Last updated: 26 Jun 2008

QCA and the regulators for Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) have worked with teachers, awarding bodies, subject associations, higher education and other interested parties to revise the subject criteria for GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT.

QCA is carrying out an online consultation on the subject criteria from Thursday 26 June until 30 September 2008. DCELLS and CCEA are carrying out similar consultations in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Subject criteria contain set out the knowledge, understanding, skills and assessment objectives for specifications in each subject. As part of the consultation, we are asking whether the draft GCSE subject criteria only include assessment requirements essential to each subject, and therefore not put unnecessary barriers in the way of students with disabilities.

Consultation documents

You will need to download the relevant documents before completing the online questionnaire for each subject. The consultation documents can be downloaded from the 'Related documents' section on the right-hand side of this page. The online questionnaires can be accessed from 'the Related links' section on the right-hand side of this page.

Please note: For security reasons you will only be able to submit one questionnaire for each subject from the same computer. If you need to submit more than one questionnaire for the same subject from the same computer, please email GCSE2010@qca.org.uk.

In addition to the subject criteria, specifications will need to meet the requirements of the GCSE qualification criteria. The GCSE qualification criteria give broad rules on the structure of GCSEs and their assessment and grading.

English, English language and English literature

A supporting paper on the proposals for GCSEs in English has been produced. This paper provides more information about the proposed changes to the draft subject criteria for GCSEs in English, English language and English literature. You should read the supporting paper and the draft subject criteria before completing separate online questionnaires for English, English language and English literature.

ICT

You should read the draft subject criteria and the draft controlled assessment regulations for ICT before completing the online questionnaire.

Mathematics

You should read the draft subject criteria before completing the online questionnaire. You will need to read the ACME draft criteria and Ofqual response to complete Section 8 of the questionnaire.

Next steps

The regulators will use the results of this consultation to develop criteria for GCSE qualifications in these subjects for first teaching from 2010. The criteria are scheduled to be published in December 2008 and awarding bodies will submit specifications to the regulators for accreditation against these criteria in spring 2009. The new specifications will be accredited in autumn 2009 for teaching from September 2010.

Please email GCSE2010@qca.org.uk if you have any queries about this consultation or the draft subject criteria.