Cambridge OCR

An opportunity for Cambridge OCR A and AS Level Sociology teachers to hear updates, feedback and network. A unique opportunity to network, share best practice and resources and give feedback with other Cambridge OCR teachers in person who are delivering Cambridge OCR AS & A-Level Sociology from your local area. Our subject advisor Tom will be in attendance to give you full subject updates on new resources, free events and our proposed new course. The agenda is led by the teachers in attendance so please email tom.genillard@ocr.org.uk if you are happy to share a resource or approach to teaching the current course that is particularly helping your students. If you are having any challenges with any of the content or assessment, please also email, and Tom will make sure it's covered.

Join us for a free introduction to our new A Level Psychology (H569), now accredited and ready for teaching from September 2027. Hosted by our expert subject advisor, this session will focus on: - the highlights of our specification and assessments, including what’s new - the benefits of our qualification for you and your students - the support and resources available to help you teach with confidence. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. Please contact CustomerDevelopment@cambridge.org with any questions ahead of the event or if you have any problems joining on the day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a free introduction to our new A Level Psychology (H569), now accredited and ready for teaching from September 2027. Hosted by our expert subject advisor, this session will focus on: - the highlights of our specification and assessments, including what’s new - the benefits of our qualification for you and your students - the support and resources available to help you teach with confidence. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. Please contact CustomerDevelopment@cambridge.org with any questions ahead of the event or if you have any problems joining on the day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a free introduction to our new A Level Psychology (H569), now accredited and ready for teaching from September 2027. Hosted by our expert subject advisor, this session will focus on: - the highlights of our specification and assessments, including what’s new - the benefits of our qualification for you and your students - the support and resources available to help you teach with confidence. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. Please contact CustomerDevelopment@cambridge.org with any questions ahead of the event or if you have any problems joining on the day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a free introduction to our new A Level Psychology (H569), now accredited and ready for teaching from September 2027. Hosted by our expert subject advisor, this session will focus on: - the highlights of our specification and assessments, including what’s new - the benefits of our qualification for you and your students - the support and resources available to help you teach with confidence. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. Please contact CustomerDevelopment@cambridge.org with any questions ahead of the event or if you have any problems joining on the day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Episode Date: Thursday 5th March 2026 The FE sector is in a period of significant change. With the phased defunding of Level 3 qualifications, ongoing post-16 reform, and the continued T Level rollout, colleges are being asked to plan confidently amid genuine uncertainty. In this opening episode of Defunded Not Derailed, Gavin O'Meara is joined by Paul Steer (Cambridge OCR), Claire Green (ASCL), and Rob Nitsch (Federation of Awarding Bodies) to unpack what we know, what we don't, and what FE leaders should be doing right now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Episode Date: Thursday 19th March 2026 This week's announcements changed everything. With V Levels confirmed and the full list of defunded qualifications published on Tuesday, colleges now have the clarity they've been waiting for, and the clock is ticking. In Episode Two of Defunded, Not Derailed, we move from policy context to practical action. What does a well-designed mixed study programme actually look like? How do you structure pathways that protect learner progression in a defunded landscape? And what should senior leaders be doing right now? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Dean O'Donoghue (Cambridge OCR), Mike Chapman, Campus Principal at Education Partnership North East, and Rob Nitsch, CEO of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, to explore how colleges are approaching curriculum planning for 2026, including the decisions, risks, and frameworks that can help. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Episode Date: Thursday 26th March 2026 Science is one of the most critical subject areas in post-16 education, feeding directly into healthcare, engineering, laboratory sciences and dozens of other STEM careers. But as large applied qualifications are phased out, many colleges are asking the same question: what does strong Level 3 science provision actually look like from here? In Episode Three of Defunded, Not Derailed, we turn from the broader curriculum picture to a specific subject area that affects thousands of learners every year. What qualification options are currently available to colleges? How can science departments maintain clear progression routes into university and technical careers? And what might the introduction of V Levels, starting with digital, education and finance from 2027, signal for science-related curriculum planning down the line? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Amy Brewer, Science Subject Advisor at Cambridge OCR, Catherine Walls, Curriculum Manager for Science at Derby College, and Matt Ridgill, Vice Principal: Academic Education at Derby College, to explore how science specialists are navigating reform on the ground and what curriculum leaders should be considering now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Episode Date: Thursday 2nd April 2026 Computing, IT and cyber security is one of the fastest-moving areas in post-16 education, and one of the most directly affected by qualification reform. As large applied qualifications are phased out, colleges delivering digital programmes must rethink how they structure provision to meet both learner needs and an industry that evolves by the month. In Episode Four of Defunded, Not Derailed, we move from science to digital, applying the same subject-specific lens to explore what strong Level 3 computing, IT and cyber security provision looks like from here. What qualification alternatives are available? How can colleges design programmes that keep pace with rapid industry change? And what role might V Levels and mixed study programmes play in shaping digital pathways? Gavin O'Meara is joined by Vinay Thawait, Subject Advisor at Cambridge OCR, Aman Purewal from Coventry College, and Kris Hyde from Callywith College, to explore how digital specialists are navigating reform and what curriculum leaders should be considering now. Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.

Episode Date: Thursday 30th April 2026 After five episodes exploring the practical realities of qualification reform, Defunded, Not Derailed closes with a step back. What have we learned? What do we now know with greater certainty? And what happens next? In this final episode, we bring the threads together. From the defunding of existing qualifications to the rollout of AAQs and the confirmation of V Levels, the post 16 landscape has shifted significantly over the past year. Episode Six reflects on how the system is evolving, what the emerging Level 3 picture looks like in practice, and what colleges, awarding organisations and sector bodies should be focusing on as reform moves from planning into implementation. Gavin O'Meara is joined by Paul Steer, Director of Policy at Cambridge OCR, and Nina Chorzelewski from the Association of Colleges, to look ahead at the next two to three years. How will A Levels, T Levels, AAQs and V Levels coexist? Are mixed study programmes becoming the long term model? And what unintended consequences should the sector be watching for? Defunded Not Derailed was produced by FE News in partnership with Cambridge OCR.