In future, the only non-GCSE/iGCSE qualifications that will be recognised in school and college performance tables for 14- to 16-year-olds will be at least the size of a GCSE and will have been judged to be high quality and rigorous, and will provide the majority of pupils with access to a range of study and employment opportunities. Each qualification will count as equivalent to no more than one GCSE.
This follows Professor Alison Wolf’s review of the current performance tables system, which she found inadvertently prioritised school performance table positions over pupils’ future prospects.
The process for awarding organisations to submit qualifications for inclusion in the 2015 performance tables closed in October 2012. The technical guidance provided Awarding Organisations with the technical detail of this process.
Only the following non-GCSE qualifications were considered for inclusion in the 2015 performance tables:
- qualifications approved for inclusion in the 2014 performance tables (including redeveloped versions of these qualifications)
- directly linked Level 1 qualifications to Level 2 qualifications approved for inclusion in the 2015 performance tables.
The final list of qualifications that will count in the 2015 performance tables was published in January 2013.
Any other qualification accredited by Ofqual and approved under Section 96 for pre-16 teaching can still be offered by schools, but will not count in performance tables. All qualifications which have been approved for pre-16 teaching are also available on this website.
