QCA is consulting on draft subject criteria for GCSEs in English, English language, English literature, mathematics and ICT from 26 June until 30 September 2008. GCSE subject criteria are being reviewed in response to the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper, the review of the secondary curriculum and the introduction and development of new qualifications, including Diplomas and functional skills. Specifications based on these criteria are scheduled to be accredited for first teaching from September 2010.

QCA is consulting on Line of Learning criteria for Diploma qualifications in public services, retail, sport and active leisure, and travel and tourism from 6 May until 20 June 2008. The criteria specify the requirements for developing and accrediting units and/or qualifications for Diplomas in these Lines of Learning. Registration for the consultation events has now closed, but you can contribute to the consultation via an online questionnaire.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced in September that the Government would establish an independent regulator of qualifications and tests in England. Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment sets out the detail of these proposals.

The qualifications regulators are consulting on regulatory arrangements designed to support implementation of the QCF from August 2008 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, subject to confirmation by ministers in the three countries. The consultation covers the requirements that are intended to apply to organisations and qualifications within the QCF and a set of implementation proposals.

Evaluation of new science GCSEs, BTECs and OCR Nationals introduced in September 2006

QCA is carrying out an evaluation of the implementation of the new KS4 science qualifications which began in September 2006. This consultation survey is part of that programme and its purpose is to seek the views and experiences of those involved in introducing and teaching the new science KS4 courses in schools and colleges.

QCA Consultation on Draft accreditation criteria for new applied language units and qualifications for inclusion within the Diploma ASL catalogue

This QCA consultation will consider how languages can be made more engaging and accessible in Diplomas and the guidance that is required. This includes proposals for new small, flexible language provision within the Additional and Specialist Learning component, contextualised to the line of learning.

Having published curriculum guidance for the first five Diploma Lines of Learning (due for first teaching in September 2008), QCA is now consulting on similar guidance for the next five Lines of Learning: business, administration and finance; environmental and land-based studies; hair and beauty studies; hospitality; and manufacturing and product design.

QCA has been asked by government to investigate ways in which employers can engage more directly in the national qualification system. This consultation survey is part of that programme and its purpose is to invite employers to give their views on the benefits they envisage from having their in-house training recognised within the national system, and the ways in which this might best be achieved.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the regulators for Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) are keen for a wide range of stakeholders, particularly, teachers, subject communities and awarding bodies, to contribute to revisions prior to the publication of the agreed criteria.