2014 Secondary School Performance Tables Discounting Guidance

2014 Secondary School
Performance Tables

Discounting Guidance

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CONTENTS 3
3
INTRODUCTION 3
4
Why we need discounting 4
Changes from 2014 4
Can a pupil take qualifications which discount? 4
5
HOW ARE QUALIFICATIONS DISCOUNTED?
5
Discount Codes 6
Principles of Discounting
6
EXCEPTION DISCOUNTING 6
7
Use of Mathematics and Free Standing Maths 8
Qualifications
Maths Linked Pair GCSEs and GCSE Mathematics
English GCSE and English Language and English
Literature GCSEs
GCSE science pathway discounting
Pathways started before 29 September 2013

ANNEX A – SCIENCE PATHWAY DISCOUNTING

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INTRODUCTION

1. Discounting is an important part of the Department for Education’s
Secondary School Performance Tables, defining when the performance
points of a qualification are discounted against another.

2. The discounting system affects the calculation of performance measures for
a school in the performance tables. It does not alter the awards an individual
pupil has achieved or limit the qualifications they can take.

Why we need discounting

3. Discounting ensures that, where a pupil has taken two or more qualifications
with an overlap in curriculum, the performance tables only give credit once
for teaching a single course of study.

4. Discounting may be required in a number of situations, for example:

 a pupil resits a qualification before the end of key stage 4, possibly with
a different awarding organisation. Discounting then ensures that only
one result is counted in the Secondary School Performance Tables
calculations and measures

 the school provides a single course of study but then enters the pupil
for two or more very similar qualifications. Discounting ensures that the
achievement from this single set of teaching hours is counted only once

5. Discounting is governed by the allocation of discount codes to qualifications
with similar curriculum content. Codes may be updated at any time during
the year to improve the accuracy of discounting. This can affect the current
cycle without prior notice.

Changes from 2014

6. In line with Professor Alison Wolf’s recommendations1 the department has
published a list of qualifications that will count in the Secondary School
Performance Tables for 14-16 year olds in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The list of
qualifications that will count in the 2014 performance tables can be found at
www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/qualifications/a0020252
3/reform-of-14-to-16-performance-tables.

7. From 2014 qualifications will only be included if they are the same size as a
GCSE or larger and each qualification will count as one in the tables,
irrespective of size. A maximum of two non-GCSE qualifications will be
included in the performance tables and measures.

.

1 www.education.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/14-
16%20policy%20paper%20for%20consultation%20-%20MG%20(3)%20final.pdf

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Can a pupil take qualifications which discount?

8. Discounting only applies to the results of a school in the performance tables,
not to the qualifications achieved by pupils. There are a number of
educational reasons why a pupil might undertake qualifications which
discount each other. A common one would be in order to recognise their
progression through a course of study, for example taking a GCSE
qualification before progressing to an AS level qualification. In this scenario
the AS level would discount the GCSE in performance tables but the pupil
would still get recognition for both.

HOW ARE QUALIFICATIONS DISCOUNTED?

9. Two qualifications will discount if they have the same discount code.

Discount Codes

10. A qualification is assigned a discount code on the basis of the subject area it
covers. The purpose of a discount code is to gather qualifications with similar
content together and compare them to the other qualifications with that code.

11. Only qualifications that contribute to the performance tables are allocated
discount codes.

12. A list of qualifications that will count in the 2014 Secondary School
Performance Tables together with discount codes is published in the ‘Further
details of the revised performance tables qualifications and discount rules
from 2014’ folder at
www.raiseonline.org/documentlibrary/ViewDocumentLibrary.aspx.
Using this, schools can see where two qualifications will discount and the
discount codes which will be in use from 2014, with their descriptions. The
list also covers 2015 and 2016.

Principles of Discounting

13. Once two or more qualifications are known to have the same discount code
the following principles are applied to determine which one is discounted:

 where a higher level qualification is taken in the same subject as a
lower level qualification, the lower level qualification is not counted. For
example an AS will discount a GCSE

 due to the early entry policy (more information at
www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-early-entry-at-gcse) where a
pupil has more than one qualification in the same subject at the same
level, credit will be given to the first one that is taken.

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For 2014, this rule applies to all EBacc subjects (i.e. English,
mathematics, science, history, geography and languages). For those
who had already completed a qualification before 29 September 2013,
the performance tables will record their best result from either their
previous attempt(s) or from the next time they sit that qualification after
this date

 in 2014, for all non-EBacc subjects, where a pupil has more than one
qualification in the same subject at the same level, credit will be given
to the one with the highest result (determined by it’s point score)

 in 2015 the changes made to early entry will affect all subjects

EXCEPTION DISCOUNTING

14. There are occasional situations where assigning discount codes alone are
not sufficient to achieve accurate discounting. In these circumstances rules
about specific qualifications are applied.

15. Exception discounting applies in the following circumstances

 AS Level Use of Mathematics and level 3 Free Standing Mathematics
Qualifications

 Mathematics GCSE and Mathematics GCSE Linked Pair
 English GCSE and English Language and English Literature GCSEs
 GCSE science pathway discounting

16. The information below provides a basic overview of the exception
discounting process. If you require more detailed information for a specific
situation then please contact the department at
www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus/dfe.

Use of Mathematics and Free Standing Maths Qualifications

17. The AS Level Use of Mathematics is made up of a combination of core units
that are not qualifications in their own right and Level 3 Free Standing Maths
qualifications (FSMQs). The FSMQs will only count in the Secondary School
Performance Tables if the AS Level Use of Maths qualification result is
unclassified.

18. Please note that the level 1/level 2 Free Standing Maths Qualifications that
contribute to the Level 1/Level 2 Use of Mathematics certificate are not on
the list of qualifications that will be counted in the Secondary School
Performance Tables from 2014. If the Level 1/Level 2 Use of Mathematics
result is unclassified, these FSMQs will not count in their own right.

