Functional Skills Newsletter June 7th

June 7th - the Functional Skills newsletter

This week we have items about which of the Awarding Organisations are the most popular for Functional Skills; news about the Enhancing Literacy and Numeracy conference; photos of prize winners; a request to please "Plus 1" www.guroo.info and a summary of press comment.

Enhancing Literacy and Numeracy conference - Next steps for SfL and Functional Skills - July 6th in London.

We're very happy to include notification of this conference organised by our friends at Neil Stewart Associates. They write:

The majority of the 2020 workforce is already out of formal education. The Wolf Review made a number of recommendations including ensuring that those on vocational routes post-16 continue to study English and mathematics. We know that to maintain the drive to improve basic literacy, language and numeracy, and ensure all adults have a basic platform for employability, the skills system must respond to those already in employment.

This annual ‘Skills for Life’ conference brought to you by 157 Group and NRDC (National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy), will give you the opportunity to:

• Examine the critical challenges for life-long learning in the UK and hear how adult learning is equipping the economy to meet these challenges
• Hear how colleges and training institutions are building the capacity of their numeracy provision to ensure it is sufficient to support people to reach the functional level
• Share experiences and innovative ideas for embedding SfL/functional skills into existing curriculum areas
• Review the latest developments in the functional skills agenda, including structure, standards and assessment methods
• Set out the opportunities for employers of enhancing work-based learning
• Examine the role of technology and its contribution to new teaching methods

Now in its 8^th year it features an expert line-up of speakers for you to hear, meet and network with including:

• Robert Pheasant, Head of Skills for Life, Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS)
• Karen Adriaanse HMI, National Adviser for Employability, Ofsted
• Helen Casey, Executive Director, NRDC
• Nick Linford, Lsect
• Jill Lanning, Chief Executive, Federation of Awarding Bodies
• Lee Davies, Deputy Chief Executive, Institute for Learning

Register here or contact jacqueline.gorman@neilstewartassociates.co.uk (please mention the Functional Skills newsletter)

Which Awarding Bodies are most active in Functional Skills?

The annual qualifications market report from Ofqual was published last week. In the last year of the pilot, just over 240,000 Functional Skills qualifications were awarded.

AQA is the biggest provider of GCSE with 45% of the market followed by Edexcel with 22% and OCR with 21%. What I find interesting is how this compares to Functional Skills.

The most popular choice of awarding body for Functional Skills was split between Edexcel and AQA with C&G and OCR in third and fourth spot respectively so Edexcel are clearly outperforming their competitors in Functional Skills qualifications!

Take That Lynn plus 1!

Two prizes here, one for Lynn Preston of YH Training in Scarborough who in turn ran another competition for the other ticket won by Paula!

We're sorry about the quality of the photograph, but it does show Lynn with "the boys" in the background!

In the press over the last couple of weeks.

The Daily Telegraph has an interview with Tim Oates from Cambridge Assessment about the need for "rigorous" vocational qualificiations at 16.

The Guardian reports on the latest BIS report that employability skills are the key to success in prison education.

The Excellence Gateway has been revamped as LSIS bring together resources from a number of different systems under one roof however the section on Functional Skills does seem to lean heavily on OCR resources - perhaps there's more work to be done there!

FE News has a report on how the skills gap is contributing to record levels of youth unemployment.

The TES carried a story about the demand for STEM from business and the issues that the education system was finding in supplying this demand.

Responses from the announcement last week

These are a selection of quotes from the responses to the change to de-link Functional Skills from GCSE

does this mean i have to enter pupils for the ict functional skills, 

is it now just an extra and we don't if we wish not to have to enter pupils at all even in 2010 Louise

I think that the latest announcement will be the kiss of death for functional skills and will totally vindicate those Headteachers who have been sitting on the fence with the whole 14-19 agenda because they think that ‘it will all go away’! 

…. The point regarding the report card is pertinent as it will very much depend on how this is structured  ……

….. Ten years or so ago when Key Skills were introduced in Further Education, the rationale for their introduction was that employers when employing school leavers discovered a severe lack of basic skills, especially with numeracy, literacy and IT. When attending the first Functional Skills seminar six months ago, exactly the same words were used to explain the introduction of Functional Skills; presumably the last ten years has been a complete waste of time. It never ceases to amaze me that after eleven years in compulsory education and not grasping the basics; yet when they arrive in Further Education, “vocational” tutors are somehow expected to overcome all barriers and “cure” them of this unfortunate malady and in one or two years. Is it any wonder that that national success rates for Key Skills are so poor? 

