September 20, 2021

GCSE Maths, English & Science Exam Boards in Slough Secondary Schools

In the UK, several examination boards can set and award education qualifications. These qualifications include GCSEs and A-Levels for all pupils across Secondary schools - both state and grammar schools and colleges.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) issues strict guidelines to all exam boards to regulate standards and ensure parity. Still, the layout, content, and format of exams differ from board to board.

Schools and colleges can choose which exam board they will use for different subjects. The specifications set out by each awarding body (examination board) will be assessed for suitability for both the school and the particular subject.

What Are The Different Exam Boards In The UK?

AQA

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) is an English examination body that presently marks over half of all GCSE and A-level exams. AQA is a registered charity run by a board of trustees responsible for the organisation's overarching strategy and direction.

The Associated Examining Board (AEB) and the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB) merged in April 2000 to become AQA. They currently offer qualifications in over 60 subjects, with varying standards and degrees of qualification.

Math, English, and science are covered, and many languages, humanities, ICT, PE, and creative disciplines. Some of the skills-based qualifications AQA provides are Applied General and Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in business, science and catering.

Edexcel

Edexcel is one of the main awarding organisations in the UK, alongside AQA, and is the certification brand name for publishing and education business Pearson. Edexcel was founded in 1996 by the merger of BTEC and ULEAC, which administered GCSEs and A levels.

Edexcel was founded as a charity but is now owned by Pearson and is the only privately held exam board in the UK. A board regulates standards and oversees the company's general operation.

Edexcel offers credentials in more than 50 courses, including math, English, and science. It offers courses and credentials for ages 14 to 19. Still, it is mostly used for GCSE and A-level exams in the UK (as well as some vocational qualifications, including NVQs and Functional Skills).

With over 300 topics and subjects available for work-based and NVQ credentials, Edexcel is a popular alternative for BTEC and NVQ qualifications.

OCR

OCR sets and assesses GCSEs, A levels, and vocational programmes. It is one of the main UK test boards, but it is also part of Europe's largest assessment agency, operating in over 150 countries.

OCR was formed in 1998 by the amalgamation of UCLES and RSA (an exam board offering vocational qualifications since the 1850s). As a nonprofit, OCR is operated by an executive team led by CEO Jill Duffy, who oversees the assessment, operations, goods, sales, and marketing.

OCR offers GCSEs and A levels in over 40 areas, including maths, English, science, languages, humanities, and creative arts. It also offers over 450 vocational qualifications in business, ICT, health and social care, and media.

All three awarding bodies have different examination criteria, and you can find out more online about what this entails and how they award marks. You can also find the previous exam papers to familiarise yourself and your child with what to expect for their GCSE examination papers and testing. Alternatively, you can contact your child’s school for more information.

If you want to know what examination board (awarding body) each school in Slough uses for GCSE English, Maths and Science, you can find more below.

Baylis Court School

Baylis Court School is a girl's secondary school with academy status. Students are aged 11-18, and there are approximately 891 students enrolled at the school.

English Language - AQA

English Literature - WJEC

Science - AQA

Maths - Edexcel

Beechwood School

Beechwood School is a coeducational school with 805 students currently. It was founded in 1982 after the merger of Haymill and Warren Field schools. Beechwood School caters for students aged 11-1.

English - OCR

Science - AQA

Maths -OCR

Ditton Park Academy

Ditton Park Academy is a mixed, mainstream secondary school in Slough. Students enrol from year 7 to 11 with the option to remain for sixth form education too. There are currently 1094 students enrolled in Ditton Park Academy.

English -n/a

Science - n/a

Maths - n/a

Eden Girls' School

Eden Girls School is a 700 place Muslim faith secondary school for girls from 11 through to 18.

English - AQA

Science - Edexcel

Maths - Edexcel

Herschel Grammar School

Herschel Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school with academy status, located in Slough. There are currently 900 students enrolled from 11-18, with 200 of those being in the school sixth form.

English - AQA

Science - AQA

Maths - Edexcel

Langley Grammar School

Langley Grammar School is a mixed grammar school with academy status. The school currently has 1095 students across years 7-11 and years 12 and 13 for the sixth form.

English - WJEC

Science - OCR

Maths - Edexcel

Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy

Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy is a free secondary school with academy status, which opened in September 2014 and is located in Slough. The school currently has an intake of 180 students per year for key stages 3 and 4.

English - AQA

Science - AQA

Maths - Edexcel

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is a coeducational, academically selective Roman Catholic grammar school for year 7 to year 13. There are 909 students enrolled.

English - Edexcel

Science - OCR

Maths - Edexcel

St Joseph's Catholic High School

St Josephs Catholic High School, Slough is rated good school with outstanding features by Ofsted, and it is a mixed educational Roman Catholic school with 987 students aged 11-18.

English - AQA

Science - n/a

Maths - Edexcel

The Langley Academy

The Langley Academy is a coeducational school for key stages 3 and 4 and a sixth form setting.

English - AQA

Science - AQA

Maths - Edexcel

The Westgate School

The Westgate School, Slough is rated outstanding by Ofsted and has 1,145 students in years 11-13 in a mixed educational setting.

English - AQA

Science - Edexcel

Maths - Edexcel

Upton Court Grammar School

Upton Court Grammar School is a fully selective academy school in Slough, Berkshire. It is a coeducational school for ages 11-18. The school has specialisms in languages and science.

English - n/a

Science - n/a

Maths - n/a

Wexham School

Wexham School is a mixed education school in Wexham Court, Slough, teaching students from year 7 to 13.

English - AQA

Science - AQA

Maths - Edexcel



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