| Potential actions businesses can take include: |
| Update recruitment material to reflect new grading system |
| Gain a firm understanding as to how the new system aligns with the old system |
According to an OxLEP business survey in 2017, almost half of Oxfordshire’s business leaders were unaware of changes to grading system.
The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) is continuing to call upon businesses across the county to understand the latest changes being introduced to the GCSE grading system.
Last summer, teenagers across the UK received numerical grades from 9 to 1 in Maths, English Literature and English Language for the very first time.
A year later, and the grade changes are set to expand to a further 20 subjects, including the sciences, modern foreign languages and history.
The new system – initially announced by Government in 2014, aims to enable more differentiation at the top end of the grading system for exceptionally-high performing students.
Students who would have previously scored a high A* will receive a grade 9, a low A* will now score an 8, a low C aligns with a grade 4 and a low-grade G will now score a 1.
OxLEP is calling on small businesses to be aware of the changes and to maintain up-to-date recruitment policies and procedures.
For those businesses looking to recruit a new cohort of apprentices in September, it hopes to raise awareness of the changes as many of this ‘next generation’ of workers are likely to have solely-received numerically-graded qualifications.
Several more ‘specialist’ subjects will also be changing to the new system by next summer.
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “We want to encourage our businesses to understand the changes and be as prepared as possible.
“These changes will undoubtedly have an impact on businesses – particularly those smaller set-ups, looking to recruit, who may not have a human resources team to rely on.
“We would encourage all businesses to update their recruitment materials where required.”
Communications Manager Rob Panting explains why it is so important for businesses to understand this year's changes to the GCSE grading system.
Further reforms that have affected students this summer include further implementation of the ‘new’ AS and A-level format to a wider range of subjects. This sees AS levels not contributing to an overall A-level grade, with the two operating as separate qualifications.
Examinations for both will take place in a linear format, taken at the end of each year, and not a combination of both linear and modular exams.
The Government also continues to develop plans for T-Levels – vocational qualifications that aim to set technical courses on a ‘level playing field’ with A-levels and other more academic qualifications.
T-Levels will be rolled out in 2020. OxLEP says it is important for businesses to understand how this might affect them and they are keen to encourage organisations to take full advantage of business-education engagement opportunities, such as work experience programmes.
By offering ‘meaningful’ work experience placements, OxLEP says businesses can invest in their future workforce and directly engage with its potential next generation of workers.
Nigel Tipple added: “Work experience is an excellent way for businesses to initially engage young people and those looking to introduce apprenticeship or training programmes.
“We are committed to empowering young people, through employer engagement, to develop skills as well as linking education providers with businesses. We would encourage organisations to contact us to explore work experience schemes for the next academic year.”
To find out more about work experience opportunities, click here.
