Issue 2 Spring 2016 Inside this edition A level and GCSE subject update New A level Life and Health Sciences Supporting You: Spotlight on A level Support Programme
Issue 2 Spring 2016 Welcome to issue two of The Vision. Contents A level specifications now accredited Did you receive a copy of your revised A level subject specification? If you would like to receive additional copies or a specification box file, contact CCEA distribution on (028) 9026 1228 or email: cceadistribution@ccea.org.uk I m delighted to confirm that 20 of CCEA s A levels have been accredited and the specifications delivered to your school, ready for first teaching in 2016. I hope that students will find the content of our new A levels both stimulating and motivating. Full details on the A level specifications can be found on page 9. This issue includes the introduction of our new, innovative support in the form of e-books for our revised A level specifications (pages 14 15). Plus, a spotlight feature on our unique and industry-relevant qualification A level Life and Health Sciences available for first teaching September 2016 (pages 6 7). In addition, this issue contains updates on the timeframes around our GCSE journey (page 13). As we continue with the revision of GCSE specifications, we wish to keep you up to date with all the latest news and need-to-know information. Please refer to The ReVision microsite, your hub for The ReVision updates, to subscribe for e-alerts and the e-vision newsletter www.ccea.org.uk/therevision As always, we welcome any comments that you may have on this edition or any requests for future articles. Please email therevision@ccea.org.uk with your ideas. 02 A level The Story So Far 04 Spotlight on revised A levels 6 7 Introducing new A level Life and Health Sciences 8 9 A level subject update 10 Progression Connecting all that we do 11 12 GCSE update 13 GCSE Qualifications When to expect your specs 14 Supporting You Spotlight on A level Support Programme 16 Useful Contacts www.ccea.org.uk/therevision #therevision Best wishes You can also view the specifications and Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) online via The ReVision microsite www.ccea.org.uk/therevision The ReVision Shaping the future together Anne Marie Duffy Director of Qualifications @ccea_info cceainfo ccea.info 1
A level The Story So Far... Coming Soon... 20 Support continued delivery of our support programme A level revised specifications accredited Teaching d Art ann ig nt Guide Des E Stude GC? ay y Art and a pathw creates related Art and ive industries of GCE creat skills The study career in a ledge and res students to a future s on the know and prepa d study build and KS3 n or relate field. It at GCSE and Desig developedr study in Art area for furthe ive field. growing t creat a in the fastes success. tries are to economic lished ive indus key The Creat my and are UK have an estab econo and the of the areas. Ireland nt in these Northern requireme reputation global inherent e in its as: is uniqu le skills such ferab Art and skills key trans motivation nal op isatio nal to devel and and organ ivity, perso e, creat management thinking skills knowledg ned to: ct level GCSE proje higher It is desig to build on the loped in ation, inue innov skills deve solving. cont ding and problem broaden KS3; and ned to xtual at understan desig and conte is and n fication, skills to Art and This quali n knowledge of Art and Desig ression for prog and deepe ding of a range d basis understan in Art and tive de a soun ative courses the Crea provi disciplines. find altern work. It education other areas of nts to their higher ing, ed to rages studetake risks in to learn y relat It encou aches ilities. and to or stud t appro l capab approaches s. intellectua independen Industrie develops awareness and nses and nal respo aesthetic their for perso nts explore allows n ng stude Desig spiritual Art and is key in helpi cal and live. philosophiin which they therefore ty and their identity ps to the socie on the available relationshi rial is also nce mate org.uk guida Student ite www.ccea. CCEA webs ral as a gene tion) available tion is qualifica qualifica d studies This GCE Three (combine tion in phy qualifica Art and Photogra les, or specialism n, Texti or as a al Desig Dimension Media. Based and Lens as a final se cour units for the AS the A2 can take units plus Students the AS tion or ification. qualifica level qual GCE A the full Why stud CCEA S REVISE D GCE Geogra Specific ation Sn phy apshot For first For first For first teaching from teachi September For first award ASfrom For firstaward ofof ng LevelSeptem 2016 For first award AS Level in summ ber 2016 award of A Levelin summ er 2017 of A Level in er 2017 summ in summ er 2018 er 2018 Printed accredited specifications delivered to schools in March and April 2016 All accredited A level specifications and Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) available online at www.ccea.org.uk/therevision A level revised specifications support programme launched in February 2016 50 FREE Mathematics New subject accreditation of revised A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics for first teaching in September 2017 launch of new A level Professional Business Services for first teaching in September 2017 New for 201 7 CCEA A levels The Big Picture Remember that CCEA will continue to: offer modular assessment at A level; A level subject-specific workshops in February, March and April 2016 retain the link between AS and A2, with the AS grade continuing to count towards the full A level; include the assessment of practical skills in the overall grade for A level sciences; New 2 first teaching of our revised A levels and our new A level Life and Health Sciences in September 2016 listen to the views of teachers, higher education and other stakeholders when developing our specifications and support materials; and A level in Life and Health Sciences developed research local needs and stay focused on providing qualifications for students in Northern Ireland. 3
