HERTFORDSHIRE LEA

1
HERTFORDSHIRE LEA

• VOCATIONAL GCSEs

2
QCA Consultation Response

• Considerable support for a new Vocational GCSE
  qualification
• Conversion of existing three-unit Part One GNVQ
  into three-unit more closely aligned to GCSE
• New qualification supportive for progression to
  AVCE, other vocationally-related or
  occupationally-related qualification
• Reservations about impact of A-G grade scale on
  student motivation, take-up and attainment and
  impact of withdrawing six-unit GNVQ for post-16
  learners
• Concerns about short preparation time for
  introduction

3
QCA Advice to Ministers

• Introduce three-unit Vocational GCSE graded A-C
• Consider reporting A-C grades as intermediate
  and D-G as foundation awards
• Name qualification Vocational GCSE(Double Award)
• Make available from autumn 2002 for first
  teaching September 2003
• Retain current six-unit foundation and
  intermediate GNVQ until more detailed analysis of
  need has been undertaken
• Further rationalise and develop GCSE, VGCSE and
  other vocationally-related qualifications, in due
  course, to support greater coherence 14-19

4
Vocational GCSE Ministers Response to QCA

• Broadly accepted QCAs advice
• Ministers considered it essential to launch VGCSE
  from September 2000
• The use of foundation and intermediate would
  be confusing
• Six-unit foundation and intermediate GNVQs to
  continue in short term
• Students should not be able to continue to
  commence courses leading to GNVQs after 31 August
  2004

5
Vocational GCSE Ministers Response to QCA

• Will make equivalence more transparent
• Vocational GCSEs will form part of emerging
  framework for vocational learning
• Introduce students to knowledge, skills and
  understanding relevant to a broad vocational area
• Encourage independent research and study, to work
  in groups, to deliver presentations and produce
  reports
• Style of learning to motivate and equip students
  with skills for further study, training and for
  adult and working life.

6
Design of the Vocational GCSE

• Based on three common, compulsory, and normally
  weighted units in each subject
• Subject criteria developed in consultation with
  NTOs and subject associations
• Assessment and awarding arrangements governed by
  national subject criteria
• Qualification will be designed to
• provide introduction to broad vocational area
• enable progression to further education, training
  or employment
• be available at KS4 and post-16

7
Vocational GCSEs Main features of Qualification
8
Vocational GCSEs Subjects available from
September 2000

• Replace Part One GNVQ, 8 titles, combined
  foundation/intermediate qualification
• Art and Design
• Business
• Engineering
• Health and Social Care
• Information and Communication Technology
• Leisure and Tourism
• Manufacturing
• Science

9
Vocational GCSEs National Curriculum and Key
Stage 4

• Manufacturing and Engineering will meet NC
  programme of study for Design and Technology
• ICT will meet the NC programme of study for ICT
• Vocational GCSE Science can be used to meet
  statutory requirements for science, although it
  does not meet the full NC programme of study

10
Vocational GCSEs National Curriculum and Key
Stage 4

• Subject criteria and units on QCA website
• Awarding Bodies have submitted specifications for
  accreditation to National Qualifications
  Framework
• Guidance on planning new VGCSEs into the pre and
  post-16 curriculum - on QCA website in November
• Specifications/sample assessment materials
  available from Awarding Bodies by January 2002

11
Vocational GCSEs National Curriculum and Key
Stage 4

• Units are common to all Awarding Bodies
• Engineering and Manufacturing have a common unit
  - Application of Technology
• Edexcel only Awarding Body offering Engineering
• ICT has a different a different assessment model
  and there is more variation between the Awarding
  Bodies
• Science is the only title with tiered assessment

12
Vocational GCSEs National Curriculum and Key
Stage 4

• All external assessments will be 11/2 or 2 hours
• Key Skills social, moral, spiritual and cultural
  development and National Occupational Standards
  will be sign-posted
• Final certification dates for Part One GNVQ and
  Foundation/Intermediate, and first certification
  date for new VGCSEs still to be agreed
• Prohibited Combinations are under discussion
• QCA advice on rationalised range of GCSE titles -
  including new vocational subjects - in December

13
Vocational GCSEs The Qualification

• Awarding Bodies
• AQA, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC
• Timeline
• July 2001 - units and subject criteria
• Autumn 2001 - accreditation to National
  Qualifications Framework
• January 2002 - sample assessment materials
• September 2002 - VGCSEs available for teaching