Decision

Decision under section 140(7) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009

Published 8 June 2016

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2016

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-accreditation-end-dates-gcses-graded-a-to-g/decision-under-section-1407-of-the-apprenticeships-skills-children-and-learning-act-2009

Background

On 3 November 2014, in accordance with sections 140(3)-(5) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (the ‘2009 Act’), we varied the criteria for accreditation for all GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G).

At the same time, in accordance with section 140(6) of the 2009 Act, we specified that:

  • GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G) accredited prior to 19 June 2014 in English, English Language, English Literature and Mathematics would cease to be accredited on 31 August 2016
  • all other GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G) accredited prior to 19 June 2014 would cease to be accredited on 31st August 2017

We are now using our powers under section 140(7) of the 2009 Act to vary the accreditation end date for the GCSEs (graded A* to G) which will continue to be available for first teaching in September 2016 and September 2017, and for additional mathematical GCSEs which are being withdrawn alongside GCSEs in mathematics.

Decisions

GCSEs (graded A* to G) available for first teaching until September 2016

We have, in accordance with section 140(7) of the 2009 Act, decided to vary the date on which accreditation ceases to have effect for GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G) in:

  • Ancient History
  • Applied Business
  • Applied Information and Communication Technology
  • Arabic
  • Astronomy
  • Bengali
  • Business
  • Business and Communication Systems
  • Business Communications
  • Business Studies
  • Business Studies and Economics
  • Chinese
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Design and Technology (except Design and Technology: Food Technology)
  • Dutch
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Environmental and Land-Based Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Film Studies
  • General Studies
  • Geology
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • Home Economics (except Home Economics: Food and Nutrition)
  • Hospitality
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Law
  • Leisure and Tourism
  • Manufacturing
  • Media Studies
  • Modern Hebrew
  • Panjabi
  • Polish
  • Psychology
  • Russian
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Urdu

Accreditation for these qualifications will now cease to have effect on 31 August 2018.

GCSEs (graded A* to G) available for first teaching until September 2017

We have, in accordance with section 140(7) of the 2009 Act, decided to vary the date on which accreditation ceases to have effect for all GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G) in:

  • Gujarati
  • Persian
  • Portuguese
  • Turkish

Accreditation for these qualifications will now cease to have effect on 31 August 2019.

GCSE mathematics (linked pair)

We have, in accordance with section 140(7) of the 2009 Act, decided to vary the date on which accreditation ceases to have effect for all GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G) in:

  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Methods in Mathematics

Accreditation for these qualifications will now cease to have effect on 31 August 2016.

Reasons for our decision

At the time we made our 3 November 2014 decision, we noted that we would need to vary the accreditation end dates for the subjects where GCSEs (graded A* to G) would continue to be available beyond August 2017

Our 3 November 2014 decision also incorrectly omitted the linked pair of GCSEs in ‘applications of mathematics’ and ‘methods in mathematics’, These qualifications were being piloted as an alternative to the GCSE (graded A* to G) in mathematics, and are being withdrawn to the same timetable.

This decision implements our policy for GCSEs (graded A* to G) which will be available beyond August 2017, and corrects the error in respect of the linked pair of mathematics GCSEs.

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