Regulating qualifications in a time of change

Isabel Nisbet, Chief Executive, OfqualNovember 2010

The changing scene

Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda Challenges

International position (educational attainment of young people and adults)

Bobbling between the top group and the second group

Adult skills (age 25-64)

Proportion of adults at level 2 (equivalent of 5 or more good GCSEs):– UK 18th out of 30 OECD countries

»Behind Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Canada, USA….

Proportion of adults educated at degree level or above:– UK 11th out of 30 OECD countries

»Behind Canada, Netherlands, USA

Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2009

CBI education and skills survey 2010

Business priorities for schools and colleges

Improve employability skills 70%

Improve literacy and numeracy 63%

Raise overall standards 46%

Provide high-quality vocational options 42%

Improve science and maths skills 28%

Education/qualifications issues facing England/UK

Long tail of under-achievement

Can we secure a place in the top international division?

“Burden” of assessment and how to assess– When/how often to test young people– Internal V external– Modular v linear

Adult skills gaps

Status and quality of vocational training and qualifications

The Government’s agenda

White Papers in 2010/11:– DfE (curriculum, assessment and 14-19 qualifications)– BIS (following consultation on skills)

Bill expected in ?January 2011– Abolition of QCDA– “Strengthening” of Ofqual

Changed funding arrangements around qualifications – End of JACQA– Initiatives around FE College procurement of qualifications

The Government agenda (ctd)

14-19 qualifications – Interest in international comparisons – changing standards??– End of the preferred routes/2013 entitlement– But “English Baccalaureate” – Views about content – Wolf review of 14-19 vocational education

More reviews– Dame Clare Tickell on Early Years – Expert group on KS2 assessment (Lord Bew)– ?Engagement with HE?

Headlines for the industry from Government agenda

Biggest change of political culture since 1997

Inherited assumptions being re-examined

Difficult transition from the old to the new

Major restrictions on public funding – for schools, colleges, local authorities, quangos, government departments….

Tensions between market philosophy and central policies (particularly in 14-19 qualifications)

Less development work to be done at the centre – more room for the industry (as long as you stick together)

Some policy flux/uncertainty is inevitable

The regulatory agenda

Standards

Frameworks

Making a reality of the 2009 Act

Standards

Ensuring that qualifications are fit for the regulated system Primary responsibility with awarding bodies Ofqual may choose to accredit

Accreditation – only when requirements are met

Real-time monitoring – by risk

Retrospective monitoring – GQs and VQs

Monitoring standards of VQs

Recent/current examples:

L3 Diploma for Children and Young People’s Workforce

IIAL L3 award in Automotive Refrigerant Handling

McDonalds L3 award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering

Edexcel BTEC L2 I Wirk Skills

Financial services Skills Council L4 Diploma for Financial Advisors

What we look at

Validity

Reliability

Comparability (where appropriate)

Minimising bias

Manageability

What we look at

Validity Validity

Reliability

Comparability (where appropriate)

Minimising bias

Manageability

Validity

Does the assessment measure the right things? (narrow)

Is the qualification FIT FOR PURPOSE (wider)

As important for VQs as for GQs

The standards debate – old and new

OLD – emphasis on comparability over time and equivalence

Debates about “grade drift”, “dumbing down”

Scepticism about comparability between VQs and GQs

Influenced by use of qualification outcomes in accountability measures for schools and colleges

Has it shrunk?

The cold shower theory of exams

The NEW standards debate – fitness for purpose

Suitability for progression – employment, HE, next stage of learning

Supporting/reinforcing the best teaching and learning

VALIDITY PLUS

Standards can change if purposes change or if best practice advances

Frameworks

Ofqual wants a SINGLE FRAMEWORK Consultation Wolf evidence

Structure of qualifications and assessment/grading systems must be FIT FOR PURPOSE

Important place for unitised qualifications

Important place for credit-based qualifications

But one size does not necessarily fit all

The QCF

143 awarding organisations recognised to operate in the QCF

6,619 qualifications accredited in the QCF

28,650 units in the unit bank

Units of variable quality

Regulatory arrangements could be made less burdensome Evaluation workshops coming up

Benefits still to be realised

Remember the benefits

Gives value to everything learnt

Flexibility for learners and employers

Consistent approach to describing qualifications

Enables qualifications to be constructed unit by unit

Provides an improved method for meeting industry needs

Making a reality of the 2009 Act

Primary responsibility with awarding organisations

Regulation – about standards, confidence and value for money

Ofqual ensures that awarding organisations are controlling quality and checks particular qualifications when necessary

Proportionate, risk-based and evidence-based

Seen and heard when qualifications are challenged

Active against malpractice – and we will back you up

Read and comment on our consultation documents…..

The changing scene

Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda Challenges

The changing scene

Qualifications The Government agendas The regulatory agenda ChallengesChallenges

Challenges from you to us

Are we still adding burden and cost to the system?

Do we really trust awarding organisations?

Are we always responding to questions consistently?

Is RITS really going to be better than WBA?

Are our regulations/operating rules etc too complicated and detailed?

Does Ofqual have the capacity and capability to meet expectations?

Are we really independent from Ministerial Government?

Challenges from us to you

Are you prepared to take real responsibility for the quality of your qualifications and units?

Are you ready for the demands of cash-strapped public purchasers of your qualifications?

Are you prepared to adapt to the world of the new Government – and speak to it cogently as an industry?

Are you prepared to be truly transparent about your activities?

Are you prepared to debate with the public without being defensive?

Now that you’ve put so many qualifications into the QCF, are you prepared to realise some of the benefits?

Do your qualifications meet the needs of the 21st century?

And finally…..

…it’s goodbye from me