A2CScomis EO Network Conference

18th November 2015

Chris WiltshireA2C Programme Director

Why A2C?

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)• been in use for over 20 years• unable to support broad range of

qualifications currently on offer• relies on outdated technology and processes• has become inefficient and difficult to useis no longer fit for purpose

A2C will replace

• JCQ’s system for General Qualifications• Edexcel’s Edifact• City & Guilds Walled Garden file upload

Awarding Organisations’ extranets will continue to be supported

History

2004 and 2006 abortive attempts to restructure

2008 MIS and colleges/schools petition for modernisationJCQ AOs recognise need to replace existing systems

2010 A2C proposed

A2C Vision

to agree and embed a common set of best practice standards, including new data structures, business processes and messaging that will transform the way in which our customers are able to select and utilise general and vocational qualification products and services, allowing them to make informed choices on a cost effective and fit for purpose basis.

Benefits

• realised by MIS suppliers by incorporating A2C standards into the design and implementation of their updated systems.

• will bring quality, consistency and ease of use to Examinations Officers.

Benefits

• similar look and feel• greater consistency in process • use of harmonised lists• standardise terminology and naming

conventions

Benefits – Product Catalogue

• include both general and vocational qualifications

• across all participating awarding organisations• additional Awarding Organisations plan to

become A2C compliant

Benefits - Validation

MIS will be able to provide immediate feedback based on the validation rules within the relevant product catalogue. • eg provision of the appropriate learner

identifiers• defined by individual Awarding Organisations

for individual products, but the validation process will operate consistently for all.

Benefits – Event Schedule

The event schedule will provide details such as system deadlines and fee discounts allowing EOs to obtain best value for money.

Benefits - Results

Results outcome data will be harmonised and significantly enriched to include:• contributing outcomes• certification detail • raw mark grade boundaries

Terminology

• Product Catalogue (static and instance)• Orders (registrations and entries)• Results• Schemes, Learning Units, Assessables,

Pathways• Centre Assessed Outcomes• Parties (learners, centres, etc)

Who is Involved?The A2C programme is being delivered by JCQ Awarding Organisations and MIS Suppliers. We are also working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across the education sector. The key stakeholders in the A2C Programme are:• JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications)• ISB (Information Standards Board )• Commercial MIS Suppliers• Homegrowns (centres with an MIS developed in-house)• FAB (Federation of Awarding Bodies)• Avco• AoC (Association of Colleges)• EOA (Examination Officers Association)• The Exams Office

JCQ

Other Awarding Organisations

We are working with the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and many are actively considering implementing A2C

The standards are open source which means that everyone can use them and other Awarding Organisations can adopt them at a time that suits them.

MIS Suppliers• Advanced Learning (Facility, Progresso)• Arbor Education (Arbor)• Behaviour Watch (SchoolPod)• Bromcom Computers (Bromcom MIS)• Capita FHE (UNIT-e)• Capita SIMS (Examinations Organiser)• Civica (REMS)• Compass Computer Consultants (Prosolution)• Double First (Engage)• Furlong Business Solutions (SchoolBase)• iSAMS• Learning Platforms• Monterpoint Technologies• Pellcomp Software (PICS)• RM Education (Integris)• Software Solutions (Warwick) Ltd• Tribal (ebs4, Maytas, eTrack, SITS:Vision, Synergy in Schools)• Unit 4 (Agresso, Citrix QL)• vsware• WCBS (Pass 3Sys)• West March Systems Ltd (TERMS Evolution)

Phase 1: A2C Transport

• The first phase was completed in Sept 2012. • Focused on updating the way in which data was

transmitted• EDI relied on the use of carriers (VANs)• Achieved cost savings for our customers at the

earliest opportunity.• The JCQ Migration Application is a temporary

transport solution which will be replaced during phase two.

Phase 2: A2C Message Structures

The second phase will:• streamline data transfer between Awarding

Organisations and Centres• MIS suppliers will embed the migration

application functionality within their systems• Automated polling• Feedback messages

Phase 2: A2C Business Processes

Developing best practice businesses processes to ensure a consistent approach for centres. The new MIS and AO systems will focus on the following:• Product Catalogues• Orders - Registrations & Entries• Centre Assessed Outcomes • Awards• Outcomes

Messaging Tranche(from Sept 2015)

Centres

XMLviaSecure Internet

AwardingOrganisations

Data Transfer Before A2C

Centres

MIS Interface

EDI Files

Van Carrier

EDI Files

AwardingOrganisations

Transport Tranche(Complete June 2012)

Centres

MIS Interface

EDI Files viaSecure Internet

AwardingOrganisations

XML

Programme Overview

Achievements to date

September 2011• All JCQ centres using an MIS in conjunction with a VAN carrier can

download the JCQ migration applicationSeptember 2012• All centres using the migration application and stopped using their

VAN carriers; carrier contracts could be terminated at this point. May 2013• Decision to align A2C with DfE/BIS data model (ISB).Jan 2015• Version 2 of the A2C specification published.

This is the baseline version which MIS Suppliers and Awarding Organisations are using to develop their systems.

When?

September 2014 – August 2015• Development of AO and MIS systems• Integration testing• Testing with a small subset of centres• Planning the rollout

Autumn 2015

Capita SIMS Pilots• 8 centres in Northern Ireland working with

CCEA, OCR and WJEC. • 4 centres in Gwynedd and Cardiff working

with WJEC.• November resits, Functional Skills, January

entries, Welsh Bacc registrations processed• November exam results in January

Spring/Summer 2016

Pearson to go-live in time for summer entriesAQA to go-live September 2016C&G and NCFE ready but SIMS functionality hadn’t been developedTesting with all suppliers ready to start rollouts in September 2016Pilots with colleges

EDI Switchoff

• The last date for new entries in EDI format will be 31st December 2018

• Existing EDI orders will be completed in EDI.• Awarding Organisations expect to be able to

switch off EDI completely in 2019.