皇冠体育app impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work
This study explores the perspectives of teachers implementing the changes to A level science practical work after one year.
Ofqual has today (28 July 2017) published its report on 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work - Paper 1: Teacher perspectives after one year鈥�
Reformed A level science qualifications were introduced for first teaching in September 2015. 皇冠体育app assessment arrangements for practical work have changed significantly and Ofqual is conducting a programme of research to evaluate the impact of the reform on students鈥� practical skills. This report describes the first study from this programme, in which a series of interviews were conducted in 2016 with teachers. 皇冠体育appy were asked for their initial reflections on how the reform had affected the teaching and learning of practical skills.
On balance, most teachers perceived the reform, or at least many aspects of it, to be positive for teaching and learning practical skills. 皇冠体育appy suggested the new arrangements compared favourably to those that were previously in place, which had, prior to their removal, become beset by significant issues around reliability and fairness. Many suggested the post-reform assessment arrangements allowed greater flexibility to embed practical work into the course and encouraged a more 鈥榟ands on鈥� approach to practical work.
皇冠体育app findings also suggest schools and colleges have not been affected in a uniform way by the reform. 皇冠体育app magnitude and nature of the impact is dependent on the characteristics of the school or college. And there was some evidence of contradictory views about how the reform would affect student motivation for engaging with practical work.