This report is in response to a request for advice in the Cabinet Secretary’s annual remit letter to Estyn for 2017-2018. It reports on standards, provision and leadership of GCE Advanced Levels (A levels) in school sixth forms and further education colleges. It considers a range of factors, such as standards at A level and how these are measured, the quality of teaching and assessment, the nature of the A level curriculum offer and strategic leadership, including partnership working.
Recommendations
Schools and colleges should:
- R1 Improve A level outcomes, particularly at AS level and especially those of boys
- R2 Improve the advice and guidance given to learners by:
- a. considering carefully learners’ levels of educational attainment at GCSE when giving advice and guidance
- b. providing learners with accurate and up-to-date information about the full range of sixth form, further education and apprenticeship opportunities open to them
- c. giving advice on the best combinations of subjects for them
- d. developing a clear policy on progression from AS to A level
- e. considering carefully the number of qualifications taken by each learner, taking into consideration the likely progression route of each learner
- R3 Improve the independent learning skills of pre-16 learners in order to prepare them for A level studies
- R4 Work together to improve professional learning opportunities linked to A level teaching
- R5 Give due attention to outcomes and provision at A and AS level in self-evaluation and improvement planning processes
- Local authorities and regional consortia should:
- R6 Facilitate networks of professional learning related to A level across schools and colleges
- R7 Help schools to evaluate the effectiveness of their A level provision
The Welsh Government should:
- R8 Monitor the success of the new consistent measures data sets across schools and colleges
- R9 Ensure that changes to the curriculum and qualifications secure continuity and progression
- R10 Review the funding formula for A levels in schools and colleges, and its application across authorities, with the aim of eliminating unintended consequences, such as encouraging learners who are not best suited to study A levels to do so
- R11 Develop a way to communicate to learners and their parents clear information about A level attainment and provision in individual centres