Q&A Spotlight on revised A levels The Vision asked four of CCEA s Subject Officers to tell us what s new in the revised A level Modern Languages, Nutrition and Food Science, Music and Geography specifications. Modern Languages developing skills Nutrition and Food Science industry supported Music internal assessment Geography relevant world content What areas of the specifications have been revised? There are now two themes for AS and two themes for A2. We ve refined these themes to offer increased flexibility to teachers. Previous themes at A2 level focused heavily on environmental issues, but that focus has been reduced. Now, the revised qualifications consider environmental issues as part of a wider spectrum of topics. Is there a particular change that you are most excited about? The AS 3 Extended Writing unit is now standalone. This means that students don t have to complete the assessment in conjunction with another assessment activity. Its assessment is now completely separate. What skills can students develop by studying a modern language? Studying languages helps students to develop a wide range of skills including literacy, critical thinking, presentation and interpersonal skills. Languages play a vital role in a person s self-development while helping them to learn about other societies and cultures. Subject Officers: Seán McNally smcnally@ccea.org.uk Eileen Lisk elisk@ccea.org.uk Why has the subject name changed from Home Economics? The title Nutrition and Food Science reflects the subject s content more accurately. By changing the name we hope to change perceptions and emphasise that this subject is suitable for both male and female students. How did you develop this revised qualification? We consulted a wide range of stakeholders including teachers, subject associations, universities and colleges, employers and subject advisory panels. Some of the industry representatives included the British Nutrition Foundation, the Livestock and Meat Commission, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Safefood, the Food Standards Agency and the Dairy Council. Why should a centre adopt this subject? Food and food-related industries are a growing part of the Northern Ireland economy, providing job opportunities both locally and abroad. There is a range of pathways beyond A level to courses such as Food Security, Food Innovation and Product Development. Universities have shown particular interest in this subject s research project because this is an area that develops a strong set of transferable skills. Subject Officer: Glynis Henderson ghenderson@ccea.org.uk What is new for A level Music? The qualification now offers three separate units at AS and A2 with slightly modified weightings. These units are: Performing (32.5%), Composing (32.5%) and Responding to Music (35%). Composition will now be treated as an internal assessment. We made this revision in response to strong educational research from Birmingham City University. How will internal assessment benefit teachers? Teachers are best placed to mark the composition tasks because they observe the development of students composition skills from beginning to end. Teachers will be able to highlight why marks have been awarded, due to the feedback that they receive each year via the moderation process. We will invite teachers to attend Agreement Trials each year to help refresh knowledge and apply the required standards. How has the subject adapted to the changing digital world? The Composition with Technology task is a response to the digital age and gives candidates the opportunity to create musical ideas using innovative digital technologies. Subject Officer: John Trueman jtrueman@ccea.org.uk What has changed in the revised specification? One of the most significant changes is the move to six units three at AS and three at A2 which will give candidates a better assessment experience. Another significant change is that at A2 all three papers are timed for 1 hour 30 minutes. Can you tell us about one of your favourite changes to the specification? At A2 2 we give students the option to study Cultural Geography, which has become an important part of studying Human Geography at higher education level. Students will learn that, despite globalisation, significant differences in culture still exist. How does The ReVision show that CCEA has listened to teacher feedback? Teachers have long been asking us to include glaciation in the A level Geography specification. At A2 1 there is now an exciting option available titled Climate Change Past and Present. This brings together the evidence for past climate change, the resulting lowland glacial landscapes and the current debate surrounding the causes and consequences of climate change. It will also consider how we can manage global climate change. Subject Officer: Margaret McMullan mmcmullan@ccea.org.uk 4 If you have any questions on these revised specifications, please contact your subject specification officer. Full details on page 16. Are you new to CCEA? If so, call us today to have a more general discussion on how we can meet your needs. Contact Marion Wilcox, Programme Manager on (028) 9026 1446 or email mwilcox@ccea.org.uk 5