So does this mean that the results of the whatsit report (the one from 2004 that found that passing GCSEs was too easy and that learners could effectively guess their way through it and pass with out the requisite skills) have now been kicked into the long grass for another year?  What does that say for the skills base of our workforce and the economic future of this country, especially in these hard times? Another influx of suitably skilled foreign workers? :-( !

Jim Knight - good to see that Mr M'Choakumchild has been thwarted in his gradgrindian ambitions

 ....  The Govt hasn’t yet got its act together on FS and is sending out confused messages. ...

Thanks for the update – extremely useful.

Changes to GCSE Accreditation from 2010

Most of you have by now read the announcement today that Functional Skills will no longer be tied to GCSE passes. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7979267.stm )

 Now, as the market leader in Functional Skills resources, you’d probable think this is a bit of bad news for Guroo – and I must admit that it has caused us to re-read the internal and external documents several times!

 In summary

1)      The government is still committed to FS

2)      They have accepted the OfQual advice “for now”

3)      They are going to find other incentives that will encourage FS as a separate qualification – including tying it to the new School Report Card

 The reason this decision was made was not because of a problem with FS, but because the new GCSE curriculum could not be signed off and released until the issues surrounding the FS “hurdle” in England, when you don’t need it to get a GCSE in Wales, etc got resolved. That wasn’t going to happen quickly and they couldn’t hold up the new curriculum spec being released.

 The result is that it might not actually change very much – as there is still going to be strong pressure on schools to ensure that every pupil can demonstrate their functionality – and this is indeed written into those new GCSE specs which means that FS will simply be part of the GCSE rather than a separate “hurdle”. 

Diplomas continue to be a major driver for FS adoption as will the Foundation Learning Tier, indeed the FLT could be a very big influence indeed as students on the FLT are not expected to be getting grade C+ at GCSE.

 And most importantly of all FS is a good stand-alone qualification (without GCSEs or Diplomas as a driver).   There is going to be tons of pressure on schools to do FS as a separate subject and there’s support from many sides (inc CBI etc) to say that they will be looking for FS passes as a measure of functionality in addition to GCSE passes.

So maybe the message from the top changes from  “Functional Skills will be a must-pass element of GCSEs from 2010” to “Functional Skills are built into the new GCSE specs from 2010”.

Uplifting days

Yesterday I spent a day out with Stewart (co director at guroo) listening to Dave Anderson.  Dave is an American "Business Guru" which could have been a bit of a worry, but boy did he speak well.

I didn't agree 100% with everything but there was so much he did say that is useful and realistic.  Why comment in this blog - because every now and again, it's really good to take a day, take stock, re-group and plan for the next period of change.

And that's exactly what we're doing - after an extraordinary March where we doubled our custoemr base in a single month, we are now planning over easter for the next term where the vision will centre on our products.

And to cap it all, I also got home at a reasonable time and went out with Mrs Wells and the dog for an hour in the evening sunshine - what a good day all round.

The Game Show Quiz

I had the priveldge of being asked to do a little session at the naace conference this week - naturally it was about Functional Skills.

The issue was how do I come up with something that isn't powerpoint, that doesn't overtly mention Guroo but is informative and entertaining.

The solution was provided by Stewart, my co-director who came up with the quiz show format and Vicki who produced an amazing set of Smart Board resources to use.  And it worked, in fact it worked so well that we've had requests to repeat it which we're happy to do so long as we can fit it in neatly and the audience is right.

So if you want to know a bit more about Functional Skills and you like things like Boockbusters, and Family Fortunes - you know where to find us.

Teachers lack of awareness

We're used to some negative reporting about the Diplomas and indeed, my contention remains that they are badly positioned by the Government and QCA.

What's really worrying about the Ofsted survey is the lack of awareness by teachers has not moved forward at all during a whole year.  Surely, this must tell someone something about positioning.  

Apprenticeships - Big News

Big news aren't they?

Our local paper this morning (The Newcastle Journal) carries an 8 page pull out of LSC sponsored stories about Apprenticeships.

Lots of case studies, Suralan was in their as well.

I liked it a lot and it clearly positions this qualification and as it appeared in the business section of the paper it's targetted at the employers so push and pull marketing.

Would be nice to do the same for Diplomas - I still worry they are misunderstood.

