The Department for Education has released some new factsheets (external link) for employers, FE providers, HE providers and parents concerning the new 1-9 GCSE system. The factsheets outline how the new system matches up with the old A*-C model and the timetable for changes up to 2020.
These factsheets are accessible tools for understanding the new GCSE system. School governors may wish to consider asking their headteachers whether they would be interested in circulating this to parents.