6 Introducing new A level Life and Health Sciences The Vision meets CCEA s Gavin Gray, Subject Officer, to find out more on the new A level Life and Health Sciences. For more information on Life and Health Sciences contact Gavin Gray at ggray@ccea.org.uk What is the new Life and Health Sciences A level? This qualification was introduced in response to the growing Life and Health Sciences sector in Northern Ireland, which generates sales worth about 800m a year. The new Life and Health Sciences qualification was developed in partnership with industry and covers a range of science disciplines. This applied science subject will be available for first teaching in September 2016 and will equip students for a career in the Life and Health Sciences sector. It fits well with the current emphasis on STEM subjects and building cross-disciplinary skills. What will the subject content and assessment look like? Students will study topics such as: pharmaceutical science; clinical research; manufacturing; medicine, drugs and clinical trials; analytical chemistry; genetics, stem cell research and cloning; data management; histology and pathology; predictive modelling; medical devices and device electronics. Life and Health Sciences will include 16 assessment units (pending accreditation). The Single Award qualification has three units at AS and six for the full A level qualification. The Double Award qualification requires six AS units while the full A level qualification requires 12 units. For each route there are core compulsory units to be completed alongside a range of optional units offering both internal and external assessment options. How is it different to existing sciences? Our current science A levels cover the individual disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Life and Health Sciences A level will include many of the fundamental principles of the individual sciences, as well as introducing new scientific content and developing a wide range of industry relevant technical skills. Why should a centre adopt this subject? This is a fresh, relevant industry-driven course. It provides centres currently offering sciences at post-16 with an opportunity to complement and enhance their current science offer. For centres that wish to develop a post-16 science provision, this is an ideal high-quality applied course for their students. What area(s) of the subject are you most enthusiastic about? This qualification uses a real-life, context-driven approach to enthuse students about the innovative and practical science work that is happening in the Life and Health Sciences industries across Northern Ireland. For example, the unit in Enabling Technology is a unique concept that allows students to employ real monitoring techniques to complete a real or simulated medical study of a patient. This is designed to allow students to appreciate how specialised equipment functions, and explore how the work of Northern Ireland companies such as Intelesens are pioneering the developments in this important area of medicine. Who is this A level aimed towards? The qualification is aimed at all potential A level science students and those interested in gaining industry-sought skills that will increase employment opportunities in the Life and Health Sciences sector. It also provides a gateway to further study and higher education science courses, both locally and internationally. Students can take this as their only science A level, offering learning across the three disciplines or can complement it with their study of the other science subjects. What industry-specific skills can students expect to develop and what career paths will be open to them? Students will develop a range of transferable skills, including investigative and research skills, evaluation, statistical analysis, critical thinking and interdisciplinary team working. Potential career paths may include analytical chemistry, industrial pharmaceuticals, nursing, radiography and biomedical science. The skills students learn on the course are also transferable to a range of other career choices. This qualification has been developed in partnership with high-profile firms like Almac, Norbrook and Intelesens, all of whom offer careers in this area. What support will CCEA provide for teachers? We are providing a comprehensive support package that will include schemes of work, student guides and fact files. There will also be specific support events for teachers, facilitated by a range of hosts including CCEA, higher education establishments and industry partners. Fast Facts New A level: Life and Health Sciences First teaching in September 2016 Single and Double Award applied qualification Developed with industry partners including Almac, Norbrook and Intelesens Wide range of topics available including Genetics, Medical Physics, Organic Chemistry and Enabling Technology Life and Health Sciences Sector accounts for 800m worth of Northern Ireland sales Offers many career and higher education pathways such as analytical chemistry, nursing, radiography and biomedical science 'This is an exciting qualification developed in partnership with industry to provide talent for the growing Life and Health Sciences Sector.' 7
