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OCR is a UK awarding body who provides qualifications for people of all ages and abilities at school, college, in work or through part-time learning programmes. OCR stands for Oxford, Cambridge and RSA. The exam board and awarding body was founded in 1998 and is a part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. The Cambridge Assessment Group was established in 1858 and owns and manages the University’s three exam boards.<\/p>\n
They provide GCSEs and A-Levels in over 40 subjects and offer over 100 vocational qualifications, equipping students with knowledge and skills they need for their future.<\/p>\n
OCR is a not-for-profit organisation who believe that success is measured through the impact and reach of their activities and the scale of contribution to helping students realise their aspirations.<\/p>\n
Skills shortage<\/strong><\/p>\n OCR is a member of our Blueprint 1000\u00a0scheme which connects the worlds of education and industry. There is a shared vision to try and address the current skills shortage which is keenly felt across design, technology and engineering.<\/p>\n The skills shortage is a significant challenge for businesses and the economy as a whole. By working together, businesses, educators, and governments can address the skills gap and create a more competent workforce that is equipped to meet the needs of the job market.<\/p>\n The UK economy suffers a loss of \u00a31.5bn per year due to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills shortages.<\/p>\n Research undertaken by STEM Learning indicates that there is a current shortfall of over 173,000 workers in the STEM sector \u2013 an average of 10 unfilled roles per business in the UK.<\/p>\n By investing in education and training programs, creating apprenticeships and internships, and improving recruitment and retention strategies, we can bridge the skills gap and create a brighter future for students and businesses alike.<\/p>\n OCR is working with schools and employers to demonstrate how qualifications can be supported from a delivery perspective and better assessed through the teaching curriculum. They are looking at ways in which subjects can be better aligned in school teaching at Key Stage 4 and 5 across subject areas such as Design and Technology and Engineering.<\/p>\n Webinars<\/strong><\/p>\n They held a well-attended webinar in November 2022 and another webinar in\u00a0February 2023. The event delved into designing and running a curriculum that embraces both GCSE and Vocational Engineering qualifications. This included attendees from a number of schools who have offered such a curriculum who were able to offer insights and potential progression routes as well as give feedback.<\/p>\n OCR explored the D&T qualifications they offer, which include GCSE Design and Technology KS4 which leads into A-Level Design and Technology with three pathways:<\/p>\n