Maths

GCSE Mathematics

GCSE Mathematics is being revised for first teaching in 2010 alongside English and ICT. This revision takes into account the changes being made to the Key Stage 4 programme of study, which includes Functional Skills. The plan was to have two GCSE Mathematics qualifications, provisionally entitled:

• GCSE Mathematics
• GCSE Mathematics: Problem Solving.

GCSE Maths will be revised for first teaching from September 2010 with first aggregation in June 2012 but the introduction of the second GCSE has been delayed by QCA. There is as yet no scheduled date for its introduction.

OCR is already reviewing GCSE Maths and to date, more than 650 teachers and stakeholders have contributed to our consultation.

Redevelopment

Redevelopment presents exciting opportunities. As part of this process, OCR is reviewing how the question papers are designed. Consideration is being given to important issues such as:

• The length of each paper
• The font size
• The percentage of papers for which calculators are allowed
• The language used.

Pass grades

Present QCA plans are that a Level 2 pass in Functional Maths will be required for a GCSE Grade C or above to be awarded from the summer of 2012. The Level 2 pass in Functional Maths can be achieved in either the same session or in an earlier session than GCSE Maths (the same hurdle will apply to GCSE English and GCSE ICT). OCR's Functional Maths pilot examinations can be taken in January, March, May, June or November.

Publishers

OCR is delighted to be working with both Hodder Education and Oxford University Press on GCSE Maths. Both publishers are committed to providing schools with outstanding and exciting resources for our new specifications.

GCSE Maths development group

OCR has now formed its own GCSE Maths development group and is keen to hear views from teachers and other interested parties. Please email your contact details to GCSE.Maths@ocr.org.uk so that OCR can keep you updated with developments and, where appropriate, seek your opinion on the issues that matter.

QCA consultation

During summer 2008, QCA ran a consultation about the proposed GCSE Maths criteria and received over 700 responses. Once the revised criteria have been published, on 17 December, we will continue to work with teachers to produce our draft GCSE Maths specifications in July 2009 and final accredited specifications in December 2009. These will be for first teaching from September 2010.

A major commitment

We are preparing to make a major commitment to GCSE Maths and our new specifications will help your learners 'see maths differently', demonstrating how Maths is all around us and how it genuinely affects our day-to-day lives.

You can find more information about GCSE Maths on the OCR website.

Download the latest Graduated Assessment Mathematics newsletter (PDF, 1.1 MB).

Functional Maths

The OCR Maths Functional Skills pilot continues to gain in popularity and respect, with many centres entering candidates for Level 1 and Level 2 Maths Functional Skills. Entry Level Functional Skills qualifications are currently in development.

The Functional Skills stand-alone pilot started in September 2007 and will run until August 2010. If you are interested in joining the stand-alone pilot or for more information on Functional Skills then please refer
to the OCR website.