly committed to keeping the best of what
  currently exists
• QCF versions from Sep 2010 stand alone OR
• Fit into Diploma in Additional and Specialist
  Learning

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Higher Aspiration

• More young people want to go to university
• Continued political imperative for WP
  Aimhigher, mentoring, comprehensive package for
  KS3 pupils, work with primary schools etc
• Increased number of and transferable Progression
  Accords
• BUT
• Reduced student numbers and greater competition
  created by economic downturn

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Key issues for HE

• Recognition of and parity for whole variety of
  qualifications
• More real emphasis on the skills and extended
  project - evidencing
• How to know more about the applicant
• Apprenticeships
• Involvement in all the reforms
• New ways of working in schools and colleges
• NCEE links with schools