Integrating mathematics and numeracy: the new double award explained
Oliver Stacey, Senior Qualifications Manager, considers the key changes made to the new GCSE in mathematics and numeracy, and what they mean for teachers and learners.
Mathematics and numeracy underpin many aspects of the modern world, from the encryption used when making online purchases to the statistical models used to forecast the weather. In an increasingly data rich world, it is more important than ever that learners are equipped with the confidence and skills to use and apply mathematics to make sense of the world around them and to facilitate informed decision-making.
What has changed in the new mathematics and numeracy GCSE?
There have been changes to the GCSE qualifications in this area of learning and experience. Some are structural, while others relate to content and assessment. These changes have been brought about in response to the Curriculum for Wales, consultation feedback and co-creation with stakeholders.
Moving to a double award GCSE
The Curriculum for Wales draws together mathematics and numeracy into a single area of learning and experience. To reflect this, we are replacing the existing mathematics and mathematics-numeracy GCSEs with one GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy qualification.
Following consultation feedback, we have required that the new qualification is a double award to more accurately reflect the volume of content included within the qualification. Including both mathematics and numeracy within the same qualification also has the benefit of reducing the overall assessment burden, and learners can expect less assessment overall when compared to those taking both GCSEs currently.
Ensuring contemporary content
The mathematics and numeracy content within the Curriculum for Wales has not radically changed. Therefore the content included within the new qualification mirrors many of the topics and concepts within the existing GCSEs.
There are examples of some small but important changes, such as the requirement that infographics are now included alongside other types of charts and graphs. This inclusion is to better reflect the way that contemporary data is often presented, for example in the media.
Assessment objectives that reflect the principles of progression
Mathematics and numeracy in the Curriculum for Wales is based on five interdependent proficiencies. The new qualification takes these proficiencies into account by incorporating them within the assessment objectives.
Moving to a unitised assessment
The new GCSE will have a unitised structure, meaning that there will be opportunities to take some exams before the end of Year 11, thereby enabling the assessment load to be spread out rather than taken in one go as is with the current qualifications. This was considered particularly important for this qualification as, unlike most other GCSEs, it does not include non-examination assessment.
Changes to tiering
The new qualification will only have two tiers (higher and foundation). This is in response to clear stakeholder feedback that learners should be able to obtain a Grade C on the Foundation tier (which is not currently the case). This brings the qualification in line with other GSCEs that are tiered, such as the sciences.
Another change is that learners will be able to be entered for different units at different tiers. This gives centres more flexibility and enables them to take into account the varying strengths learners may have with respect to different aspects of mathematics and numeracy.
Reinforcing the relevance of maths in everyday life
We know that applying mathematics in context to solve problems is an important skill and can help to reinforce the relevance and practical applications of the subject. We have therefore stipulated the range of contexts that can be included within the assessment of the new GCSE to provide clarity to stakeholders. The contexts are:
- personal (e.g. personal finance)
- careers, employment and work-based contexts
- societal (e.g. economy and demographics)
- scientific, environmental and technological
We know that coming up with relevant, interesting and novel ideas for contexts for mathematics and numeracy questions year-on-year isn’t easy. Therefore, we have required that WJEC provide a mechanism for crowdsourcing ideas for question contexts. More detail about how to get involved can be found on the crowdsourcing page on WJEC’s website.
Supporting centres through change
There is a wide range of support available to teachers as they prepare to deliver the new mathematics and numeracy qualification from September 2025.
WJEC has already started publishing bilingual digital resources, and face-to-face ‘preparing to teach’ events are ongoing throughout the spring term.
The introduction of this qualification will have implications for learners resitting it from September 2027 and we are working closely with the post-16 sector on this.