Have your say on exam plan
Tameside College has introduced a new and wide range of distance learning courses.
Aimed at students who prefer to study online, from home or work, these nationally recognised courses offer an alternative to traditional classroom based teaching - they are free to every student who completes them too.
Many of the courses are dedicated to helping students develop new skills for work in different careers. There is also a range of higher level, degree, professional and access to higher education qualifications to choose from.
As well as listing the courses the guide provides a comprehensive description to funding your course. This includes information for adult students at Tameside College, whose gross annual earnings is less than £18,135, will receive free tuition.
Jackie Moores, principal at Tameside College said: “We are delighted to launch our adult learner guide for 2020/21. We welcome thousands of adult students to the college every year. We provide a diverse range of courses we can meet the different learning needs of local adults.
“By supporting local adults with high quality teaching and learning we are able to contribute to a stronger economy and community. We encourage adults to make an online application as the first step back to college.”
The 16-page publication will be delivered to 100,000 Tameside homes by the end of June with an invitation to apply online at: www.tameside.ac.uk
FOR most young people, the last few months have been hugely worrying with school, college and their lives disrupted. In particular, those coming up to exams have faced uncertainty.
With most exams scrapped this year, the importance of coursework assessment was highlighted and Ofqual recognised that: ‘In extraordinary circumstances such as these, schools and colleges are best placed to judge the likely performance of their students at the end of the course’.
Last week, Ofqual launched a consultation on proposed changes to assessing GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2021. The consultation document recognises there are many disadvantaged minority groups of students whose education would have been disproportionately disrupted by COVID-19. These include young carers, disabled students, poorer students without access to the internet or a computer; those from BAME, Gypsy and Traveller communities, or in lower socio-economic groups.
However, it then states: ‘We have not identified any aspects of our proposed changes to the way GCSEs, AS or A levels are assessed in 2021 that would have a negative impact on students who share particular protected characteristics’.
They present no evidence base for this despite a recognition that such groups would have been more adversely affected.
If the last few months have taught us anything, it is that we need to be more adroit when responding to inequality.
Responses to the Black Lives Matter movement saying that ‘All Lives Matter’ missed the point that we need to address how particular groups in society face injustice and discrimination.
The changes Ofqual proposes prioritise freeing up teaching time and taking
account of public health restrictions. It is hugely surprising not to see student welfare and equity as equal priorities.
One conclusion is for increased emphasis on exams and less on assessed coursework. Coursework typically benefits and supports students from poorer backgrounds or those with emotional and mental health needs. Why not give students the option of whether or not to have their coursework accounted for? Why not reduce exam content or even scrap some exams?
Teachers are well-equipped to assess the pupils they teach. Assessment is a fundamental part of their responsibility and thinking that this could be removed to save time undermines their role.
Ofqual says that they would welcome your views on how any potential negative impacts on particular groups of students could be mitigated. Make your voice heard.
● You can contact #WeStandTogether on twitter @ WeStandTogether, facebook @ WeStandTogetherBritain, or email support@westandtogether.org.uk.