About Us : Policy and Curriculum
Edexcel Thinks
Edexcel Thinks are simple statements that define where Edexcel stands on a key national policy issue. Each statement provides a short summary of the issue in question, Edexcel's views on it and any related information on Edexcel's current involvement with it. All statements are placed on the Edexcel website for ease of access. You can now sign up to receive Edexcel Thinks as they come out. Send an email to edexcelthinks@edexcel.org.uk, giving us your name, job title, and organisation. We will send all the Edexcel Thinks direct to your inbox as soon as they are issued.
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2008 | |
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July 2008 | |
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 Response to DCSF Promoting achievement, valuing success consultation[2008/13] On 31st March 2008, the government launched its consultation on a strategy for 14 – 19 qualifications. The aim was to streamline the future 14 – 19 qualification framework around a number of prescribed ‘national suites and frameworks.’ Consultation on these proposals closed on the 23rd June. What were the main points in Edexcel’s response? |
PDF (400 KB)03/07/2008 |
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June 2008 | |
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Getting it Rght Ofqual report on the summer exam series 2008 [2008/12] On 30 May 2008, Ofqual, the new independent regulator for qualifications and exams in England, confirmed that it would continue previous monitoring procedures for this summer’s GCSE and GCE exams. In addition it will be looking at two particular areas for ‘risk assessment’ namely awarding bodies’ customer services arrangements and awarding bodies’ use of new technology in exams. Details can be found in the Ofqual Paper ‘Getting it right.’ What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (398 KB) 18/06/2008 |
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National Challenge Launch [2008/11] On 10th June, Ed Balls launched the National Challenge, a £400m package over the next three years to raise standards in secondary schools, with a particular focus on GCSE attainment. The Government’s ambition is for all schools to have over 30 per cent of their pupils achieving 5 A*-C at GCSE, including English and maths by 2011. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (404 KB) 17/06/2008 |
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Edexcel Response to the Raising Expectations consultation [2008/10] In March, the Government launched a White Paper consultation on changes to the education and training system. The changes would see significantly different systems emerge for pre – and post – 19 learning and training respectively with the LSC going. Local Authorities taking a lead role in pre – 19 provision and a Skills Funding Agency set up to support post – 19 provision. Consultation on these proposals closed on the 9th June. This is a summary of the main points in the Edexcel response. |
PDF (401 KB) 13/06/2008 |
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April 2008 | |
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Government clarifies the position of BTECs in 14 – 19 provision in England [2008/09] There has been considerable interest of late in the nature of the relationship between the 14 – 19 qualification framework in England and other, associated qualifications, such as BTECs. The Government has recently released a 14 – 19 Qualification Strategy Paper proposing the main qualification suites for young people in the future and the criteria to be used for assessing how far qualifications which fall outside these national suites should be funded. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (415 KB) 02/05/2008 |
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DCSF Promoting achievement, valuing success 14-19 consultation [2008/08] The Government has recently launched a consultation on a strategy for 14 – 19 qualifications. The intention is to tidy up the current qualification framework and to streamline the future 14 – 19 qualification framework around a number of prescribed ‘national suites and frameworks.’ What is Edexcel’s initial reaction to such proposals? |
PDF (414 KB) 11/04/2008 |
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Extended Diplomas [2008/07] The Government has recently announced that there is going to be a new tranche of Extended Diplomas available from 2011 across all 17 Diploma lines at all levels. The Extended Diploma at level 3 will be worth 4.5 A’ levels and is designed to offer an all-in-one full-time programme of study. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (399 KB) 03/04/2008 |
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March 2008 | |
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Response to consultation on Confidence in Standards [2008/06] Last September, the Government announced proposals for a new independent regulator of qualifications, exams and assessment in England. It subsequently launched a consultation on its proposals which has just closed. This is a summary of the main points from the Edexcel response, particularly those where Edexcel had the strongest views. |
PDF (408 KB) 26/03/2008 |
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How successfully do BTECs support progression and the labour market [2008/05] With more young people taking vocational qualifications, Edexcel has recently commissioned some independent research to examine how well BTEC qualifications support progression and the labour market. The research looked at the use of BTECs for progression purposes, and labour market returns on particular BTEC qualifications, and was carried out by Steven McIntosh and Pamela Lenton of Sheffield University. The full reports and summaries can be found at the link indicated at the end of this statement. What does Edexcel think about the findings? |
PDF (391 KB) 14/03/2008 |
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February 08 | |
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Response to the QCF consultation [2008/04] On 29 November 2007, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the regulators for Wales and Northern Ireland jointly issued a consultation on the regulatory arrangements and implementation proposals for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF.) The consultation closed on the 29 February 2008. This is a summary of the main points from the Edexcel response, particularly those where Edexcel had the strongest views. |
PDF (381 KB) 04/03/2008 |
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Employers gaining powers to recognise training and award qualifications [2008/03] This week the Government announced the names of the first companies to be granted approval by QCA to have their training recognised and to award nationally accredited qualifications. John Cridland, Deputy Director–General of the CBI welcomed the move saying “today marks a significant milestone on the road to reforming qualifications so that they better reflect the skills employers and employees need”. However Professor Smithers argued that “these qualifications may not have credibility outside the company. They would be more valuable to holders if they were awarded by an independent body”. Edexcel has been working with employers for many years enabling them to offer nationally recognised BTEC qualifications for their in-house training, so what does it think about this move? |
PDF (416 KB) 05/02/2008 |
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January 08 | |
