ESSENTIAL SKILLS WALES QUALIFICATIONS FROM SEPTEMBER 2015

Transcription

1 ESSENTIAL SKILLS WALES QUALIFICATIONS FROM SEPTEMBER 2015 SUMMER 2015

2 CHANGES TO ESSENTIAL SKILLS

3 AGENDA BACKGROUND CONTEXT FOR CHANGES TRANSITION AND IMPLEMENTATION CHANGES TO ESSENTIAL APPLICATION OF NUMBER SKILLS CHANGES TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS INTRODUCING ESSENTIAL DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS INTRODUCING ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS Lunch will be available after Essential Communication Skills We aim to finish no later than

4 CONTEXT FOR CHANGE QUALIFIED FOR LIFE REFORMS PART OF PROGRAMME OF WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALIFICATIONS SYSTEM IN WALES TO MAKE IT MORE RIGOROUS AND APPROPRIATE TO THE NEEDS OF THE WELSH ECONOMY. 1 Follows on from 2012 Review of Qualifications. 2 New regulatory arrangements: Qualifications Wales. 3 Changes to AS/A Levels, GCSE and Welsh Bac 4 Redesign and repurposing of Essential Skills qualifications. Also coincides with launch of new Education Workforce Council, and Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST) resource. 4

5 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS OVERVIEW OF CHANGES NEW SUITE OF ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 2015 There will be new qualifications in: Essential Communication Skills (ECommS) available at Levels 1 to 3 Essential Application of Number Skills (EAoNS) available at Levels 1 to 3 Essential Digital Literacy Skills (EDLS) available at Entry 1 to Level 3 Essential Employability Skills (EES) available at Entry 3 to Level 3. The current Entry Level ESW qualifications in Communication and Application of Number will be continuing in their current form. Essential Digital Literacy Skills replaces the current ESW qualifications in ICT. Essential Employability Skills replaces the wider Key Skills, incorporating the following skills areas into a single, holistic qualification: planning and organisation critical thinking and problem-solving creativity and innovation personal effectiveness. 5

6 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS ASSESSMENT MODEL MOVE TOWARDS END ASSESSMENT All assessment completed as a concentrated activity at the end of learners programmes, with no ongoing portfolio assessment. Essential Communication Skills Entry 1-3 no change from current model Levels 1-3 two-part end-assessment: controlled task and confirmatory external test. Essential Application of Number Skills Entry 1-3 no change from current model Levels 1-3 two-part end-assessment: controlled task and confirmatory external test. Essential Digital Literacy Skills Entry 1 to Level 3 controlled task, with structured discussion to confirm understanding. STANDARDS FOR COMMUNICATION AND APPLICATION OF NUMBER HAVE BEEN CLEANSED, BUT HAVEN T ALTERED FUNDAMENTALLY. NEW STANDARDS HAVE BEEN DEVISED FOR DIGITAL LITERACY AND EMPLOYABILITY. Essential Employability Skills Entry 3 to Level 3 controlled task, consisting of individual and group activities Levels 1-3 graded pass/merit/distinction. 6

7 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS KEY TERMS DEFINED CONTROLLED TASKS Externally set or signed off by awarding bodies Based on a given theme/context (chosen by centre, to ensure purpose, meaning and relevance to learner) Presented unseen and completed under supervised conditions over a specified period, that isn t interspersed by any teaching (eg maximum of four hours over an eight-week period) Internally assessed and quality assured by centres (with external quality assurance by awarding bodies). CONFIRMATORY TESTS Externally set by awarding bodies multiple choice format Provided securely to centres (eg in sealed pack or via onscreen testing platform), not to be opened until immediately before use Completed under exam conditions (eg JCQ ICE or similar) Externally marked by awarding bodies. 7

8 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS PROGRESS ASSESSMENTS WILL BE COMMON ACROSS AWARDING BODIES Controlled tasks developed jointly by the four awarding bodies offering new Essential Skills qualifications will be common across all four. Confirmatory tests also shared although there may be differences in how/when offered. New qualifications will be available from September with a period of parallel running before the old qualifications are closed. COLEGAU CYMRU ENGAGED TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OLD ESW AND WIDER KEY SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON 31 DECEMBER 2015 LAST CERTIFICATION IS 31 DECEMBER Initial trial of controlled tasks Digital Literacy Train the Trainer programme CPD for teaching new GCSEs and Welsh Bac challenges. 8

9 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS DIGITAL LITERACY PRACTITIONER ( ) WORKFORCE SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL LITERACY New Level 3 qualification for Digital Literacy practitioners. Developed to support staff delivering Essential Digital Literacy Skills qualification, as well as those delivering Digital Literacy challenges within Welsh Bac Qualification devised as part of a project involving Welsh Government, Agored and City & Guilds. Being used within Colegau Cymru Digital Literacy Train the Trainer programme, although available to to all. City & Guilds qualification number Fast-track approval available for existing 8375 centres. THE NEW DIGITAL LITERACY PRACTITIONER QUALIFICATION COMPLEMENTS OUR OTHER DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS (8375). WELSH GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANNING PRACTITIONER QUALIFICATION FOR ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS. 9

