Edexcel GCSE Mathematics: Performance tables in 2017
On 24 July 2014, the Department for Education (DfE) released an update on types of qualifications to be counted in 2017 school performance tables.
The only Maths qualification that will count in the 2017 secondary school performance tables will be the reformed GCSE Maths, first teaching September 2015 and first examination in summer 2017.
The current arrangements for recognising other academic qualifications will end with the introduction of the reformed GCSE Maths: the Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 Certificate in Mathematics will not be included in the 2017 performance tables (due to be published in January 2018).
This follows advice from the regulator, Ofqual, about the challenges of including academic qualifications that could potentially be quite different from GCSEs in performance tables for 2017.
These are transitional arrangements intended to ensure that all academic qualifications recognised in performance tables are of a comparable standard. Following the first exams in the new GCSEs, exam boards will be able to propose alternative qualifications for inclusion in performance tables. They will need to demonstrate that their qualifications are at least as demanding as the new GCSEs and share key characteristics. All qualifications will need to be accredited by Ofqual; new alternatives to Maths could be recognised in performance tables from 2018.
Alongside these changes, the DfE confirmed that entries to the current GCSE Maths from 2016 or earlier will not count in performance tables in 2017. Schools may still enter pupils early for these ‘legacy’ qualifications but, if they do, students will need either to take the new GCSE Maths in 2017 or to progress to a higher-level qualification, such as an AS Level qualification, for their achievements to count in tables.
The exclusion of ‘legacy’ GCSEs from performance tables will apply to English and Maths only, reflecting the weight placed on these qualifications in the new Progress 8 measure.
FAQs
For Maths results to count in the 2017 performance tables, students can only take the reformed GCSE Maths. This affects the new Year 9 in September 2014, who will complete Year 11 in summer 2017.
The results for current GCSE Maths will count in school performance tables in 2016 for the last time. The new Year 10 in September 2014, who will complete Year 11 in summer 2016, are unaffected by this announcement.
If the intention is that these students take their GCSE Maths in Year 11, they will need to be taught the new GCSE Maths 9–1 specification. If the intention is that they take GCSE Maths 1MA0 or 2MB01 in Year 10 (summer 2016), then these results will not count in 2017 performance tables.
You will still be free to offer the Edexcel Certificate in Mathematics, but your students’ results will not count in school performance tables after summer 2016. After summer 2017, following the DfE guidance, we may choose to redevelop the Edexcel Certificate in Mathematics and propose its inclusion in future performance tables.
Our well-established International GCSEs are not affected by GCSE and accountability reform, as they no longer count in school performance tables. These qualifications are primarily offered by international centres, and by independent schools in the UK. These schools may continue to offer the current specifications until further notice.