A-level Overhaul Announced

Ofqual has announced that from next year students in England will no longer be able to sit A level exams in January, after the proposal received strong support following a three month consultation into A level reform.

The change will also address recent concerns over how many times students can sit their exams by reducing resit opportunities.

From September 2013, students starting their courses will only be able to sit AS and A level exams in the summer. This change is the first phase of proposed wider A level reforms. Further changes to the system, including more involvement from higher education into the design of A levels, and changes to the A level structure, are also being considered and will be announced at a later date

Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey, comments: "Earlier this year we set out our proposals for A level reform. We received an excellent response to our consultation. 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. There were also concerns expressed by teachers, employers and universities over what they term a resit culture. Teachers in particular said that A level students approach examinations with the expectation that they will always get a second chance. Making improvements in these key areas is what this first phase is about and it has been widely welcomed by higher education and by many schools and colleges. The next phase will consider further structural changes to strengthen the A level, how higher education will be involved in A levels, and content changes where stakeholders deem that they are necessary."

(GK/IT)