Further education

QCA / QCDA consultation on AS/A-level Mathematics subjects 2009-2010 and subsequent developments

During 2009, the QCDA (formerly the QCA) consulted on proposals for changes to AS/A-level mathematics subjects. This was a very important and highly controversial consultation. The Society encouraged all with any interest in these matters to respond.

We developed a position statement setting out the Society's views.  A transcript of our response to the consultation is also available.

A parallel, and much better structured, consultation on the QCDA proposals was run by DCELLS, the corresponding body in Wales. The Society also responded to this consultation, in broadly similar terms.

A meeting was convened by QCDA on 28 July 2009 to consider the outcomes of the consultations. The Society was represented at this meeting. It was apparent that the QCDA's proposals had found little favour. The QCDA then developed alternative proposals, seeking to take account of views expressed.

These alternative proposals were not placed in the public domain and are therefore not exhibited on this webpage. However, QCDA convened several focus groups in the autumn of 2009 at which they were discussed. The Society was represented at some of these focus groups. The alternative proposals found little support.

The original consultation also covered proposed development of the existing qualification in Use of Mathematics and a proposed new qualification in Use of Statistics, later renamed simply Statistics. These proposals are covered in our position statement and response. The Society was represented at a sequence of meetings which were called to explore these further. Some attention was also given to them in the focus group meetings during autumn 2009.

Following a further meeting on 26 March 2010, QCDA sent new proposals to Ofqual on 1 April to form the basis of a formal consultation. It appeared to the Society, and to many other organisations in the mathematics community, that this was being done too hastily. The meeting on 26 March had not reached a position accepted by all present. Discussions continued on the best way forward.

The General Election in 2010 rapidly brought about major changes in the education landscape. The introduction of legislation to close the QCDA was announced on 27 May (see the Department for Education's announcement). On 16 June 2010, a  letter from Stephen Meek of the Department for Education (Director, Young People: Qualifications Strategy and Reform Group) stated that "the current review of A levels and other level 3 qualifications in mathematics subjects will not continue". New qualifications development procedures were to be built up, and the mathematics suite would be reviewed through them.

Early in July 2010, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, indicated a desire to phase out modular AS/A-levels and return to a system of examinations at the end of two-year courses (this is sometimes known as a "linear" system). It appeared that these would, by design, be more demanding and rigorous, though it was also indicated that Examining Boards would be allowed to continue to offer the existing AS/A2 qualifications. Further information is available on news sites such as BBC News and Telegraph.co.uk.

The Society quickly began to work with other bodies in the mathematics community to comment on these proposals and possible unintended consequences. Shortly after the initial announcement, at a meeting of ACME (the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education), senior civil servants from the Department for Education explained that it was the intention that there should be an option of linear syllabuses running alongside modular ones. Shortly afterwards, ACME wrote formally to Michael Gove, clearly and strongly setting out its views on this and related matters. The Society was very much in sympathy with the contents of the ACME letter. ACME received a reply from Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, dated 3 August 2010.