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Ofqual is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. Our work ensures that children, young people and adult learners get the results their work merits, that standards are maintained and that the qualifications learners receive count, both now and in the future. In this e-Newsletter you can find out about Ofqual's most recent work. You have been sent this email because you are a subscriber to Ofqual News. If you wish you can unsubscribe from our e-Newsletter. Securing confidence in National Assessments Ofqual is consulting on a new regulatory framework on National Assessments. The framework sets out our approach to regulation, as well as the roles and responsibilities of organisations and individuals developing and delivering assessments, including National Curriculum assessments and Early Years Foundation Stage assessments. We want to hear from everyone involved in or with an interest in the way assessments are delivered. This may include: Headteachers, governors, teachers and practitioners Parents and carers Local authority advisors Training providers Government body representatives Anyone with an interest in National Curriculum/Early Years Foundation Stage assessments. The consultation is taking place from June 7 to September 1 2010. There are two ways to contribute to the consultation. You can read the framework and comment online at www.ofqual.gov.uk/consultations and/or you can attend a consultation event. Events are scheduled to take place as follows: Leeds, June 23 London, June 29 Bristol, July 1. For more details about an event, please email nc.consultations@ofqual.gov.uk VQ Day supported by Ofqual Ofqual is proud to support the third VQ Day on June 23 2010. Senior managers will be marking the achievements of all learners who gain vocational qualifications every year by taking part in celebrations across the UK. Kathleen Tattersall, chair of Ofqual, will visit Northern Ireland, where she will join Sir Reg Empey, minister for education and learning, at a ceremony in Belfast. Other Ofqual directors will be visiting local colleges and will also take part in the main VQ Day celebrations in London. Kathleen Tattersall said: "Vocational and occupational qualifications are valued by thousands of learners and employers in all walks of life and make a vital contribution to the success of the nation." For more information on Ofqual's plans for VQ Day please contact annette.kinsella@ofqual.gov.uk  Diploma awarding guidance Diploma awarding guidance The Department for Education and QCDA continue to support schools and colleges to work towards successful Diploma awarding for Summer 2010.    QCDA will shortly be issuing guidance for examinations officers about managing results and post-results services, including specific guidance on the Diploma and a results day action plan. Students who are not claiming a Diploma in August should receive a Diploma Progress Statement (DPS), drawn from the Diploma Aggregation Service (DAS). The DPS will list the components of the Diploma completed to date, and identify actions required to enable the student to claim their Diploma at a later date. The DPS can be used to provide support and guidance to students about progression to their next stage of learning   Further information and guidance is available from:- www.diploma-support.org and www.qcda.gov.uk  Ofqual’s Regulatory IT System project (RITS) The RITS project is responsible for delivering the new regulatory IT systems that will help Ofqual undertake its duties as the independent regulator and ensure that three-country regulation can be conducted in a more efficient way. There will be three phased releases, the first of which will go live in October 2010. The primary purpose of "Release 1" is to replace Web Based Accreditation (WBA), the Qualifications Management Information System (QMIS) and the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ) - while supporting three-country regulation. The RITS project is progressing on schedule. In June the team will be piloting an early release of the system to a small group of awarding organisations. Currently there are 25 awarding organisations taking part in the live pilot and providing feedback.    For more information about RITS, please contact Steve Cullip or for general queries about Ofqual’s regulatory role, please email info@ofqual.gov.uk Unitised GCSE specifications New unitised GCSE specifications were introduced for first teaching in September 2009, with the full courses to be awarded for the first time in summer 2011. Two particular aspects of the new specifications are important: the standard of work required in the units, which will be relevant for centres that have entered students this summer the rules surrounding re-sits and the proportion of assessment that must be sat at the end of the course (the 'terminal rule'). Standard of work Units within the new specifications are designed to be of the same standard and will be assessed against the full GCSE standard, whether the candidate is in Year 10 or Year 11. Entry and aggregation rules Re-sits are limited to one per unit, and this includes tiered units where candidates can sit papers targeted at particular grade ranges. Re-sitting at a different tier will not be classed as a 'new' entry and will be counted as the one permitted re-sit for that unit. When a candidate re-sits, the better of the two available results will count towards the final grade, unless the re-sit is part of the terminal assessment (see below). Candidates have to take a minimum of 40 per cent of assessment at the end of the course. This ‘terminal’ 40 per cent can include controlled assessment units. It can also include units where the candidate is re-sitting. When the re-sit is part of the 40 per cent terminal assessment, the mark achieved will count towards the final grade whether it is higher or lower than the first attempt. Although 40 per cent is the minimum amount of assessment that must be undertaken at the end of the course, candidates can take up to 100 per cent of the assessment at this point, if that is considered the best option for them. These changes mean that centres have to make judgements on when it is most appropriate to enter their candidates for the units. They also need to check that their entry decisions meet the requirement for 40 per cent terminal assessment. This is particularly important as the number of units and the weighting of units will differ across subjects and awarding organisations. Centres are encouraged to liaise closely with their awarding organisations to discuss these issues. The rules on re-sits and terminal assessment are designed to ensure that the introduction of unitised GCSEs does not significantly increase the burden of assessment by encouraging multiple attempts at units. During this time of change, Ofqual and the awarding organisations are committed to ensuring that standards are maintained so that the results achieved by candidates now and in the future are comparable with their counterparts in previous years, and that all candidates continue to receive the results that their work merits.   Further information on the rules relating to the new GCSE specifications can be found on the JCQ website Ofqual hosts A level briefing This year sees some significant changes to A levels. Ofqual hosted a briefing to talk about these changes and the work being done to maintain standards and ensure that this summer's results are fair to all candidates. The briefing, which took place in central London on May 18, detailed the changes made to A levels and the work undertaken by Ofqual, its regulatory partners (DCELLS in Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland) and the awarding bodies to ensure that grades awarded this year are comparable to the same grades awarded in previous years. Information discussed included: How the awarding process works The role of the regulators Changes to A level specifications Specific work done to safeguard standards through the changes How the new A* will be awarded Some expectations for A* awards based on last year’s results. The new A level specifications are made up of four units rather than six. The examinations also feature more 'stretch and challenge', meaning a wider range of question types and more questions requiring extended answers, designed to give more able candidates more opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge. This summer will also see the introduction of the new A* grade at A level. The presentation given at the briefing is available, along with further information, at the following address: http://ofqual.gov.uk/news-and-announcements/83/294  Meet up with Ofqual Ofqual is attending several events in the coming months. Come and meet us at: The 4th International Plagiarism Conference on June 21- 23 at Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne VQ Day events around the UK on June 23, including the national VQ event at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London The Childcare and Nursery Show on June 25 - 26 at the Bournemouth International Centre Successful Schools: Creating a School Fit for the 21st Century on  July 6 at the Grosvenor Hotel, London The Examination Officers’ Association Annual Conference on July 6 - 7 at the Robinson Conference Centre, Wyboston, Bedford The Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors 4th National Assessment Conference on July 16 - 17 at Mary Ward House, London. Ofqual is supporting the 4th International Plagiarism Conference. You can download our plagiarism guides from www.ofqual.gov.uk/plagiarism Wish to unsubscribe or change your details?