York College
‘ofqual’
The effect of the Further Education Learning Technology Action Group (Feltag) is being felt across the sector, explains Bob Harrison. At a recent Think Out Loud Club, a community of innovative FE practitioners supported by City & Guilds, the Feltag was described as “a movement not just a report”. It is six months since the […]
Opinion
Jim Proudfoot considers the purpose of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and asks ‘what next?’ in light of its scrapping by Ofqual. The recent Ofqual consultation on the QCF determined its design rules were too restrictive and imposed a one-size-fits-all approach not consistent with the development of high-quality vocational qualifications or those that met […]
Despite Ofqual announcing that the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is set for the FE and skills graveyard, Stephen Wright considers whether any life might remain in the system yet. In 2004, then-Chancellor Gordon Brown and Education and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris invited Alexander (now Lord) Leitch to consider the UK’s long-term ambition for developing […]
Ofqual has confirmed it is to remove the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) rules. The decision was confirmed today following a 12-week consultation and earlier review of the rules. The change is part of the qualification watchdog’s wider plans to “strengthen” vocational qualifications in England and Northern Ireland. The removal of the QCF rules, along […]
News
Formula One racing has Graham and Damon Hill and football has Harry and Jamie Redknapp, while high-flying father and son duos in the world of acting include Donald and Kiefer Sutherland, to name but one. But the world of qualifications is no exception to familial footstep following — it has Mike and Jeremy Benson. The […]
Profiles
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has rejected an Association of College (AoC) manifesto call to keep AS-levels linked to A-levels. Addressing MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee looking at exams for 15 to 19-year-olds in England on Wednesday (December 3), Ms Morgan (pictured front) defended plans to turn AS results into a separate […]
A government plan to reduce £300m of FE and skill bureaucracy has come under fire from Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chair Margaret Hodge after a National Audit Office probe found it had cut less than 2 per cent of costs for providers. In a damning report out today, the NAO said the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ […]
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is to review teaching and accreditation of maths and English for learners unable to reach D grade GCSE. It comes as learners who record a D in English and maths at GCSE will, from next year, have to retake in pursuit of an improved grade, while those who get […]
Ofqual boss Glenys Stacey has said qualifications should remain “as stable as possible” as Skills Minister Nick Boles looks at a Functional Skills rebrand. Ms Stacey replied to a letter sent early last month by Mr Boles, in which he said Functional Skills would “continue to be one of the types of qualification that learners […]