A level Applied Business and A level Applied ICT extended to 2018 The Northern Ireland Regulator has approved CCEA s request to extend the availability of CCEA A level Applied Business and CCEA A level Applied Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to 2018. This means that students starting these qualifications in September 2016 will study the current specification. Final certification is in Summer 2018. There will be one resit opportunity for A2 units only and certification is in Summer 2019. For this final cohort of students, A level Applied Business and Applied ICT units will be worth 40% and A2 units will be worth 60% of the overall qualification. This change ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and aligns both qualifications with all other CCEA A level qualifications available from September 2016. The table below highlights the availability of assessment for the legacy and revised specifications 2016 19. CCEA s portfolio of revised A level qualifications The following A level subjects are now accredited and available to download on the CCEA website: Art and Geography Music Biology German Nutrition and Food Science Chemistry Government and Politics Physics Digital Technology History Religious Studies Economics History of Art Spanish English Literature Irish Technology and French Moving Image Arts Sept 15 Summer 16 Sept 16 Summer 17 Sept 17 Summer 18 Sept 18 Summer 19 Did you know? Legacy AS Y Y Legacy A2 Y Y Y Revised AS Y Y Y Revised A2 Y Y A level Mathematics, Further Mathematics and our new qualification Professional Business Services will be available for first teaching in September 2017. Key "Y" means all units are offered blank cells indicate that no units are offered Please note that where a centre intends to offer a one year full A level course (i.e. both AS and A2) which starts in September 2016 and finishes in September 2017, candidates must study the current (legacy) specification. 8 9
Progression Connecting all that we do to develop the best qualifications for Northern Ireland's students GCSE The Story So Far We've... Developed Consulted Listened Recruited CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK, bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment. CCEA s vision for education supports intellectual, social, moral and spiritual development and encourages a love for learning in young people and adults alike. We aim to reflect the needs of individual students, the community and the Northern Ireland economy in our education provision. At the heart of the curriculum there is an explicit emphasis on developing skills and capabilities for lifelong learning and for contributing effectively to society. These include the Cross-Curricular Skills Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT and Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities. Therefore, we ve put the development of Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities at the heart of the revised curriculum from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4. At each Key Stage, schools assess and report each pupil s progress in Communication and Using Mathematics with reference to the Levels of Progression. The Levels of Progression are a series of can do statements, a range of skills that pupils should be able to demonstrate. By doing so, they will build the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills needed to function effectively in life and in the world of work. When revising the GCSE specifications, CCEA decided to include progression of the skills embedded in the curriculum at primary and at Key Stage 3 alongside the required subject knowledge. Each GCSE specification will highlight opportunities for progression in their delivery of skills and will support the transferability of those skills. We will provide supporting materials and schemes of work which signpost the Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities of Problem-Solving, Self-Management and Working With Others. We will also supply examples of how these skills can be developed and used to enhance learning and teaching within subjects. In addition, CCEA has developed roadmaps in vital areas such as Communication, Using Mathematics, Science and Digital Skills to ensure progression from Foundation, through Key Stages 1 4, to A level and beyond. The continuity in skills progression at Key Stage 4 is essential to allow young people to apply and transfer knowledge and understanding from one situation to another, and to help them function effectively in the changing workplace. If you have any feedback or views on this article we would like to hear from you. Email: therevision@ccea.org.uk Developed draft proposals for specification content Consulted teachers and other stakeholders on our draft proposals Coming Soon... Draft Specifications Our specification writers are analysing your feedback and insights to develop final draft specifications for each subject. Publication of GCSE specifications Accredited specifications and Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) will be available online from October 2016 through to March 2017. (See the table on page 13 for more details.) 1200 Recruited GCSE support Stakeholders writers to create including teachers, informative students and industry resources for provided feedback each subject Accreditation Once we ve revised each specification, it will move through to the accreditation stage. We ll start sending the printed specifications to schools from December 2016 through to June 2017. 10 11
