Changes to GCSEs

There will be differences between new GCSEs offered by Awarding Organisations (AOs) to schools in Northern Ireland. The main differences in these GCSE are:

• Grading: CCEA Awarding Organisation will continue to grade GCSEs using letters, with an additional C* grade. It will also be putting in place a new system for awarding the A* grade. AQA, OCR, Pearson and WJEC Eduqas will grade their GCSEs 9-1.
• Structure: AQA, OCR, Pearson and WJEC Eduqas will offer linear GCSEs. CCEA Awarding Organisation will offer some linear and some modular GCSEs.

In November 2016, a letter was issued to all schools by the Department of Education, informing them that WJEC GCSEs would not be available for schools here to use from September 2017.

Details of GCSE subjects which are available for schools here to teach in 2016 and 2017 and beyond are given now available.