Academic Qualifications

GCSE – (General Certificate of Secondary Education

Introduced as a replacement to the O-level, exams for these qualification are normally sat bypupils aged between 15-16 years old, who are in years 10 and 11 at school. GCSEs have coursework components, unlike the older O-level.

GCE – (General Certificate of Education)

Generally regarded as the main route to permanent employment and/or higher education, the GCE is often divided in to two levels. Commonly referred to as Advanced level (A-level), in 2000, it was revised in to the new AS/A2 system. This AS/A2 system is what is now known as GCE. 

IGCSE – (International Certificate of Secondary Education

Originally developed for international schools who cannot offer GCSE’s these qualifications are available to independent schools in the UK who choose to enter candidates.  They are however not part of the National Curriculum, do not appear on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and are not accredited by QCA – as a result, state funding is not available for teaching them.  This means that IGCSs are not open to state-funded schools in the UK.    

O-level

Despite being replaced by the GCSE in mainstream UK education, the single subject O-level is still available as an academic qualification.  Like the GCSE, it can be used as a stepping stone to higher education, including A-level.  Today, it is offered only to international schools based outside the UK.  

A-level

The A-level is broken down into two tiers.  The AS or Advanced Subsidiary, is a stand alone qualification, valued as half a full A-level.  The A2 is the second half of the A-level qualification and like the AS, takes one year to complete.  The A2 also covers more demanding material.  Only international schools based outside the UK can choose this course.  

DiDA

A revolutionary suite of three paperless qualifications, available exclusively from Edexcel, DiDA focuses on the practical application of technology such as websites, music files, e-mail, digital photos etc.  As a suite of qualifications, DiDA offers progression from the Award (AiDA), which is equivalent to one GCSE, through the certificate (CiDA), and on to the full Diploma (DiDA), equivalent to four GCSEs.