GCSE Grading From 2017, GCSEs taken by students in England will be graded 9 1. In Northern Ireland and Wales, GCSEs will continue to be graded using the alphabetical grades A* to G. CCEA is working with universities and employers to ensure that: there is a clear understanding of the differences in GCSE grading across England, Wales and Northern Ireland; GCSEs in Northern Ireland remain highly valued by universities and employers; and GCSEs in Northern Ireland are comparable to those offered in England and Wales. GCSEs The Big Picture Grade Grade 4 C 7 A * -G Comparability between lettered and numbered grades In moving to the number grade scale in England, Ofqual will anchor the new Grade 4 to Grade C and the new Grade 7 to Grade A. There will, therefore, be equivalence points across the two scales at the important grades of C (4) and A (7). In our discussions with universities and other key stakeholders (including employers) we are highlighting this equivalence. Grade Grade A It is essential for students in Northern Ireland that CCEA develops robust, relevant and future-proofed GCSE qualifications to meet students needs as they progress to further and higher education and to employment. GCSE Qualifications When to expect your specs The table below highlights when your subject specification will be available online and delivered to your school.* Phase 1 English Literature Food and Nutrition Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies Art and Child Development Technology and Physical Education French German Irish Spanish Gaeilge English History Phase 2 Mathematics Phase 3 Physics Chemistry Biology Science: Single Award Science: Double Award Digital Technology Business Communication Systems Accredited Online Further Mathematics Religious Studies Business Studies Drama Music Phase 4 Learning for Life and Work Geography October 2016 November 2016 January 2017 Late February 2017 Phase 5 Manufacturing and Engineering Hospitality Journalism Construction Economics Leisure and Tourism Health and Social Care Government and Politics Late March 2017 CCEA s GCSEs will continue to: Delivery to Schools offer modular and linear assessment opportunities; Mid December 2016 Late January 2017 Mid March 2017 May 2017 Mid June 2017 retain speaking and listening as an integral part of GCSE English Language; be aligned to the Northern Ireland Curriculum and provide progression from Key Stage 3; and reflect your viewpoints and those of other key stakeholders, including students, higher education and industry. * Timescales correct at the time of print April 2016 Did you know? We're developing GCSE Polish, GCSE Sociology and GCSE Statistics as new subjects. Keep a look out for further updates. 12 13
Q&A Supporting You Spotlight on A level Support Programme The Vision chats with CCEA s Programme Manager for The ReVision support programme, Danny Lambe, to find out how CCEA is supporting teachers in the delivery of revised specifications, and what s new for 2016. For more information on The ReVision Support Programme contact Danny Lambe at dlambe@ccea.org.uk Danny, can you tell us about CCEA s support programme for the revised A levels, due for first teaching this September? A full A level ReVision support programme is well underway to accompany the introduction of the revised A level specifications. This programme will provide a range of support materials and events. These include student guides, specification snapshots, exemplar schemes of work for all units and options, student fact files and a range of bespoke support materials. What type of support are you providing for teachers? Our resource writing teams are developing support materials for each subject. We aim to provide professional support materials which are fit for purpose. We will assist teachers with their first teaching of each subject from September 2016 onwards, and continue to support them throughout the lifetime of the specification. At specification launch events, we ve provided printed copies of accredited specifications, Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) and exemplar schemes of work. All support materials are available online for each subject and we're updating our microsites, which will hold all the new specifications and support materials. 