Completing GCSE, AS and A level Reform

We are consulting on our proposals to reform a number of different GCSE, AS level and A level subjects. Some subjects will continue, some will stop and some will be replaced.

We have detailed our proposals for subjects in the tables below.

We have also published consultations on other GCSE, AS level and A level subjects:

• GCSEs, AS and A levels: reform of subjects for September 2016
• GCSEs, AS and A levels: new subjects to be taught in 2016
• Religious studies GCSEs, AS and A levels: new qualifications for 2016

GCSE subjects we are proposing will stop

We are proposing to stop these subjects because of their similarity or overlap of content with other qualifications.

Subject Final year of award Number of UK awards in 2012 Related continuing subjects Digital communication 2016 3,089 English language Expressive arts 2017 3,948 Dance; Drama Electronics 2017 1,046 DT: electronic products Catering 2017 20,891 DT: food technology Home economics 2017 32,064 DT: food technology Manufacturing 2017 105 DT: product design Engineering 2017 1,816 DT: systems and control technology Performing arts 2017 4,365 Dance; Drama Humanities 2017 13,782 History; Geography Applied science 2017 9,577 Science Additional applied science 2017 19,151 Science Environmental science 2017 941 Science Environmental and land-based science 2017 1,333 Science Human health and physiology 2017 2,226 Biology GCSE subjects to be considered for reform

These subjects will be considered for reform, to be first taught from September 2017.

Subject Number of UK awards in 2012 Ancient history 346 Applied business 4,386 Astronomy 2,723 Business and communication systems 14,936 Business studies 57,339 Business studies and economics 3,740 Classical civilisation 4,395 Economics 3,582 Film studies 5,335 General studies 7,608 Geology 1,070 Health and social care 7,726 Hospitality 1,452 Information and communication technology 42,310 Law 2,889 Leisure and tourism 3,382 Media studies 55,851 Psychology 12,986 Sociology 21,951 Statistics 50,530 AS level subjects we are proposing will stop

We are proposing to stop these subjects because of their similarity or overlap of content with other qualifications.

Subject Final year of award Number of UK awards in 2012 Related continuing subjects Science in society 2016 942 Sciences Applied science 2016 5,141 Sciences Environmental studies 2016 2,370 Sciences Human biology 2016 3,995 Biology Applied art & design 2016 645 Art & design Humanities 2016 N/A History; Geography (2017) Economics and business 2016 2,890 Economics; Business studies Applied business 2016 9,841 Business studies Home economics (food, nutrition and health) 2016 506 DT: food technology Engineering 2016 N/A DT: systems and control technology Performance studies 2016 1,220 Dance; Drama and theatre studies Performing arts 2016 1,873 Dance; Drama and theatre studies Quantitative methods 2017 N/A Mathematics Use of mathematics 2017 2,998 Mathematics AS level subjects to be considered for reform

These subjects will be considered for reform, to be first taught from September 2017.

Subject Number of UK awards in 2012 Accounting 7,579 Anthropology 512 Applied information and communication technology 13,552 Archaeology 998 Citizenship studies 4,934 Classical civilisation 3,403 Classics 5,124 Communication and culture 3,376 Creative writing N/A Critical thinking 13,789 Electronics 2,131 Film studies 10,256 General studies 56,519 Geology 3,224 Government and politics 20,214 Health and social care single award 10,548 History of art 873 Information and communication technology 16,970 Law 22,496 Leisure studies 1,015 Media studies 34,388 Media: communication and production 637 Music technology 3,018 Philosophy 5,788 Statistics 1,404 Travel and tourism 3,360 World/global development 2,101 A level subjects we are proposing will stop

We are proposing to stop these subjects because of their similarity or overlap of content with other qualifications.

Subject Final year of award Number of UK awards in 2012 Related continuing subjects Science in society 2016 123 Sciences Applied science 2016 2,815 Sciences Environmental studies 2016 1,426 Sciences Human biology 2016 1,899 Biology Applied art & design 2016 524 Art & design Humanities 2016 N/A History; Geography (2018) Economics and business 2016 1,954 Economics; Business studies Applied business 2016 6,656 Business studies Home economics (food, nutrition and health) 2016 333 DT: food technology Engineering 2016 225 DT: systems and control technology Performing arts 2016 1,329 Dance; Drama and theatre studies Performance studies 2016 1,039 Drama and theatre studies Quantitative methods 2017 N/A Mathematics Use of mathematics 2017 680 Mathematics A level subjects to be considered for reform

These subjects will be considered for reform, to be first taught from September 2017.

Subject Number of UK awards in 2012 Accounting 3,791 Anthropology 96 Applied information and communication technology 8,725 Archaeology 509 Citizenship studies 929 Classical civilisation 2,403 Classics 4,133 Communication and culture 2,118 Creative writing N/A Critical thinking 229 Electronics 1,165 Film studies 6,882 General studies 35,381 Geology 2,064 Government and politics 14,148 Health and social care single award 6,701 History of art 943 Information and communication technology 9,492 Law 13,144 Leisure studies 956 Media studies 24,503 Media: communication and production 455 Music technology 4, 819 Philosophy 3,211 Statistics 747 Travel and tourism 1,997 World/global development 610