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| A-level overhaul: Cap on resits and shift to summer-only exams | A-level overhaul: Cap on resits and shift to summer-only exams |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News | By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News |
| England's exams watchdog Ofqual has announced a shift to summer-only exams and a cap on resits for A-level students in England. | England's exams watchdog Ofqual has announced a shift to summer-only exams and a cap on resits for A-level students in England. |
| They are the first of what are expected to be widespread changes to the exams taken by 18-year-olds. | They are the first of what are expected to be widespread changes to the exams taken by 18-year-olds. |
| The watchdog has published the results of a consultation on proposed changes. | The watchdog has published the results of a consultation on proposed changes. |
| Teachers have criticised the plans, saying there is no evidence that A-levels need changing and that schools and pupils face "huge turbulence". | Teachers have criticised the plans, saying there is no evidence that A-levels need changing and that schools and pupils face "huge turbulence". |
| But the government believes there are "serious problems" with the exams and that they are not preparing pupils properly for university. | But the government believes there are "serious problems" with the exams and that they are not preparing pupils properly for university. |
| Ministers have previously criticised the modular nature of A-levels, saying this and repeated resits had led to "grade inflation". They had called for exams to be taken at the end of two years of study and more input from universities. | Ministers have previously criticised the modular nature of A-levels, saying this and repeated resits had led to "grade inflation". They had called for exams to be taken at the end of two years of study and more input from universities. |
| Universities have said they broadly support the "thrust" of Friday's announcement, but do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications. | Universities have said they broadly support the "thrust" of Friday's announcement, but do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications. |
| Ofqual canvassed opinion on proposals, which included plans to bring in new A-level courses in 2014 in some "priority subjects", with other courses introduced later and for universities to be more involved with their design. | Ofqual canvassed opinion on proposals, which included plans to bring in new A-level courses in 2014 in some "priority subjects", with other courses introduced later and for universities to be more involved with their design. |
| At the moment, students typically take AS-levels after one year of study and then an exam called the A2 a year later - and these together make up the A-level. Some papers are also taken in January. | At the moment, students typically take AS-levels after one year of study and then an exam called the A2 a year later - and these together make up the A-level. Some papers are also taken in January. |
| Ofqual describes its announcement as "the first phase of proposed wider A-level reforms". | Ofqual describes its announcement as "the first phase of proposed wider A-level reforms". |
| A key change is that pupils will be limited to one resit of each exam - the following June. | A key change is that pupils will be limited to one resit of each exam - the following June. |
| The scrapping of January exams and the limit on resits come in from September 2013, but they will affect students who began their A-level studies this September. They will not have January exams in their second year as expected. | |
| The watchdog said there had been concerns that allowing repeated resits was leading to "grade-inflation" and over-burdening schools. | The watchdog said there had been concerns that allowing repeated resits was leading to "grade-inflation" and over-burdening schools. |
| 'Largely fit-for-purpose' | 'Largely fit-for-purpose' |
| The body's chief regulator, Glenys Stacey, said: "Earlier this year we set out our proposals for A-level reform. The results show that respondents are very supportive of the proposals we outlined to remove the January assessments. Our consultation also demonstrated broad support for our proposals regarding more involvement from higher education. | The body's chief regulator, Glenys Stacey, said: "Earlier this year we set out our proposals for A-level reform. The results show that respondents are very supportive of the proposals we outlined to remove the January assessments. Our consultation also demonstrated broad support for our proposals regarding more involvement from higher education. |
| "The consultation followed on from Ofqual's research into perceptions of A-levels. This showed that the qualifications are considered to be largely fit-for-purpose but that there were some structural changes that could be made to improve them." | "The consultation followed on from Ofqual's research into perceptions of A-levels. This showed that the qualifications are considered to be largely fit-for-purpose but that there were some structural changes that could be made to improve them." |
| The watchdog said key findings from the consultation showed support for exams only being taken at the end of the first and second years of study; for reduced "internal assessment" (course work) and for fewer resit opportunities. | The watchdog said key findings from the consultation showed support for exams only being taken at the end of the first and second years of study; for reduced "internal assessment" (course work) and for fewer resit opportunities. |
| It says there was support for the idea of universities being involved with the design of A-levels - "but less support for universities endorsing each A-level". | It says there was support for the idea of universities being involved with the design of A-levels - "but less support for universities endorsing each A-level". |
| Universities are already involved with the design of the exams, sitting on expert panels drawn up by exam boards. | Universities are already involved with the design of the exams, sitting on expert panels drawn up by exam boards. |
| Head teachers have described the proposals as a "recipe for disaster", saying they could lead to a "two-tier system", with an overemphasis on what universities want. | Head teachers have described the proposals as a "recipe for disaster", saying they could lead to a "two-tier system", with an overemphasis on what universities want. |
| 'Huge turbulence' | 'Huge turbulence' |
