A new examination system
Numbers of students in the UK staying on in education post-16 have improved but are still too far down the international league table. Some 16-19 year olds are not in education, employment or training.
The Government wants to transform learning for 14-19 year olds – the curriculum, assessment and the range of opportunities on offer – and set out how it would achieve this in its February 2005 White Paper (pdf 521KB).
The proposals mean a radical reform of the examinations system. The new system will be better tailored to individual needs and will stretch learners more. There will be a greater choice of what and where to study, and it will be easier to combine academic and vocational learning. Schools and colleges will be challenged to ensure that young people take qualifications when they are ready, not at a fixed age.
Achieving level 2 functional skills in English and maths will be at the heart of 14-19 education as they are essential to support learning in other subjects and for employment.
Key Stage 3 will provide a stronger base of knowledge and skills across the curriculum to prepare students for the increased choice they will have between the ages of 14 and 19, and to ensure that more young people achieve National Curriculum level 5 in English, mathematics, science and IT.
A new curriculum will place a strong emphasis on developing skills for life and work. These include a new framework for personal learning and thinking skills, while functional skills have been embedded into English, maths and ICT. It is now available to schools for planning purposes and will become statutory in year 7 from 2008, with first assessment by July 2011.
Find out more about the changes by clicking on the links above. You can also get more detailed information on the following websites: DCFS, NAA.