10 NEW ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS CURRENT STATE OF PLAY DESIGN PRINCIPLES NOW FINALISED Developed by Welsh Government as basis for regulating new qualifications. Separarate guides for centres/learners also being developed - content will be common across all awarding bodies. DEVELOPING THE ASSESSMENTS Awarding bodies working together to develop controlled tasks drawing on ideas from the trial, and refining these into a more manageable and consistent template. Next step is producing complete set of sample controlled tasks covering all skills/levels with live versions introduced in stages from September onwards. Confirmatory tests commissioned jointly by awarding bodies prototype likely to be available by September, with live tests available from early

11 OUR ESSENTIAL SKILLS OFFER OVERVIEW LEARNER QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS (ECommS) ( ) Available at levels 1-3, with a two-part end-assessment: controlled task and confirmatory test also includes existing ESW Communication qualifications at Entry level ESSENTIAL APPLICATION OF NUMBER SKILLS (EAoNS) ( ) Available at levels 1-3, with a two-part end-assessment: controlled task and confirmatory test also includes existing ESW Application of Number qualifications at Entry level ESSENTIAL DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS (EDLS) ( ) Available at Entry 1 to Level 3, with controlled task end-assessment and structured discussion ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS (EES) ( ) Available at Entry 3 to Level 3, with a controlled task and structured discussion. Levels 1-3 graded pass/merit/distinction ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR WORK AND LIFE (3846) Wide range of units and qualifications available at Entry 1 to Level 3. Supports progression to full Essential Skills qualifications, and particularly suitable for flexible patterns of provision. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE FOR ESSENTIAL SKILLS PRACTITIONERS (LITERACY) ( ) LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE FOR ESSENTIAL SKILLS PRACTITIONERS (NUMERACY) ( ) LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE FOR ESSENTIAL SKILLS PRACTITIONERS (ESOL) ( ) NEW LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE FOR ESSENTIAL SKILLS PRACTITIONERS (DIGITAL LITERACY) ( ) 11

12 OUR ESSENTIAL SKILLS OFFER WHY CITY & GUILDS? FULL RANGE OF QUALIFICATIONS Full range of learner qualifications across all essential skills areas. Essential Skills for Work and Life (3846) complements full Essential Skills qualifications, supporting personalised learning and flexible patterns of provision Level 3 Essential Skills Practitioner suite (8375) to support tutors now includes Digital Literacy strand, as well as Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL. EASY ADMINSTRATION Registration is simple, with no need to specify qualification level when registering learners. FLEXIBLE ASSESSMENTS Choice of on-screen or paper-based assessment for confirmatory tests (onscreen available with 30 minutes notice, paper with 14 days notice) Controlled tasks available to download from website, and available to administer when ready All assessments available on-demand - no assessment windows or registration deadlines. SUPPORTIVE QUALITY ASSURANCE Flexible and supportive external quality assurance model, with EQAs allocated to centres and able to provide formative support. 12

13 OUR ESSENTIAL SKILLS OFFER WHY CITY & GUILDS? (CONT.) NO-RISK PRICING Our pricing model will be low-risk registration for each essential skill covers all levels, with nearly half of fee only payable on completion or when taking confirmatory test. WELSH LANGUAGE SERVICE Dedicated Welsh language coordinator. Bilingual certificates and support material available. COMPRHENSIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING SUPPORT Qualification delivery support, including centre and learner guides, readiness guides, FAQs and sample controlled tasks and confirmatory tests coming soon. Wide range of digital teaching and learning resources to support all forms of maths, English and ICT teaching and learning, including the Maths and English e-toolkit to complement and supplement the mandatory Wales Essential Skills Tool (WEST). DEDICATED, SPECIALIST SUPPORT Support from locally-based business managers and quality team. Expert advice and guidance from full-time maths and English adviser. Regular programme of network events and webinars bespoke centre training also available. Bespoke support and consultancy through our Advance service. 13

14 DELVING INTO THE DETAIL APPLICATION OF NUMBER COMMUNICATION

15 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS APPLICATION OF NUMBER CHANGES ONLY APPLY TO LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 3 skill areas: Understand Numerical Data Carry out Calculations Interpret and present Results and Findings Assessed using a combination of a Controlled Task and a short Confirmatory Test. The outcome for this will be pass/fail. 15

16 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS APPLICATION OF NUMBER CONTROLLED TASK Covers all three components as a continuous process Summative assessment Externally produced by Awarding Bodies with a marking guide. Internally assessed and quality assured External quality assurance Level 1 - up to 4 hours Level 2 - up to 5 hours Level 3 - up to 8 hours Completed under controlled conditions within a maximum of a consecutive eight-week period. 16

