Confirmed dates for new GCSE and A level qualifications

This update confirms the dates of introduction and first examination of the new GCSE and A level qualifications.

For languages, both the new GCSE and A level qualifications will be introduced for first teaching from September 2016. See the DfE revised timetable for GCSE and A level reforms  for more information. First examinations for the new qualifications will take place in summer 2018.

These dates are different to those in some other subject areas.

We will give you more information about the changes to the qualifications once the subject criteria have been finalised by the Department for Education. In the meantime, you can read the draft GCSE subject criteria for languages  and see the DfE response to the criteria consultation.

No draft criteria have been published yet for A levels in languages. Although there are currently A level DfE consultations in those subjects with earlier accreditation dates, there is an Ofqual A levels consultation which also considers some general structural issues. 

You may also be interested in reading letters to Ofqual from the Secretary of State for Education about the planned A level reforms and watching the related Russell Group of Universities video,  which highlights the importance of choosing facilitating subjects at A level.