LINKING LONDONACCESS TO HE

PRACTITIONER FORUMMARCH 2015

Supporting the learner journey

The Context

New Access to HE Diploma Specification from September 2014

Introduction of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans

Funding for GCSE Maths and English qualifications for adults

New developments

What has changed with the new Access qualification specification from 2014?

45 graded level 3 credits which must all come from units based on academic subject content

Remaining 15 credits can be either ungraded level 3 or level 2

Learners can only be registered and certificated for 60 credits.

GCSE Equivalences are no longer regulated by QAA as part of the Access to HE Diploma qualification

Impact of the New Specification and 24+ loans so far…FE Entry requirements Asking for learners to have one or two of the English

and maths GCSEs up front Setting up GCSE maths and English courses or

offering a Pre Access course

Recruitment of Access learners Numbers generally lower this year Some Diploma courses not running this year Smaller numbers in classes/ fewer cohorts

Implications and Impact of the New Specification so far…

IAG for Access Applicants Advise on checking HE entry requirements for the

courses /institutions they wish to apply to

Do they have the level 2 entry requirements? If not, should they be considering a two year course

Importance of completing their Access course for 24+ loan waiver

Implications and Impact of the New Specification so far…

24+ Loans Lower take up of loans this year Link to lower numbers in e.g. nursing Waiver of Access loan on completion of HE course key

to take up by Access learners

Internal Progression Providers looking to develop Access courses to provide

internal progression on to Foundation Degrees, Higher Nationals and vice versa

Information for HEIs and making offers 1

QAA has published updated guidance for HEIs on the new specification and on making offers

AVAs liaising with and visiting key receiving HEIs to update them on the new specification

Different Diploma structures nationally. Advisable for HEIs to base entry requirements on the 45 graded credits

Not all learners will have the opportunity to achieve 60 credits at level 3

Information for HEIs and making offers 2

All students who have achieved the full Diploma will offer: exactly 60 credits exactly 45 credits from graded level 3 units

concerned with academic subject content

Information for HEIs and making offers In conditional offers, ensure that any specification of

requirements does not exceed 60 credits

When making requirements and offers based on achievement of grades specify the number of credits (not units) to be achieved at Merit or Distinction (within the maximum available of 45 credits)

Consider asking for a second reference to gain more information about students' academic potential

Predicted Grades and Access to HE Providing predicted grades can be very difficult for

Access tutors, especially at the point of application

By February tutors should be able to provide approximate projections of potential progress on the basis of work produced so far

Access to HE UCAS Developments

ABL UCAS Awarding Body Linkage – for 2014-15

results, these should include learner grade profiles

UCAS Tariff QAA will be putting forward a proposal for the

inclusion of the Access to HE Diploma qualification to be included in the new UCAS tariff

Access to HE QAA Developments

Continued development of subject descriptors

Focus on Diploma subjects with high numbers/professional body requirements (e.g. Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work). Draft for Nursing – does not use all credit – some space for ‘local’ determination of content

Development of system for benchmarking grading distribution to be applied by QAA and AVAs

The future of QAA’s role in the regulation of Access to HE after 2017

For further information

OCN London Website

www.ocnlondon.org.uk

QAA Access to HE Website

www.accesstohe.ac.uk

Marisa Castellini - Curriculum Development Manager - Access to HE m.castellini@ocnlondon.org.uk