Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Correspondence with OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) on Withdrawal of Selected Cambridge OCR General Qualifications dated 19.05.26
From: Education Committee
Summary
OCR's Managing Director Myles McGinley responds to the Education Committee's inquiry into OCR's withdrawal of selected Cambridge OCR General Qualifications. OCR defends its decision to withdraw low-entry qualifications (mostly AS Levels with fewer than 100 entries nationwide), citing unsustainability and declining popularity post-2015 reforms. The letter asserts no subjects will be removed from the curriculum, highlights regulatory compliance, and outlines transition support and extended timelines for vulnerable subjects like AS Latin and Classical Greek.
Key findings
- OCR withdrew qualifications with very low entries (mostly under 100 nationwide) on downward trends; withdrawals include AS Levels, some A Levels, and GCSEs but do not remove any subjects from curriculum
- AS Latin and Classical Greek saw 90% decline since 2010–15 peak; OCR extended withdrawal deadline to June 2028 and committed to work with Classical Association and Classics for All to support subject profile
- OCR reviewed all general qualifications entry data back to 2019, analysed school/college impact, and ensured alternative providers exist for withdrawn A Levels and GCSEs; almost all withdrawn AS Levels available elsewhere except Latin and Classical Greek
- OCR worked with regulators in advance and prioritises ensuring current students are not disadvantaged; schools and colleges have over a year to transition and will receive full support from subject advisors
- OCR frames decision as resource management by not-for-profit organisation to allocate finite resources sustainably and maintain quality in areas prioritised by teachers and students
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Helen Hayes MP, Myles McGinley, OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA), Becky Francis, Classical Association, Classics for All, Ofqual (regulators)
Notable line
“… these changes will not result in the removal of any subjects from the curriculum.”
Key Quotes
“Before setting out responses to your questions below, I would like to assure you that these changes will not result in the removal of any subjects from the curriculum.”
“In most cases we are withdrawing from qualifications that have fewer than one hundred entries nationwide, with some at much lower levels than that, and on a downward trend across several years.”
“For AS Level Latin and AS Level Classical Greek, where we are sole provider for a very small number of students, we are mindful of wider concerns around access and support for these subjects.”
“We have met with the Classical Association and Classics for All since our decision to withdraw and have agreed to work with them on raising the profile of Classics subjects to protect and grow their place in the curriculum.”
“… we are extending our provision of AS Latin and Classical Greek until June 2028 to ease the transition.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