News
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Wed, 15 Jul 2020
GCSE exams and functional skills assessments
A current overview of assessment and awarding arrangements for GCSE maths and English and functional skills qualifications in 2020 and 2021.
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
Major changes for higher digital skills education
Measures to boost the quality and take-up of higher technical education to help plug skill gaps, including digital, have been announced.
Wed, 24 Jun 2020 14:39
Yes We Can Read: a phonics-based programme to develop reading skills
This ground breaking one-to-one phonics based reading programme is specifically designed to teach students who have previously experienced difficulty learning through traditional approaches. It has a proven track record of success in bringing the gift of reading to those who have fallen behind or who have given up hope of ever being able to read.
Wed, 24 Jun 2020
King Street – a phonics reading programme based on the residents of King Street
King Street is a structured phonics-based reading programme, designed for group learning with both adult and teenage beginner readers. Readers are taken on a journey of discovery about the people who live on King Street; exploring themes of family, community and friendship. The programme consists of graded books sets, to help learners develop the skills necessary for reading competency.
Mon, 22 Jun 2020
An update on the free digital skills qualifications for adults that will be available from the 1st of August.
Wed, 03 Jun 2020
Ofsted to review learners' online further education experience
Ofsted is carrying out an exploratory review of the quality of learners’ experiences of online education in further education and skills settings during the COVID-19-affected summer term.
Fri, 29 May 2020
Applications are now open for this year’s OTLA (English and maths) programme
A team led by ccConsultancy in partnership with That Reading Thing and Skills for Life Network has secured funding from the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) to support action research projects that focus on approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in English and maths. This is a national Outstanding Teaching Learning and Assessment (OTLA) project, supported by a team of experts in Post-16 English and maths. The programme is funded and subsidised by the Department for Education and is open to eligible organisations funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Tue, 26 May 2020
Inspiration for post-16 English teaching from practitioner research
This booklet, which showcases reports of 12 collaborative action research projects that have produced inspiring ideas for post-16 English teaching, is available to download from the Excellence Gateway.
Fri, 22 May 2020
Guidance on assessment of maths and English qualifications
Information and guidance available from awarding bodies on the assessment and awarding of maths, English and ESOL qualifications this summer.
Wed, 20 May 2020
Remaining apprenticeship frameworks to be withdrawn
The ESFA has reminded providers that all remaining apprenticeship frameworks will be withdrawn to new starts on 31 July 2020. From 1 August 2020, all new apprenticeship starts must be on new, employer-designed standards.
Thu, 14 May 2020
Jonathan Kay, Head of English and Maths at an FE College in the north of England, writes on the challenges of estimating GCSE grades and ranking learners, especially in the context of large cohorts. How do you collect assessment evidence? And how do you rank 5000+ learners?
Tue, 21 Apr 2020
Newcastle College is currently accepting applications for FE teacher training courses with bursary support of up to £26000, with places being allocated on a first come first served basis.
Tue, 21 Apr 2020
Addressing the impact of COVID-19 on post-16 education
This new paper, published by NCFE and the Campaign for Learning, looks at the likely impact of the COVID-19 crisis on post-16 education, the economy and labour market, and outlines an action plan to address the consequences for jobs, apprenticeships, youth unemployment and adult retraining.
Sun, 19 Apr 2020
New major package to support online learning
The Education Secretary has announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the country will receive free laptops.
Fri, 17 Apr 2020
Call for ESOL exams to be replaced by teacher assessment this year
The National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA) is calling for ESOL exams to be replaced by teacher assessment this year, and for learners to be allowed to continue learning during the summer term without needing to prepare for examinations.
Wed, 15 Apr 2020
Provider achievements from the Education and Training Foundation’s reimagined Study Programme support initiative were showcased at this event held in Birmingham on the 13th of March. View the event Padlet containing the conference booklet, check out the provider presentations and enjoy the beautiful graphical representations captured by the conference visual artist.
Wed, 08 Apr 2020
All routine inspections of schools, further education, early years and social care providers have been suspended in response to the COVID-19 situation. Urgent inspections where specific concerns have been raised can still go ahead however.
Tue, 24 Mar 2020
OTLA English Final Dissemination Event
The Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment (English) programme, commissioned by the Education and Training Foundation and delivered by ccConsultancy, is a collaborative development programme which aims to systematically improve the teaching, learning and assessment of English. Find out more about the OTLA English projects showcased on the 26th of February in Birmingham.
Tue, 03 Mar 2020
Ofsted proposing to withhold inspection reports until complaints are resolved
Ofsted are consulting on proposals for revisions to post-inspection arrangements, including how complaints are handled about their work. The proposals, if agreed, will enable any queries or concerns about an inspection to be addressed quickly and before an inspection report is finalised.
Tue, 03 Mar 2020
OCR to withdraw from providing Functional Skills qualifications
OCR intends to withdraw from providing English and Maths Functional Skills qualifications at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 at the end of 2020.
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