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Pathways to higher education - BTEC courses [2008/02] There has been debate for some time about how valuable some vocational course are for entry to HE; this debate has been sharpened by the imminent arrival of Diplomas. Last month, HEFCE released a Report looking at how successful a cohort of BTEC students has been in progressing from FE to HE. It found that 83% of those qualifying from a BTEC course continued with some sort of formal study and 41% of these progressed on to a degree or other undergraduate programme. What does Edexcel think of the findings? |
PDF (182 KB) 22/01/2008 |
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Proposals for a new independent regulator in England [2008/01] On 17 December 2007, the DCSF and DIUS issued a joint consultation on proposals for a new independent regulator of qualifications and tests in England along with a revised remit for the non-regulatory functions of QCA. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (180 KB) 22/01/2008 |
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October 07 | |
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The extension of the Diplomas [2007/17] The Government has recently announced some important developments to its 14 - 19 qualification reform programme. These include postponing the projected review of the A level from 2008 to 2013 and extending the Diploma programme to include subject based Diplomas alongside the emerging sector based ones. What does Edexcel think of these developments? |
PDF (179 KB) 26/10/2007 |
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A new independent regulator [2007/16] The Government has recently announced that it intends to split the curriculum setting and standards monitoring roles of QCA to create “a new regulator of exam standards, independent of government.” What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (177 KB) 01/10/2007 |
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July 07 | |
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Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England [2007/15] Last December Lord Leitch published his Final Report on UK Skills. This set out a number of ‘ambitions’ to help raise skill levels in the UK in the future and more particularly by 2020. The Government has recently responded in the form of an Implementation Plan. What’s Edexcel’s view? |
PDF (174 KB) 20/07/2007 |
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May 07 | |
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BTEC Higher Nationals and Foundation Degrees [2007/14] The Leitch Review has recently stressed the importance to the country of Level 4 provision. The two core qualifications on offer at this level at present are Higher Nationals (HNs) and Foundation Degrees. Edexcel offers both, so what is its position? |
PDF (180 KB) 15/05/2007 |
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Making Good Progress - Key Stage Testing [2007/13] Over the last few months the Government has been consulting on new ways of assessing and supporting pupil progress in Key Stage performance. The consultation document, ‘Making Good Progress’ proposes a number of new measures including a possible shift away from national tests in England at age 11 and 14, towards shorter, more frequent assessments. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (175 KB) 15/05/2007 |
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UK Vocational Qualification Reform [2007/12] Developing a vocational qualification system that is flexible and responsive enough to meet individual, employer and Government needs has been under way for some time. It was a key objective in the 2005 Skills White Paper and since January 2006, has been taken forward by a UK Vocational Qualification Programme Board. What progress has been made and what’s Edexcel’s view |
PDF (192 KB) 15/05/2007 |
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Staying on in education and training post-16 [2007/11] he Government has recently announced proposals to raise to 18 the minimum age at which young people could leave education and training. This is to be introduced in two stages from September 2013 and will include a range of options offered through school, college, training providers and work-based provision. What does Edexcel think? |
PDF (181 KB) 15/05/2007 |
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Delivering World-class Skills in a Demand-led System [2007/10] The LSC published its funding consultation ‘Delivering World-class Skills in Demand-led System’ in January 2007. Responses were due in at the end of March 2007. The consultation sets out the case for a gradual shift towards a demand-led funding model for adult learning from 2010. It is being seen as a very significant Paper. What is Edexcel’s view? |
PDF (183 KB) 15/05/2007 |
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The Foundation Learning Tier [2007/09] From September 2007, a new Foundation Learning Tier (FLT), described as ‘a more coherent and personalised programme for learners aged 14 and above at Entry and Level 1’, will start to be implemented. What’s Edexcel’s view of this? |
PDF (176 KB) 14/05/2007 |
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March 06 | |
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The Leitch Report on UK skills [2007/08] Lord Leitch’s Final Report on UK Skills, Prosperity for all in the global economy: world class skills, was published on 5 December 2006. It set out an ambitious vision for raising UK skill levels by shifting towards a “simplified demand – led skills system”. What is Edexcel’s view? How is it responding? |
PDF (394 KB) 08/03/2007 |
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IGCSE [2007/07] The Government has launched a consultation on international GCSEs in maintained schools in England. What is Edexcel’s view? |
PDF (391 KB) 08/03/2007 |
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The importance of science [2007/06] Concern has been expressed about a downward trend in the numbers of young people taking Science courses and about whether the country is providing for the scientists of the future. What does Edexcel think? How is it responding? |
PDF (394 KB) 08/03/2007 |
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Functional Skills [2007/05] The importance of functional skills is widely recognised. The Government has recently proposed that a new set of functional skills specifications should be developed for both 14 – 19 and adult learning. What does Edexcel think? How is it responding? |
PDF (389 KB) 08/03/2007 |
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International Baccalaureate [2007/04] As the numbers of schools in the UK offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) grows, the qualification is included on the UCAS tariff for the first time, and the government has promised £2.5 million funding to ensure that there is at least one institution in every local authority where there is currently no IB provision, what is Edexcel’s position on the IB? |
PDF (389 KB) 21/03/2007 |
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Personalisation [2007/03] The Teaching and Learning Review Group recently published its 2020 Vision Report setting out a strategy for personalising learning in schools by 2020. At the same time the DfES is consulting on personalisation in FE. What does Edexcel think? What is Edexcel doing? |
PDF (392 KB) 08/03/2007 |
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Modern Foreign Languages [2007/02] There has been a significant fall in the number of language learners at Key Stage 4. What stance is Edexcel taking? |
PDF (384 KB) 21/03/2007 |
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BTECs and Specialised Diplomas [2007/01] What position is Edexcel adopting with regard to the development of specialised Diplomas and their relationship with BTEC qualifications? |
PDF (392 KB) 08/03/2007 |