Confusing Diplomas Part 2

There's a big push on Apprentices going on. I've seen the TV ad with "SURALAN" and today we had a visitor at out offices from a training provider telling us how easy it is to get a modern apprentice for the office and it only costs something like £16 a day or was that a week - can't remember.

Now I'm quite a big believer in workplace experience, I did a sandwich course and it meant that when I graduated I started work the next day because of that experience.

But from a professional marketing point of view I'm still really worried about mixed messages and the Apprentice ads following the Diploma ads so closely.

The older generation (I count myself in there) are still the gateway to employment and I do believe that this generation definitely knows about A levels, certainly knows about apprenticeships and still is finding it difficult to categorise Diplomas and by categorise, I mean build a perception with the employers.

They should ask me to help them!

Lots of Press about Skills for Life

Now, we know that  Functional Skills will be Incorporated into the Foundation Learning tier which is expected to replace existing basic Skills/Skills for Life provision.  precise details are not yet published but I thought it was very interesting that there was masses of coverage about the progress that Skills for Life had made in 5 years.

Some good, some bad.  

I may have a very slightly wary attitude of political announcements, but I get the feeling that the press coverage yesterday is the forerunner of the FLT changes.

You heard it here first!

Final BETT blog

I just got a chance to look at the winners of the awards.  One stood out like a sore thumb and I don't really agree with it.

LSIS won the award for FE Management Systems.  Now if BESA (which stands for the British Educational Suppliers Assoication) who organsie the awards and are a big part of BETT really want a thriving commercial industry, giving awards to publicly funded bodies who don't live in the same commercial world as we do is a very strange thing to do.

How can I (as a 6 person company) compete with the unlimited budgets and no need to make any commercial decisions of LSIS - it's just wrong.

If publicy funded bodies want to take part in this type of award then they should have a seperate category.

 

Manic Friday and Data

It's amazing how things always seem to work.  I can understand why tesco places such importance on its clubcard becuase yesterday morning we predicted how many people would stop to see us on Friday based on Wed and Thurs numbers.

(I can't say what those numbers were becuase I know that I have readers from company's who would love to know this.)

And guess what - we forecast the number to within 3% - not bad eh and so a very pleasing day all round for us with interest levels well above what we hoped for.  We even got enough orders on the stand to pay for most of the show which is a big bonus!

So now let me consider the show in general.  RM stand is very quiet - mainly becuase they have the whole of Olympia 2 now so lots of people stay there.  Personally this is really bad news for us small companies as some people come to BETT to see RM (indeed many do) and they end spending their time outside drinkiing the free T&C provided by RM.  Good marketing for them - bad for the industry though and this selfishness is really disappointing.

You can see the credit crunch even in Education.  Lots of empty stands, where people paid the deposit in March then didn't pay the second installment in October.  Lots of space where stands used to be as well.  No real significant changes in big stand design so most companies are using their stand assets for longer - it used to be two years between designs, now I'd guess it's at least a year longer.

Breakthrough technologies?  Lots of tablet mini books, internet security and esafety, home/school communication links, mobile learning, assessment and progress tracking.  So nice technology based "toys" but I don't see them as eartth shattering.  Education City are doing well in the primary sector, good software nicely produced and well done to them as every year they have moved forward.

The whiteboard companies invest a lot in software and they certainly blast away with their big stands and amazing "transforming learning" messages, but in reality it's just a bit better than last year.  No BBC, No Apple and so on the technology front, no real significant innovations that I could see.  

Haven't has a chance to get down to policy in Practice where DCSF, Teachers TV, Becta et al are - so missed any announcements about things.

Dafest stand - someone upstairs on the gallery has about 30 sq meter stand (approx cost £12000 just for the space) and on it they have some big dance mats and loud music.  Result - annoyed neighbours I expect and an empty stand as every visitor walks past wondering why they want to learn how to dance like Girls Aloud and even if they did want to learn, why they'd do it at an exhibition with all their colleagues watching. 

Diplomas and Functional Skills stuff - no movement  since the first day that I've been able to see.

NWGL have promised level 2 ICT "for the summer" on CD.  Level 2 Maths for 2010 on CD but no level 1, no entry level, no English so personally delighted.  BKSB previously mentioned, books and re-used paper based materils from Nelson Thorners and some other publishers, same with exam boards.  

That's it foe now, I hope my reader enjoyed the review!

BETT start and set-up

Rather unbelievably, this is my 21st consecutive year at BETT - not all with the same company of course.

