Guidance
GCSE, AS and A level subjects that are not being reformed
Updated 15 December 2015
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2015
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-as-and-a-level-subjects-that-are-not-being-reformed/gcse-as-and-a-level-subjects-that-are-not-being-reformed
1. GCSE subjects not being reformed
| Subject | 2015 entries [footnote 1] | Reason for withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Additional and further additional science | 343,700 | Subject or content too similar |
| Additional applied science | 13,800 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applications of mathematics | 13,000 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied business | 13,100 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied information and communications technology | 200 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied science | 0 | Subject or content too similar |
| Business and communication systems | 13,100 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Business communications | 2,000 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Business studies and economics | 4,200 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Catering | 31,000 | Subject or content too similar |
| Design and technology: food technology | 38,500 | Subject or content too similar |
| Digital communication | 400 | Subject or content too similar |
| Environmental science | 800 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Environmental and land-based science | 2,000 | Exam board proposal rejected by Ofqual: lack of confidence that content could be developed |
| Expressive arts | 2,700 | Subject or content too similar |
| General studies | 9,900 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Health and social care | 19,900 | Exam board proposal rejected by Ofqual: lack of confidence that content could be developed |
| Home economics: child development | 22,200 | Exam board proposal rejected by Ofqual: lack of confidence that content could be developed |
| Home economics: food and nutrition | 9,600 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Home economics: textiles | 300 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Hospitality | 4,000 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Human health and physiology | 1,900 | Subject or content too similar |
| Humanities | 7,600 | Subject or content too similar |
| Information and communication technology | 67,300 | Department for Education announced content development has ceased |
| Law | 2,500 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Leisure and tourism | 6,800 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Manufacturing | 300 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Performing arts | 6,200 | Subject or content too similar |
2. AS and A level subjects not being reformed
| Subject | 2015 entries: A level [footnote 1] | 2015 entries: AS level [footnote 1] | Reason for withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 300 | 700 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Applied art and design | 200 | 300 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied business | 9,600 | 9,900 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied information and communication technology | 6,300 | 9,500 | Subject or content too similar |
| Applied science | 4,600 | 4,800 | Subject or content too similar |
| Citizenship studies | 600 | 2,300 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Communication and culture | 1,800 | 3,000 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Creative writing | 1,000 | 3,400 | Department for Education announced content development has ceased |
| Critical thinking | 200 | 4,900 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Economics and business | 2,100 | 3,500 | Subject or content too similar |
| Engineering | 300 | 600 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| General studies | 18,100 | 33,000 | Department for Education announced content development has ceased |
| Health and social care | 8,300 | 12,900 | Department for Education announced content development has ceased |
| Home economics: food, nutrition and health | 400 | 500 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Human biology | 1,400 | 3,200 | Subject or content too similar |
| Humanities | less than 50 | less than 50 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Information and communication technology | 10,600 | 15,800 | Department for Education announced content development has ceased |
| Leisure studies | 400 | 600 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Media: communication and production | 300 | 400 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Performance studies | 600 | 700 | Subject or content too similar |
| Performing arts | 1,000 | 1,300 | Subject or content too similar |
| Pure mathematics | 200 | 500 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Quantitive methods, AS level | less than 50 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content | |
| Science, AS level | 100 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content | |
| Science in society | 100 | 300 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Travel and tourism | 1,800 | 3,100 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content |
| Use of mathematics, AS level | 4,300 | Exam boards did not propose to develop reformed content | |
| World development | 700 | 1,500 | Exam board proposal rejected by Ofqual: lack of confidence that content could be developed |