Advanced British Standard - consultation response
21 March 2024
Cambridge University Press & Assessment has responded to the Department for Education's consultation on plans for an Advanced British Standard (ABS) qualification for 16 to 19 year-olds.
Cambridge, which includes the OCR and Cambridge International exam boards, as well as Cambridge Mathematics, urged the UK Government to prioritise increasing contact time for post-16 education, and to invest in doing so sooner than the proposed ABS 10-year plus timetable.
Future-ready system
The Cambridge response makes the case for a "post-16 system that is future-ready, adaptable and serves the needs of all learners to the highest international standards. We are not currently achieving this for every student in England, nor do the ABS proposals show a clear path to achieving that.
"The biggest hindrance is the lack of contact time compared with other successful countries, and we must prioritise increasing these teaching hours. Many Sixth Forms and Colleges are already struggling with finances. Significantly more investment will be essential if the aspirations behind these proposals are to be realised. However, there are important strengths in the current post-16 system, which with targeted investment and reform, could reach the goals underlying the ABS."
Empowering teachers and students
Reforms and improvements should build on the strengths of teachers, schools and colleges, and ensure they are equipped with the resources and time to deliver effectively for students.
The Cambridge response calls for:
Increased contact time
Faster reform in English and maths
Retaining the A Level name
Protection for vocational quality
Support for student mental health and wellbeing
Jill Duffy, Chief Executive of OCR, said: "Many of the ideas in the consultation are worthwhile, however we should be delivering much sooner on individual areas like broadening the curriculum, extending teacher contact time and introducing post-16 maths and English for all.
"We should look at education reform in the round, with an even stronger case for reform pre-16. That's why OCR is conducting a review, led by former Education Secretary Charles Clarke, to develop new and pragmatic policy ideas in 11-16 education and assessment."
Rod Smith, Group Managing Director for International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: "A Levels are widely recognised around the world. In a globalised economy, the rigour and depth of these qualifications have currency.
"We can retain these qualities while adapting post-16 education for a rapidly changing world, empowering students to embrace technological opportunities and tackle challenges like climate change. "
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