Further information
Guidance on external qualifications for learners under 16-year-olds
From September 2004, the Key Stage 4 National Curriculum changed.
English, maths, science and information and communications technology (ICT) remained compulsory. All students also continued to be taught citizenship, PE, religious education, careers education and sex education.
Schools were no longer required to teach modern foreign languages and design and technology to all students. Instead, a new category of entitlement areas was created, covering arts, design and technology, humanities and modern foreign languages.
Students in Key Stage 4 can follow a course of study in a subject within each of the entitlement areas.
From September 2006, there was a new programme of study for Key Stage 4 Science, which was less content heavy, more relevant to students' everyday lives, and which also met need for scientists in the future.
The programme of study became be a statutory requirement for all pupils. There is now a wider range of science options at GCSE level, including a new single award.
At Key Stage 4, there is a direct link between the National Curriculum programmes of study and GCSE specifications.
In the case of the GCSEs in vocational subjects and the GCSE double awards that have replaced Part One GNVQs:
- Engineering and manufacturing match the programme of study for design and technology
- ICT and the key skill in information technology match the programme of study for ICT
- Entry level qualifications in all National Curriculum subjects match the programmes of study for those working at National Curriculum levels 1, 2 and 3.
Schools are also able to modify the National Curriculum to meet the statutory requirement for design and technology and modern foreign languages through courses leading to specified qualifications which don’t meet the programme of study in full.
The following qualifications are approved for this purpose:
For design and technology:
- AS Design and Technology: Product Design
- AS Design and Technology: Food Technology
- AS Design and Technology: Systems and Control Technology
- 3-unit AVCE in Engineering
- 3-unit AVCE in Manufacturing
For modern foreign languages:
- AS in all modern foreign languages
- NVQ language units offered by C&G, LCCIEB and OCR at levels 1 and 2 in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese
- ABC Certificate in French/German/Spanish for Business (Written Communication) at levels 1 and 2
- NCFE Certificate in Foreign Languages at levels 1 and 2
- OCR Certificate in Business Language Competence
NVQs
Some NVQ titles at levels 1 and 2 are approved at Key Stage 4.
The relevant sector bodies support these NVQ titles for use by pupils of compulsory school age. The NVQ awarding bodies provide guidance on assessment.
Pupils not entered for a qualification in a subject
Teachers should assess the performance of pupils not entered for a qualification in a subject they have studied during Key Stage 4. Assessment should be recorded in a letter, form or reports.
The form or letter must be signed and dated by a teacher who is familiar with the student and there must be provision for the student to sign as an acknowledgement that they have seen the report.
Free-standing maths qualifications
The free-standing maths qualifications at levels 1 and 2 have now been extended to pre-16s. However, it’s expected that most young people at Key Stage 4 would be entered for GCSE maths.
