GCE Human Biology
01 January 2016
GCE Human Biology qualifications to be withdrawn (H023, H423)
The former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, initiated the reform of GCSEs and A Levels in February 2013, asking Ofqual to implement changes that would lead to new qualifications. As part of this programme of reform, Ofqual decided that the AS/A Level GCE Human Biology qualifications listed below would be withdrawn, due to overlapping content with one or more of the subjects reformed for first teaching in 2015. OCR will of course continue to support and assess the qualifications up to the final certification date/conclusion of the final assessment series.
This notice for AS/A Level GCE Applied Human Biology qualifications replaces our previous notice that was issued in December 2014 and our email update that went to centres on 16 January 2015. The information provided in this notice is up-to-date and should be followed by all centres taking this qualification.
Entry Code
| Qualification Title | Qualification Number
| Final Assessment Opportunity
| Resit Opportunity*
|
|---|
| H023 | OCR Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Human Biology
| 500/2472/3
| Summer 2017 for centres that have previously offered the qualification
Summer 2016 for all other centres
| Summer 2018
for centres that have previously offered the qualification
Summer 2017 for all other centres |
| H423 | OCR Advanced GCE in Human Biology | 500/2461/9
| Summer 2017 for centres that have previously offered the qualification
Summer 2016 for all other centres
| Summer 2018
for centres that have previously offered the qualification
Summer 2017 for all other centres |
*Following public consultation, Ofqual have confirmed arrangements for legacy AS and A Level results.
When the results of the consultation and Ofqual’s position on resits are announced, we will send out a notice to all centres confirming the position and arrangements for centres.
For further information on deadlines for submitting entries, entry amendments/withdrawals and the submission of marks for internal assessment please see the Admin guide and entry codes: 14-19 qualifications.
For centres looking for an alternative AS/A Level GCE course to replace Human Biology, we would recommend our new AS/A Level GCE Biology qualifications, in particular our AS/A Level GCE Biology B (Advancing Biology) (H022, H422) qualifications. These have been developed for first teaching in September 2015. Details are available on the qualification pages of the OCR website:
If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or email general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk