DfE kicks-off consultation on core subjects

11th June 2013, 1:15pm

The Department for Education this morning began a two-month consultation on the content of the core subjects for reformed GCSEs.

English language, English literature, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, double combined science, geography and history will be introduced for schools to teach from September 2015. GCSEs in ancient and modern languages, also being consulted on today, will follow a year later.

Other GCSEs are also likely to follow but the DfE does not intend to prescribe their content.

Summaries of the proposed content for the English language and literature and history exams are below and the other subjects will follow shortly (please leave your thoughts underneath if you want to):

English language
Should ensure students can read fluently and critically, and write effectively and coherently.
Students demonstrate literacy to support them in future employment.
Greater focus on ensuring a wide range of “high-quality written texts” from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries are read.
“All texts studied must make significant demands on students.”
They may include “literature, extended literary non-fiction, and other writing such as essays and journalism”.
But digital texts must not be included.
Texts in the exam will be “unseen” and not studied by students during the course.
Students must use grammar correctly, and punctuate and spell accurately.
They must acquire and apply a wide vocabulary.
They have to write legibly and clearly.
Spoken language will not contribute to GCSE grades but will be recognised on a separate certificate.
English literature
Students are to “develop culturally” and acquire knowledge of “the best that has been thought and written”. Study must include:
At least one Shakespeare play.
A selection of representative Romantic poetry.
At least one 19th-century novel.
A selection of poetry since 1850.
British fiction or drama since the First World War.
No more than two texts should be selected for each area of prose, poetry and drama.
The qualification will encourage students to read for pleasure and draw on a wide range of reading when assessed.
Students should “write accurately, effectively and analytically about their reading, using Standard English”.
History
Minimum of 40 per cent of GCSE will require study of a “substantial and coherent element of British history andor the history of England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland”, including:
At least one “depth study” chosen from the medieval (500-1500), early modern (1450-1750) or modern (1700-present day) periods, requiring investigation of “different aspects of an historical situation across a period of between 25 and 50 years”.
The British element may also include a study of the historic environment (for example, studies of local sites, museums or galleries) related to a chosen depth study.
Minimum of 25 per cent of GCSE will be on history of the wider world, which must include:
At least one “depth study” chosen from medieval, early modern or modern periods, covering period of between 25-50 years, which could focus on different aspects of the history of one nation or on international relations.
Minimum of 25 per cent of GCSE will be on one comparative or thematic study to demonstrate an understanding of change and continuity.
It must involve the study of people, events and developments drawn from all of the medieval, early modern and modern periods and should take either a political, military, cultural, economic, social or religious theme.
Students should be able to “think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, make informed decisions and develop perspective and judgement”.
Students should understand chronology, connections between different aspects and periods of history, how historians use evidence and why they make different interpretations, analyse trends and be able to create their own written accounts.
Geography
Students will be expected to have “location knowledge” including “detailed contextual knowledge of two countries of contemporary global significance, in addition to the UK”
In-depth knowledge and understanding of UK geography
Geomorphic processes and landscape
Changing weather and climate including - “evidence for and causes of climatic change over the past two million years”
Global ecosystems such as tundra, rainforest and temperate forest
Resource management and biodiversity
Cities and urban society in the 21st century, including at least two case studies of cities - one in an economically advanced country and one in a poorer country
Global economic development issues - “the causes and consequences of uneven development at global level” through the study of a poorer country or “newly emerging” economy
Use of maps including satellite imagery and other graphic and digital material
Different approaches to fieldwork
The collection, interpretation, analysis, presentation, application and evaluation of primary and secondary data
Geographical argument - students required to “write descriptively, analytically and critically”, communicate ideas effectively, develop extended written arguments, and to draw well-evidenced and informed conclusions
Science
All science GCSEs will require:
The development of scientific thinking; experimental skills and strategies; analysis and evaluation; units symbols and nomenclature
Specific topics students are required to study in each of the separate sciences are set out below
Biology
Cell biology
The human circulatory system and other “transport systems”
Health, disease and the development of medicines
Nervous and hormonal co-ordination and control
Homeostasis, photosynthesis, and material cycles
Ecosystems
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Chemistry
Atomic structure and the periodic table
Structure, bonding, and the properties of matter
Chemical changes
Energy changes in chemistry
Rate and extent of chemical change
Organic chemistry
Chemical analysis
Chemical and allied industries
Earth and atmospheric science
Physics
Energy
Motion
Forces
Forces and motion
Waves in matter
Light as rays and as waves
Electromagnetic waves
Electricity
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Particle model of matter
Forces and matter
Atomic structure
Space physics
Maths
Sets out a detailed list of content intended to cover the full ability range
It includes fractions, ratio, algebra, geometry, measures, probability, statistics
Specific content for “high achievers” includes function notation, quadratic equations, compound interest, sine and cosine rules
Modern languages
Specifications for modern language GCSEs should include the following:
Listening
Demonstrate general and specific understanding of different types of spoken language
Follow and understand clear standard speech at normal speed in a variety of short and longer spoken passages
Recognise and respond to key information, important themes and ideas in more extended spoken text
Take part in a short conversation, asking and answering questions, and exchanging opinions
Speaking
Take part in a short conversation
Present information and narrate events coherently and confidently
Speak spontaneously, responding to unexpected questions, points of view or situations
Initiate and develop conversations and discussion, producing extended sequences of speech
When speaking make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures, including some more complex forms, with reference to past, present and future events
Make creative and complex spoken use of the language
Use of important social conventions, such as formal and informal address
Accurate pronunciation and intonation that can be understood by a native speaker
Reading
Understand and respond to different types of written language and general and specific details within texts
Recognise the relationship between past, present and future events
Deduce meaning from a variety of short and longer written texts involving some complex language and unfamiliar material
Demonstrate understanding by being able to scan for particular information
Writing
Communicate and interact effectively in writing for a variety of purposes across a range of specified contexts
Write short texts, using simple sentences and familiar language accurately to convey meaning, ask and answer questions and exchange information
Produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present facts and express ideas and opinions
Make accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures including some more complex forms,
Manipulate the language, using and adapting a variety of structures and vocabulary
Us the language to note down key points, summarise information, express and justify individual thoughts and points of view
Accurately translate sentences and short texts from English into the language
Ancient languages
Specifications for ancient language GCSEs should include the following:
Understand short and longer narrative passages of unseen confected or adapted ancient language
“Deploy knowledge of inflectional morphology and syntax” by adapting phrases and short sentences to make new meaning
Identify and explain the derivation of English words from the ancient language
Accurately translate an unseen passage of the ancient language into English
Read a range of original and adapted texts and answer questions in English on aspects of culture, social practices and values
Understand and evaluate prose and verse literature in the ancient language
Demonstrate understanding of the cultural content and historical and literary context in which passages of adapted prose and verse literature were composed
Select, analyse and evaluate evidence from classical literature and other primary sources
Use their knowledge of Greco-Roman cultureclassical civilisationthe ancient world to understand the modern world of diverse cultures by comparing and contrasting ideas, values and social practices
William Stewart

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DfE kicks-off consultation on core subjects

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