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Mathematics GCSE and Mathematics GCSE Linked Pair

19. Pupils can either take GCSE mathematics or the linked pair GCSEs in
methods in mathematics and application of mathematics. Within the
performance tables, the higher grade from either the methods in
mathematics or applications in mathematics GCSE counts towards the
mathematics component of the performance tables. A C grade or above
needs to be achieved in at least one of the linked pair.

20. The GCSE linked pair qualification discounts against GCSE mathematics.
The first qualification that is entered in the mathematics suite of qualifications
determines the ‘pathway’ a pupil is following.

21. If a pupil’s first entry is in methods in mathematics or application of
mathematics, they would be on the linked pairs pathway, and a latter
qualification taken in GCSE mathematics would be discounted, and would
not count in the performance tables. If a pupil takes GCSE mathematics first,
subsequent qualifications in methods in mathematics or application of
mathematics will be discounted.

22. If a pupil only enters for one of the linked pair, no grade will entered for the
mathematics component of the performance tables.

English GCSE and English Language and English Literature
GCSEs

23. Pupils can either take GCSE English or two GCSEs in English language and
English literature. The discounting principles work in the same way as the
mathematics GCSE and linked pair GCSEs, i.e. if a pupil’s first entry is in
English language or English literature, they would be on the
language/literature pathway, and a latter qualification taken in GCSE English
would be discounted, and would not count in the performance tables. If a
pupil takes GCSE English first, subsequent qualifications in English
language or English literature will be discounted.

24. For 2014 and 2015 if a pupil takes English language they must obtain a
grade A*-C and also obtain a grade A*-G or U grade in English literature for
the English language to count in English specific measures. In 2016 English
literature can also count in English specific measures if a pupil obtains a
grade A*-C in English literature and a grade A*-G or U grade in English
language.

GCSE science pathway discounting

25. While there are more pathways for science the discounting will work in a
similar way to English and mathematics. The first qualification a pupil enters
will determine the pathway they are on, and subsequent entries to
qualifications will not count in performance tables if they are from a different
pathway.

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26. There are three science pathways:

 Core science, additional science, further additional science

 Individual sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science)

 Double/combined science
27. The science pathways are shown in annex A. Some science qualifications

are not included in the pathways. These are explained in the last column.
This means that while they will still discount against other qualifications with
the same discount code they will still count in the performance tables even if
taken subsequently to other science qualifications.

28. If a pupil takes core science, the only science qualifications that can count
alongside in performance tables are additional science and /or further
additional science. E.g. if a pupil takes core science and then biology
subsequently, the biology grade would not be entered in the performance
tables.

29. The BTEC Principles of Applied Science and the Cambridge National
Certificate in Science discount against core science, which means if this is
taken first, subsequent qualifications in any of the other pathways will not
count in the performance tables. In these situations, a pupil will not meet the
EBacc criteria. (More information on the EBacc can be found at
www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/secondary_13/documents.html)

30. Qualifications in computer science, environmental science and applied
science can all count alongside any of the science pathways.

Pathways started before 29 September 2013

31. Any qualification taken before 29 September 2013 will not be used to start a
pathway, and a new pathway can be opened after 29 September 2013.

32. For example if a pupil took GCSE English language in summer 2013, a
GCSE English in autumn 2013 and a GCSE English literature in summer
2014 then the best entry from either GCSE English or GCSE English
language/literature would be included in the performance tables.

33. Similarly for science, if a pupil took core science in summer 2013, and then
individual GCSE biology, chemistry and physics and additional science in
summer 2014, then the best entry from either the core science or the
individual sciences pathway would be included in the performance tables.

34. However, if a pupil takes core science in summer 2013, and retakes after 29
September 2013, the pathway would be restricted, and only additional
science and/or further additional science could be counted alongside in the
performance tables.

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ANNEX A – SCIENCE PATHWAY DISCOUNTING

Pathway Name Pathway 1 Pathway 2 Pathw
Individual sciences Core, additional and Doubl
further additional route scienc
Qualification RC1
discount code(s) RA1B RA1E
RH3
Qualifications RA1C
included RD1
RA1D
CK1*
Physics (RC1) Core (RA1B) Edexc
Additional (RA1C) (RA1E
Biology (RH3) Further Additional (RA1D)
AQA L
Chemistry (RD1) (RA1E

Computer Science or
Computing (CK1*)

Pathways 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 1, 2 a

discounted

* From 2014 Computer Science and Computing GCSEs are include
count in addition to the other separate sciences. However, if either C

qualification all available science pathways are still open. For exam
the ‘Core’ pathway and take all three ‘Core’ qualifications – in which

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G Pathway 4 All other science
qualifications
way 3 Applied science qualifications
le/combined with the same discount code RA14
ce as core science CK1*
RA1B - that are not core
E science

QA3

cel L1/2 Certificate Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level BTECs, for example
E) 2 First Award in Principles of Pearson BTEC Level 2
Applied Science (RA1B) Diploma/Extended
Level 1/2 Certificate Certificate in Applied
E) - from 2016 OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge Science (RA14)
National Certificate in
Science (RA1B) OCR Level 2 National
Award/Certificate in
Science (RA14)

Applied science GCSEs
(RA14)

Computer Science or
Computing GCSEs (CK1*)

and 4 1, 2 and 3 Any other science
qualifications, such as a
GCSE in Environmental
Science (QA3)
None

ed in the individual science pathway and Science EBacc pillar and will
Computer Science or Computing GCSEs are a pupil’s first science
ple, a pupil may take the Computer Science GCSE and then go down
h case we will count all four science qualifications.

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