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	Developing a more coherent 14-19 phase

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Developing a more coherent 14-19 phase

In June 2001, QCA gave advice to the Secretary of State on developing a more coherent 14-19 phase. The six areas that needed change were the:

weaknesses in the links between arrangements for 14-16 and 16-19, and the absence of any national expectation for the 14-19 phase as a whole
nature of the curriculum at key stage 4 and its relative inflexibility
unintended negative consequences of the current performance measures
perceptions of GCSE and other qualifications as ‘leaving certificates’
need to improve the effectiveness of national qualification framework
need to increase students’ own decision-making skills and to ensure their access to high quality information and guidance at all points of choice during the phase.

In her reply to QCA, the Secretary of State confirmed that the advice had been extremely valuable in taking forward the development of the government’s 14-19 strategy.

Documents to download

> QCA's advice on a coherent 14-19 phase (137kb)