| Chris Keates, the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, said Ofqual had shown no hard evidence that the wholesale change of A-levels was needed and that teachers and students would now face "huge turbulence and uncertainty". | Chris Keates, the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, said Ofqual had shown no hard evidence that the wholesale change of A-levels was needed and that teachers and students would now face "huge turbulence and uncertainty". |
| Reducing resit opportunities would disadvantage pupils, she added. | Reducing resit opportunities would disadvantage pupils, she added. |
| "A-levels continue to perform well against other comparable qualifications globally," she said. | "A-levels continue to perform well against other comparable qualifications globally," she said. |
| "The only pressure that is being exerted for reform is based on the ideological agenda of the secretary of state for education who is seemingly determined to reduce the A-level to an elite university entrance exam, rather than a qualification which supports and prepares all young people to make the most of their future." | "The only pressure that is being exerted for reform is based on the ideological agenda of the secretary of state for education who is seemingly determined to reduce the A-level to an elite university entrance exam, rather than a qualification which supports and prepares all young people to make the most of their future." |
| Exam boards are questioning the timescale for changes. | Exam boards are questioning the timescale for changes. |
| Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam body, said: "The issue of timescales for the implementation of A-level reforms and the method of engagement with universities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. | Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam body, said: "The issue of timescales for the implementation of A-level reforms and the method of engagement with universities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. |
| "On resits, we agree that everyone should be entitled to resit an exam, because anyone can have a bad day and deserves a second chance. But we have been concerned for some time that the culture of resits was distorting exam results." | "On resits, we agree that everyone should be entitled to resit an exam, because anyone can have a bad day and deserves a second chance. But we have been concerned for some time that the culture of resits was distorting exam results." |
| The government has welcomed the changes, saying Ofqual's report shows that its reform plans are right. | The government has welcomed the changes, saying Ofqual's report shows that its reform plans are right. |
| A spokeswoman said: "Academics at our best universities have been concerned that there are real problems with A-levels. | A spokeswoman said: "Academics at our best universities have been concerned that there are real problems with A-levels. |
| "We are pleased that January exams and multiple resits will be scrapped, that people want less internal assessment and that universities have given such a clear signal that they want to be involved in designing A-levels. | "We are pleased that January exams and multiple resits will be scrapped, that people want less internal assessment and that universities have given such a clear signal that they want to be involved in designing A-levels. |
| "It is enormously encouraging that there is such support for a robust and relevant new system which will allow young people to demonstrate real knowledge and understanding of their subjects." | "It is enormously encouraging that there is such support for a robust and relevant new system which will allow young people to demonstrate real knowledge and understanding of their subjects." |
| In the consultation document published by Ofqual in June, there was a plan for exam boards to have to show that each A-level qualification had the support of at least 20 UK universities, including 12 which are respected in the field or considered to be leading research institutions. | In the consultation document published by Ofqual in June, there was a plan for exam boards to have to show that each A-level qualification had the support of at least 20 UK universities, including 12 which are respected in the field or considered to be leading research institutions. |
| That plan has been criticised by universities and school leaders. | That plan has been criticised by universities and school leaders. |
| Ambitious | Ambitious |
| Universities UK (UUK), which represents university leaders, says it supports the "broad thrust" of the plans, but that universities do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications and that the timetable for change is "too ambitious". | Universities UK (UUK), which represents university leaders, says it supports the "broad thrust" of the plans, but that universities do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications and that the timetable for change is "too ambitious". |
| Its chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, said: "Universities have an important role to play in developing A-level curriculum and in ensuring that A-level content supports progression to higher education. University academics and staff are already extensively engaged in this way and have been working with the awarding organisations for many years. | Its chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, said: "Universities have an important role to play in developing A-level curriculum and in ensuring that A-level content supports progression to higher education. University academics and staff are already extensively engaged in this way and have been working with the awarding organisations for many years. |
| "A-levels should remain broad enough to prepare students for the next stage of life, whether in higher education, employment or other forms of education. Given this, we would encourage Ofqual to seek subject expertise from all types of universities in the UK and not restrict it to a selection of institutions." | "A-levels should remain broad enough to prepare students for the next stage of life, whether in higher education, employment or other forms of education. Given this, we would encourage Ofqual to seek subject expertise from all types of universities in the UK and not restrict it to a selection of institutions." |
| Wales and Northern Ireland are conducting their own separate reviews into the future of exams for 14 to 18-year-olds so these changes will just affect students in England, potentially leading to different A-level exams being taken by pupils in different parts of the UK. | Wales and Northern Ireland are conducting their own separate reviews into the future of exams for 14 to 18-year-olds so these changes will just affect students in England, potentially leading to different A-level exams being taken by pupils in different parts of the UK. |