14-16 qualifications: 2014 performance tables - information for awarding organisations (Response to the consultation on 14-16 qualifications and performance tables)

In line with Professor Wolf’s recommendations, in future, only qualifications which are high quality, rigorous and enable progression to a range of study and employment opportunities will be recognised in school performance tables for 14- to 16-year-olds.

From 2014 the headline performance tables measures will: 

• reform equivalences – one qualification will count for one
• only include qualifications that are larger than GCSEs in size.

The responses to the consultation have informed the development of the characteristics and helped refine the process for including qualifications in performance tables. This included allowing a longer time for awarding organisations to refine their existing qualifications offer and a two year period where no new qualifications will be considered for inclusion in the performance tables.

The list of qualifications that will count in performance tables was published in March 2012. Schools should act as they judge to be in the best interests of their students, regardless of whether a particular qualification or course will be recognised for the purposes of performance tables.