Pilot of the linked pair of GCSEs in mathematics
The pilot started in September 2010 and once fully recruited will include approximately 310 centres in England and Wales. The linked pair of GCSE qualifications are: ‘methods in mathematics’ and ‘applications of mathematics’. The two qualifications together cover the key stage 4 programme of study for mathematics. The pilot runs parallel with a new single GCSE in mathematics, which was also developed for first teaching in September 2010. The key themes for the evaluation are:
- attitudes to mathematics
- comparability of demand of the pilot qualifications with each other and with other GCSEs in mathematics (including the new single GCSE)
- the views of pilot and non-pilot centres on the pilot
- the support offered to pilot centres by the Awarding Organisations (AOs).
We have recently submitted our first report (December 2010), which focuses on pre-pilot planning, preparation and communication; pilot centres’ state of readiness; and expectations of the impact, risks and issues of the linked pair of GCSEs in mathematics, as identified by centres and wider stakeholder groups.