It still raises the same emotions, still has a high degree of anticipation, I still look forward to it as a highlight of the year, the perfect start to a new year!

We have two stands at BETT, it is the first year for Guroo at the show.  A small stand N50 in the gallery of the main hall where I hope most activity will be based and an even smaller stand in the software village which has just enough space for a couple of machines and a person.  I hope that by having two stands, we see more people - I know that visitors rarely get round the whole show!

It's Wednesday morning now and everything is set-up and raring to go.  

Once I've had a little chance to walk round the show I'll report on which stands and what developments I can see that have something to do with Functional Skills.

Jonathan

Postive and Negative Diploma Press

Good and Bad News today.

Locally, I read a really positive story about Diplomas in the Sunderland Echo.  It was focused on Sunderland LA where all 17 schools and colleges are involved.  Very positive comments all round, especially from the students involved.  A full page article in the Sunderland Echo on January 5th. 

On the next day I was sent a really negative story from CYP Now magazine which said that only 40% of students had even heard about Diplomas, laying the blame for this squarely with the Education Profession for not publicising it and suggesting the "sales job" needs to be focused not on young people but on leaders in schools and local authorities.  

Couldn't agree more - it's something we experience every day in our dealings with schools and DCSF needs to address this.  

I also have a daughter in year 11 and she was sent details of the course options offered by Newcastle College (the largest FE college in the country I think).  Not one mention of a Diploma anywhere although the materials from the Sunderland Colleges all mentioned Diplomas - confirming the story above.  

The next 6 months will be interesting - especially for Diplomas.

 

Vocational qual numbers

Now we know that 11500 students are following diploma quals this year.

Did you know that DCSF have recorded:

255,000 male students  and 322,000 female students on NVQ courses.

So that means just 2% of the vocational student population are doing diplomas!

A bit of an imbalance for a qualification that is intended to become the gold standard in this area.

Exams performance isn't the best indicator of success

A tiny piece in the TES this week caught my eye.  The Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors says that 6/10 teachers said exam performance did not reflect success in the workplace.

I've written about this before and I completely agree.  Enthusiasm and Attitude are the values that employers place above all else along with an ability to "get on with it".

How does this relate to functional skills?  Well FS are not "exam focused" and the focus on problem solving is much more closely related to the enthusiasm, attitude and Independence that employers value.

Similarly, the whole Diploma agenda tends to support this view.

Unsolicited customer praise!

This morning we received an unsolicited letter from one of our customers.

It was a really nice letter saying thanks for your help and praising individuals for going the extra mile.  It also made me realise how important it is to do it ourselves as well.  I do it occasionally, but I shall do it more in the future.

Functional Skills Subject silo's

I was training a group recently in one subject and a fairly heated discussion ensued about the impact of other subjects.  

Position 1.  My students are very capable of the vast majority of level 2 Mathematics but aren't spatially aware so itsn't fair that they won't pass level2 maths as it includes 2D to 3D representation.

Position 2.  My students can do maths but because they are required to read and write in the maths test, they won't be able to pass.

My view - it isn't about passing exams, it's about making students functional in the world of education, work and community.  And that pretty much means that students who can't read and write aren't functional irrespective of whether thay can do Functional Mathematics.  It isn't about compensation of some, it's about mastery of all.

Edexcel cancel Computer based assessment for 09

I just seen on an education message board that Edexcel have delayed the implementation of computer based assessment for the IT Diploma at level 1, unit 1 and level 2, unit 1 until Janury 2010.

They are using paper based tests instead and It doesn't say whether this applies to all units or specifically to this one.

Students Love it!

For those of us who have the development of Diplomas over the last two years, this will come as no surprise at all.

TES reports that Mary Curnock-Cook of the QCA has told MPs that students love the Diplomas and teachers are keen to teach them.

Students are being enthused by the practical nature - I love that word ethused - that's exactly what the Diplomas should be doing.

Possible conflict between colleges and schools?

The TES reported this week (Joseph Lee page 3 of FEFocus) that Colleges are calling for the power to take over the Diploma for 14 year olds and recruit them directly.

Good thing or bad thing?  My view is that short term it would be really bad as Colleges have pretty much failed to either recruit or direct students to Diploma courses - only 1500 students on level 1 for example.  So why give a college more power to direct students away from diplomas?

Long term however, it has to be a very good thing.  there's no doubt there would a significant number of 14 year olds who would benefit from a college environment and do better than at school. 

I just think that to get into a position of "power" you have to show significant levels of support in the first place.