'We ll monitor the roll-out of the new A level specifications and provide ongoing support to schools, taking into account teachers feedback on any additional support they might need.' What about the support events and how do these work? To date we ve held 50 free support events across Northern Ireland, with over 1500 teachers attending. These events have informed teachers about the accredited specifications. They have also given teachers the opportunity to meet Subject Officers and support staff to discuss their support needs. What new support is available for 2016? We re creating unit-based e-books for 10 subjects. These include subjects such as English Literature, History, Geography, Health and Social Care and Music. We ve commissioned 87 unit-based e-books, and the ones for AS level will be available on the CCEA website in time for first teaching in September 2016. The ReVision of GCSEs is underway. What support will be available for these qualifications, due for first teaching in September 2017? The support programme for GCSE revised specifications will be tailored to suit the needs of subject teachers and students. We ve already started with a range of support events for centres that had to change their awarding organisation (due to the decision taken to retain GCSEs A* to G here in Northern Ireland). These support events started in April and will continue through to June. We ve also recruited GCSE support writing teams who are developing the resources needed to support first teaching in September 2017. Why can centres have confidence in CCEA? CCEA is committed to support all teachers before first teaching, during the first year of the new course and throughout the lifetime of the specification. When we developed our support programme, we considered the requirements of our primary customers (students and teachers). As a result, we re developing innovative online materials, free training seminars and workshop events plus visits to schools on request. Fast Facts 50 A level support events held to date Over 1500 teachers in attendance New for 2016 e-books textbook mapping hyperlinked online specifications Online Material Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) Schemes of work Student guides Specification snapshots Subject unit Fact Files Subject resource list GCSE support programme launches January 2017 Our Support Commitment We will support you... with visits to schools on request throughout the lifetime of the specifications before the first teaching year ONGOING SUPPORT with innovative online and printed materials with free training seminars and workshop events during the first teaching of the qualification 14 15
Useful Contacts If you are considering CCEA for the first time and wish to have a more general discussion on how CCEA could meet your requirements, please contact Marion Wilcox, Programme Manager, on (028) 9026 1446 or email mwilcox@ccea.org.uk We value all your comments and consider these important in enhancing our service to you and your students. COMMUNICATIONS and LANGUAGES English English Language English Literature French Gaeilge German Irish Spanish Joan Jennings (028) 9026 1200 ext 2552 jjennings@ccea.org.uk SOCIETY, ECONOMY and THE ENVIRONMENT Business Studies HEALTH and THE ARTS Art and Contemporary Crafts Drama Health and Social Care Hospitality History of Art Home Economics Journalism in the Media and Communications Industry Moving Image Arts Music Nutrition and Food Science Performing Arts Nola Fitzsimons (028) 9026 1200 ext 2235 nfitzsimons@ccea.org.uk STEM Visit The ReVision microsite your hub for all things relating to The ReVision, from the latest news and consultation results to draft specifications or registering for events. www.ccea.org.uk/therevision A level GCSE Both Business and Communication Systems Economics Geography Government and Politics History Learning for Life and Work Leisure and Tourism Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies Physical Education Religious Studies Sports Science and the Active Leisure Industry Arlene Ashfield (028) 9026 1200 ext 2291 aashfield@ccea.org.uk Agriculture and Land Use Biology Chemistry Construction Digital Technology Environmental Technology Life and Health Sciences Manufacturing and Engineering Mathematics Physics Science: Double Award Science: Single Award Software Systems Development Technology and Nuala Tierney (028) 9026 1200 ext 2292 ntierney@ccea.org.uk 17 Register online for The ReVision subject e-alerts and e-vision newsletter. Follow us @ccea_info cceainfo ccea.info #therevision 16
We need you! Examine with CCEA We are currently seeking qualified teachers and lecturers to mark and moderate GCSE and A level examinations. If you have more than one year s teaching experience in your subject area, we would like to hear from you! Benefits to you include: networking with other professionals in your field; professional development and training; full training and support; and earning extra income. Benefits to your centre: subject specialist professional development provided at no cost to the centre; teachers/lecturers will gain a better understanding of how the specifications they teach are assessed; and substitute teacher costs will be covered through the Teacher Release Scheme. Applying is easy! Simply view the full list of specifications and complete the online application form at www.ccea.org.uk/examiners_moderators We are also interested in hearing from teachers who are fluent in Irish and qualified in any GCSE and GCE subject. CCEA welcomes applications at any time of the year. Images Thinkstockphotos.co.uk CCEA 2016 COUNCIL FOR THE CURRICULUM, EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT 29 Clarendon Road, Clarendon Dock, Belfast BT1 3BG Tel: +44(0)28 9026 1200 Fax: +44(0)28 9026 1234 Email: info@ccea.org.uk Web: www.ccea.org.uk