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Regulating qualifications in a time of change
Isabel Nisbet, Chief Executive, OfqualNovember 2010
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The changing scene
Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda Challenges
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International position (educational attainment of young people and adults)
Bobbling between the top group and the second group
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Adult skills (age 25-64)
Proportion of adults at level 2 (equivalent of 5 or more good GCSEs):– UK 18th out of 30 OECD countries
»Behind Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Canada, USA….
Proportion of adults educated at degree level or above:– UK 11th out of 30 OECD countries
»Behind Canada, Netherlands, USA
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2009
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CBI education and skills survey 2010
Business priorities for schools and colleges
Improve employability skills 70%
Improve literacy and numeracy 63%
Raise overall standards 46%
Provide high-quality vocational options 42%
Improve science and maths skills 28%
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Education/qualifications issues facing England/UK
Long tail of under-achievement
Can we secure a place in the top international division?
“Burden” of assessment and how to assess– When/how often to test young people– Internal V external– Modular v linear
Adult skills gaps
Status and quality of vocational training and qualifications
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The Government’s agenda
White Papers in 2010/11:– DfE (curriculum, assessment and 14-19 qualifications)– BIS (following consultation on skills)
Bill expected in ?January 2011– Abolition of QCDA– “Strengthening” of Ofqual
Changed funding arrangements around qualifications – End of JACQA– Initiatives around FE College procurement of qualifications
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The Government agenda (ctd)
14-19 qualifications – Interest in international comparisons – changing standards??– End of the preferred routes/2013 entitlement– But “English Baccalaureate” – Views about content – Wolf review of 14-19 vocational education
More reviews– Dame Clare Tickell on Early Years – Expert group on KS2 assessment (Lord Bew)– ?Engagement with HE?
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Headlines for the industry from Government agenda
Biggest change of political culture since 1997
Inherited assumptions being re-examined
Difficult transition from the old to the new
Major restrictions on public funding – for schools, colleges, local authorities, quangos, government departments….
Tensions between market philosophy and central policies (particularly in 14-19 qualifications)
Less development work to be done at the centre – more room for the industry (as long as you stick together)
Some policy flux/uncertainty is inevitable
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The regulatory agenda
Standards
Frameworks
Making a reality of the 2009 Act
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Standards
Ensuring that qualifications are fit for the regulated system Primary responsibility with awarding bodies Ofqual may choose to accredit
Accreditation – only when requirements are met
Real-time monitoring – by risk
Retrospective monitoring – GQs and VQs
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Monitoring standards of VQs
Recent/current examples:
L3 Diploma for Children and Young People’s Workforce
IIAL L3 award in Automotive Refrigerant Handling
McDonalds L3 award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering
Edexcel BTEC L2 I Wirk Skills
Financial services Skills Council L4 Diploma for Financial Advisors
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What we look at
Validity
Reliability
Comparability (where appropriate)
Minimising bias
Manageability
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What we look at
Validity Validity
Reliability
Comparability (where appropriate)
Minimising bias
Manageability
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Validity
Does the assessment measure the right things? (narrow)
Is the qualification FIT FOR PURPOSE (wider)
As important for VQs as for GQs
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The standards debate – old and new
OLD – emphasis on comparability over time and equivalence
Debates about “grade drift”, “dumbing down”
Scepticism about comparability between VQs and GQs
Influenced by use of qualification outcomes in accountability measures for schools and colleges
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Has it shrunk?
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The cold shower theory of exams
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The NEW standards debate – fitness for purpose
Suitability for progression – employment, HE, next stage of learning
Supporting/reinforcing the best teaching and learning
VALIDITY PLUS
Standards can change if purposes change or if best practice advances
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Frameworks
Ofqual wants a SINGLE FRAMEWORK Consultation Wolf evidence
Structure of qualifications and assessment/grading systems must be FIT FOR PURPOSE
Important place for unitised qualifications
Important place for credit-based qualifications
But one size does not necessarily fit all
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The QCF
143 awarding organisations recognised to operate in the QCF
6,619 qualifications accredited in the QCF
28,650 units in the unit bank
Units of variable quality
Regulatory arrangements could be made less burdensome Evaluation workshops coming up
Benefits still to be realised
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Remember the benefits
Gives value to everything learnt
Flexibility for learners and employers
Consistent approach to describing qualifications
Enables qualifications to be constructed unit by unit
Provides an improved method for meeting industry needs
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Making a reality of the 2009 Act
Primary responsibility with awarding organisations
Regulation – about standards, confidence and value for money
Ofqual ensures that awarding organisations are controlling quality and checks particular qualifications when necessary
Proportionate, risk-based and evidence-based
Seen and heard when qualifications are challenged
Active against malpractice – and we will back you up
Read and comment on our consultation documents…..
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The changing scene
Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda Challenges
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The changing scene
Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda ChallengesChallenges
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Challenges from you to us
Are we still adding burden and cost to the system?
Do we really trust awarding organisations?
Are we always responding to questions consistently?
Is RITS really going to be better than WBA?
Are our regulations/operating rules etc too complicated and detailed?
Does Ofqual have the capacity and capability to meet expectations?
Are we really independent from Ministerial Government?
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Challenges from us to you
Are you prepared to take real responsibility for the quality of your qualifications and units?
Are you ready for the demands of cash-strapped public purchasers of your qualifications?
Are you prepared to adapt to the world of the new Government – and speak to it cogently as an industry?
Are you prepared to be truly transparent about your activities?
Are you prepared to debate with the public without being defensive?
Now that you’ve put so many qualifications into the QCF, are you prepared to realise some of the benefits?
Do your qualifications meet the needs of the 21st century?
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And finally…..
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…it’s goodbye from me