Working with Awarding Bodies

This is a subtitle• Design and develop qualifications with rigorous

assessment processes which are valued by learners, providers, employers and universities.

• The UK Regulators are:– Ofqual (England)– CCEA Northern Ireland)– Welsh Government (Wales)– SQA (Scotland).

• We are also accountable to DfE, BIS, Professional Bodies, employers and universities

What do Awarding Bodies do?

This is a subtitle• Assess and demonstrate the need• Co-creation• Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF)• Technical Guidance (e.g. size (TQT); level; design; development;

internal/external assessment and grading• Aim and Purpose• Fit for Purpose:

– Valid– Reliable– Comparable– Manageable– Minimising Bias

• SUPPORT

Regulatory Requirements

This is a subtitle• ‘Direct line of sight’ to workplace – employer ownership and

involvement • Only DfE approved qualifications count in Performance Tables• Criteria include:

– External Assessment– Synoptic Assessment– Grading– Employer/Professional Body/University support– One resit opportunity only

• Applied General or Technical Level qualifications only

DfE Reform of 16-19 Qualifications

TechBac: BACCALAUREATE APPROACHES

SEVEN KEY WORKPLACE SKILLS:• Communication • Digital Skills • Enterprise • Delivering Results• Innovation• Self-development • Workplace Literacy

Direct line of sight to work

Extended Project Qualification

• DfE approved Tech Level Qualifications (TLQ) at the heart - designed by industry practitioners

• TLQs carry up to 420 UCAS points, dependent on size and grade

• Work placement• Online mentoring

Learners complete a project in their technical area, ideally related to real work placement challenges

Promotes independent learning through planning, research, evaluation and problem solving

120GLH and carries UCAS points (70 – 20, dependent on grade)

Assessment Launch timetable

Externally set and marked on-line assessment AND externally set, internally marked synoptic assessment, usually practical

Pioneer 2014 onwardsEarly Years, Engineering, Digital/IT, ConstructionPioneer 2016 onwards includesBuilding Services, Business, Hair/Beauty, Health and Social Care, Hospitality/Catering, Land based, Performing Arts, Sport, Transport, Travel, Art, Design, Creative and Media

Up to 490 UCAS points for whole TechBac….

This is a subtitle• External Assessment (min 40%)• Synoptic Assessment• Applied skills and knowledge• Graded• Declared purpose and size (min 150 GLH)• Recognition (3 letters of support from HEIs

including HE in FE Colleges)• Tracking learners’ progress

Applied General Qualifications

This is a subtitle• Designed to address concerns about vocational

learners being insufficiently prepared for university study

• Developing Higher Level Study skills• Preparing for university and other higher level

study career options

Higher Level Studies Qualification

This is a subtitle• Existing Apprenticeships seen as bureaucratic

and not meeting employer needs• New Apprenticeships:

– Employer designed and owned– End assessment – no qualifications necessarily– Higher Apprenticeships – one third of standards are at

Level 4 and above– Partnerships – HE is central to delivery, Awarding

Bodies can deal with bureaucracy, funding and QA

•

Apprenticeship Reforms

This is a subtitle• University and Awarding Body Vocational Qualifications

Committee:– Awareness and understanding by both parties– Identify, disseminate and promote benefits of

collaboration– Test and facilitate approaches– Supporting partnerships and contacts– Support UCAS Tariff nominations– Explore joint working on higher level Apprenticeships– Advice to other sector bodies (e.g. CIMSPA)

•

UVAC and the FAB HE Forum

This is a subtitle• How can we overcome identified issues?• How can Awarding Bodies assist with Widening

Participation challenges?• How can Awarding Bodies support the

development of higher level Apprenticeships?• How can we better prepare our learners for

University success?

Discussion Tables