Setting the grade standards of new GCSEs in England

From September 2015, 14 years olds in England will start studying for new GCSEs. These will be graded 9 to 1 rather than A* to G. We are seeking your views on the way the standards of these qualifications should be set.

New GCSEs in English language, English literature and maths will be introduced first; more subjects will follow from September 2016. The first new qualifications will be awarded in summer 2017.

There is already keen interest in the standard of the new qualifications and how the grading system will work, especially amongst school leaders and teachers.

We are now setting out and seeking views on:

• our proposed approach to setting and maintaining performance standards for new GCSEs
• how the grading system will work