Board watch · checked weekly
Specification updates, assessment changes and announcements from AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas and Ofqual — GCSE and A-level, gathered in one place so you don't have to trawl six websites.
WJEC has published ten draft Wave 2 Made-for-Wales specifications (nine GCSEs and a Level 2 Additional Mathematics qualification), submitted to Qualifications Wales for approval and available to teach from September 2026.
Ofqual has published its approach to regulating the use of AI across the qualifications sector.
Highlights from Cambridge OCR's panel appearances at the Festival of Education.
Ofqual has updated its GCSE (9 to 1) qualification-level conditions, revising Conditions 4.3 to 4.8 to reflect new requirements about stimulus materials.
Ofqual has published its 2026 regulatory efficiency report, setting out its approach to keeping regulatory activity proportionate and reducing the administrative burden on the organisations it regulates.
AQA has announced a new certificated course for financial skills.
The updated A-level Drama and Theatre specification (7408) adds two prescribed practitioners to the subject content, for first teaching from September 2026 and first assessment in 2028.
Ofqual has published guidance explaining who can request a review of marking or moderation for GCSE, AS and A level results, the types of review available, and what to do if a centre remains dissatisfied with the outcome.
AQA has published updates to its GCSE Italian specification, applying from first teaching in September 2026.
AQA and Teacher Tapp have launched the AQA Teacher Insight Programme.
Updated Politics specifications (A level Issue 4, AS Issue 3) apply minor amendments from September 2026, including replacing Supplementary Vote with the Closed Proportional List System in the UK Politics content.
A consultation has opened on Cambridge OCR's proposed new Natural History GCSE.
Issue 80 of Pearson's General Qualifications Bulletin covers summer 2026 exam series updates, key dates, feedback opportunities, ResultsPlus guidance and professional development for the 2025/26 academic year.
AQA is to develop and award new V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.
AQA, Penguin Lit in Colour and the British Library are hosting a free online event on 30 June 2026 to launch new GCSE English Language resources featuring extracts from non-fiction texts by 18th- and 19th-century writers of colour.
AQA has partnered with Discover the World Education to release a GCSE Geography resource pack of three curriculum-aligned teacher presentations using Bangladesh and Dhaka case studies.
Charles Clarke is to lead a Cambridge OCR review of the potential of vocational education.
AQA and Penguin Lit in Colour have released free teaching materials for the GCSE English Literature set text Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock, including classroom activities and video content.
Issue 79 of Pearson's General Qualifications Bulletin covers summer 2026 exam support, the new Secure File Exchange and mark submission deadlines.
AQA has partnered with the Educational Recording Agency to provide free curriculum-aligned video content for GCSE Religious Studies (full and short course), available to state schools in England under Department for Education licensing.
From summer 2027, AQA's GCSE Art and Design (8201-8206) Component 1 requires a minimum of one sustained project and removes the requirement for further work, with assessment criteria and weightings unchanged.
Cambridge OCR has issued a statement regarding A Level Physics.
AQA has updated the GCSE Physical Education (8582) specification so that, from summer 2027, both boys and girls can be assessed in 300m and 300m hurdles, aligning with national governing body guidance.
The newspaper front pages set for Component 1 Section A change for first teaching in September 2026 and first assessment in 2028 onwards: The Guardian (18 January 2022) is replaced by The Guardian (6 May 2025), and The Sun (1 January 2021) by The Sun (22 March 2025).
Question wording is adapted slightly for summer 2026 to make assessments more accessible for learners with special educational needs, with revised stems shown for the AO1 'b' and 'c' and AO2 'd' questions.
Cambridge OCR is withdrawing some low-entry qualifications in response to changing demand.
Specification amendments have been added for GCSE Component 3 Interpreting Theatre and GCE Component 3 Text in Performance, covering the insertion of extracts into Section A and which versions of the set plays centres should purchase, alongside updated exam paper layouts.
Cambridge OCR reports that the government will reduce the number of GCSE assessments by at least 10% and cut curriculum content, following its Striking the Balance report.
AQA's GCSE French, German and Spanish specifications were updated for summer 2026 following DfE subject-content changes, moving some grammar from Higher to Foundation tier and allowing derived word forms across all skills.
With Ofqual approval, GCSE Geography A Paper 1 and GCSE Geography B Paper 2 increase from 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes from the summer 2026 series.
AQA has updated the GCSE Physical Education (8582) scheme of assessment from summer 2026, revising the skills for Association Football, Badminton, Rugby Union and Volleyball to align with national governing body guidance.
From summer 2026, AQA's GCSE Religious Studies Specification A (8062) and Short Course (8061) replace 'contrasting' with 'different' in the 4-mark AO1.3 items and replace the 5-mark AO1 questions with a 6-mark item under an updated mark scheme.