17 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS APPLICATION OF NUMBER CONFIRMATORY TEST Confirms candidates underpinning knowledge and skills Provide additional rigour to the assessment process Externally set and externally assessed Fixed response (multiple choice items) Available on-screen or paper-based Level 1 (up to 20 items) 30 minutes Level 2 (up to 20 items) 30 minutes Level 3 (up to 30 items) 45 minutes Calculators may not be used The outcome for this will be pass/fail. 17

18 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS COMMUNICATION CHANGES ONLY APPLY TO LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 3 skill areas: Speaking and Listening Reading Writing Assessed using a combination of a Controlled Task and a Confirmatory Test. The outcome for this will be pass/fail. 18

19 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS COMMUNICATION CONTROLLED TASK Covers all three components in an integrated, holistic way although each part will focus on a different topic, purpose and audience Summative assessment Externally produced by Awarding Bodies with a marking guide. Internally assessed and quality assured External quality assurance Level 1 - up to 4 hours Level 2 - up to 5 hours Level 3 - up to 8 hours At level 2 and 3 additional reading and research can take place outside of hours Completed under controlled conditions within a maximum of a consecutive eight-week period. 19

20 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS COMMUNICATION CONFIRMATORY TEST Confirms candidates underpinning knowledge and skills Provide additional rigour to the assessment process Externally set and externally assessed Fixed response (multiple choice items) Available on-screen or paper-based Level 1 (up to 20 items) 30 minutes Level 2 (up to 20 items) 30 minutes Level 3 (up to 30 items) 45 minutes Dictionaries may not be used The outcome for this will be pass/fail. 20

21 DELVING INTO THE DETAIL DIGITAL LITERACY

22 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS DIGITAL LITERACY NEW QUALIFICATIONS AT ALL SIX LEVELS: ENTRY 1, ENTRY 2, ENTRY 3, LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 6 skill areas: Digital Responsibility Digital Productivity Digital Information Literacy Digital Collaboration Digital Creativity Digital Learning Assessed using a combination of a Controlled Task and a Structured Discussion. The outcome for this will be pass/fail. 22

23 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS EDLS CONTROLLED TASK SPECIFICATIONS The Task will be produced by the awarding organisations. All Tasks must meet the requirements of the Controlled Task Specification and the Essential Digital Literacy Skills Subject Specifications. A marking guide must be produced to accompany each Task, explicitly referencing the Assessment Specifications and Subject Specifications. The Task is designed to support the assessment of the skill areas in an integrated, holistic way. Each requirement of the Task will focus upon the use of digital technology relevant to real-life purposes and circumstances. In the event a candidate fails the Task, they must not progress to a Structured Discussion. Duration: 6 hours at Entry Level 4 hours for Level 1 5 hours for Level 2 8 hours for Level 3 The Task must be completed under controlled conditions within a maximum of a consecutive eight week period. Structured Discussion: This is a one-to-one conversation held between a candidate and their assessor. It is not designed to be a question and answer session. Candidates are expected to be prepared to demonstrate their understanding at increasing levels of complexity. The content of the structured discussion will be directly related to the candidate s response to the Task. Candidates should be given feedback after the Task which will inform their preparation for the Structured Discussion. There are some Learning Outcomes that can only be assessed via the Task and therefore must not be included in the Structured Discussion. See the Specifications for details (CT = Controlled Task, SD = Structured Discussion) 23

24 DELVING INTO THE DETAIL EMPLOYABILITY

25 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS EMPLOYABILITY NEW QUALIFICATIONS AT FOUR LEVELS: ENTRY 3, LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 4 skill areas: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Planning and Organisation Creativity and Innovation Personal Effectiveness Assessed using a combination of a Controlled Task and a Structured Discussion. The outcome for Entry 3 will be pass/fail. The outcomes for Levels 1, 2 and 3 will be graded: pass/merit/distinction 25

26 ESSENTIAL SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS EES CONTROLLED TASK SPECIFICATIONS All Tasks must meet the requirements of the Essential Employability Skills specification. A marking guide must be produced to accompany each Task, explicitly referencing the Assessment Requirements and the Subject Specifications. There are some Learning Outcomes that are ideally assessed via the practical element of the Task. See the Specifications for details (CT = Controlled Task). The Tasks will be based on real life and/or work related topics/purposes/audiences and/or contexts. Duration: Entry Level 3 up to 6 hours Level 1 up to 4 hours Level 2 up to 5 hours Level 3 - up to 8 hours. The Task must be designed to be completed in its entirety in its maximum allotted hours. Centres may decide to complete the Task in hourly periods, but must not exceed the allocated maximum. The Task must be completed under controlled conditions within a maximum of a consecutive eight week period. Structured Discussion: This is a one-to-one conversation held between a candidate and their assessor. It is not designed to be a question and answer session. Candidates are expected to be prepared to demonstrate their understanding at increasing levels of complexity. The content of the structured discussion will be directly related to the candidate s response to the Task. 26

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