GCSE subject content and requirements

Regulations for GCSE subjects and how to comply with them.

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Guidance and regulation

• National curriculum in England: framework for key stages 1 to 4
  • Statutory guidance
  • 2 December 2014
  • Department for Education
• National curriculum in England: English programmes of study
  • Statutory guidance
  • 16 July 2014
  • Department for Education
• National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study
  • Statutory guidance
  • 28 September 2021
  • Department for Education
• National curriculum in England: science programmes of study
  • Statutory guidance
  • 6 May 2015
  • Department for Education
• National curriculum in England: PE programmes of study
  • Statutory guidance
  • 11 September 2013
  • Department for Education

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News and communications

• Ofqual announces rules for unique British Sign Language GCSE
  • 13 November 2025
  • Ofqual
  • Press release
• Ofqual launches next phase in British Sign Language GCSE development
  • 30 April 2025
  • Ofqual
  • Press release
• New British Sign Language GCSE heading for classrooms
  • 21 December 2023
  • Department for Education
  • Press release
• Open letter to heads of schools and colleges, May 2022
  • 13 May 2022
  • Ofqual
  • Correspondence
• Advance information for November 2022 examinations
  • 25 April 2022
  • Ofqual
  • Correspondence

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Research and statistics

• Language programmes evaluation: interim report
  • 15 September 2025
  • Department for Education
  • Research
• Impact of coursework on attainment dependent on student characteristics
  • 30 June 2020
  • Ofqual
  • Research
• Higher education outcomes for EBacc subject entry
  • 24 January 2019
  • Department for Education
  • Research
• GCSE and A level reform: market and pricing reports
  • 26 February 2015
  • Ofqual
  • Research
• The independent evaluation of the pilot of the linked pair of GCSEs in mathematics (MLP): brief
  • 11 June 2013
  • Department for Education
  • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

• Rules for GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language
  • 13 November 2025
  • Ofqual
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 25 June 2025
• GCSE computer science subject content update
  • 31 March 2025
  • Department for Education
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 21 July 2024
• ​​GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language​
  • 21 December 2023
  • Ofqual
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 07 September 2023
• GCSE British Sign Language (BSL): proposed subject content
  • 21 December 2023
  • Department for Education
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 08 September 2023
• GCSE British Sign Language (BSL): equality impact assessment
  • 21 December 2023
  • Department for Education
  • Impact assessment

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

• List of schools by EBacc language entry
  • 19 March 2020
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• GCSE modern foreign languages subject content review panel
  • 5 November 2019
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• GCSE history and geography provision in secondary schools in England
  • 16 September 2013
  • Department for Education
  • Foi release

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Organisations

• Department for Education

• Ofqual
• Ofsted