News

LatestNews

Full Level 2 status for NOCN Qualifications in Progression (QCF) confirmed by the LSC

Posted: 15 February 2010

OCNLR is pleased to announce that the Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Progression (QCF) have been submitted by Asset Skills to the LSC as priority qualifications and target bearing in ALR. The qualifications therefore attract full Level 2 funding and learner achievement of the full Certificate or Diploma can contribute to a college’s Level 2 targets.

Approaches to e-assessment

Posted: 02 February 2010

Thinking about how you might use e-assessment? Download this presentation summarising our recent e-assessment event.

Events

ForthcomingEvents

Staying on Track: Creative approaches for keeping 14-19 learners engaged

Posted: 18 November 2009

Event Date: 26 February 2010

For providers working with 14-19 learners in schools, FE colleges and a range of other learning environments.

Why direct claims status is good for you

Information for Open College Network London Region (OCNLR) approved centres.

What is direct claims status?

A centre with direct claims status (DCS) is judged to have an appropriately skilled and knowledgeable internal verifier (Approved Internal Verifier) and robust quality systems. These enable the centre to make the right decisions about awards to learners, without constant checks by the awarding body. The status is therefore built on trust and confidence.

A centre with DCS can directly claim credit certificates for learners from OCNLR on the signature of its Approved Internal Verifier (AIV) alone. The need for a Quality Reviewer or external moderator to visit, sample portfolios and sign RAC forms during the year is not required. The Quality Reviewer arranges to visit only once a year to monitor the centre’s DCS status. DCS applies to all N/OCN provision in a centre with the exception of Access to HE.

What are the benefits of direct claims status?

For the centre:-

Time and staff resources are saved. The process of getting certificates is faster; and staff time organising and attending external moderation visits is reduced.
A better service can be offered to learners. Faster certification turnaround helps learners in progressing their learning or career.
The standing of the centre is enhanced. The trust and confidence implicit in DCS signals to others (including funders) that the centre is well-regarded and takes quality seriously.

For the Approved Internal Verifier:-

More satisfaction from the role. The Approved Internal Verifier has greater control over and responsibility for the process of checking and approving awards.
Career prospects improved. AIV status is a mark of confidence by the awarding body in the individual which is based on effective performance of verification.

What do we need to do to get direct claims status?

A centre which obtains DCS has convinced OCNLR that:-

it has in its employment an internal verifier who possesses appropriate internal verification qualifications and has demonstrated good IV practice. This person receives Approved Internal Verifier Status (AIVS);
it has a robust internal verification policy which is being effectively implemented and covers all aspects of internal verification;
it has robust quality systems for areas directly affecting the achievement of learners, such as subject, teaching and assessment qualifications of tutors.

What is the process to be followed?

The Quality Assurance Contact at the centre discusses the issue of DCS with the Quality Reviewer who will recommend whether the centre is ready for DCS and provide further information.
The centre identifies one or more people to apply for Approved Internal Verifier status. A Centre with a more complex range of provision is likely to need more than one AIV in order to operate direct claims status across the whole Centre.
The applicant(s) fills out an AIVS Nomination Form (provided by the Quality Reviewer) and returns it to the Quality Reviewer. The form requires a signature and therefore needs to be printed and posted.
The Quality Reviewer, after consultation, informs the Quality Assurance Contact and the nominated IV(s) of the actions the centre has to take to achieve DCS. These may involve training for the nominated IV; observation of IV practice; improvements to the quality systems of the centre. The centre should acknowledge its acceptance of the conditions.
Actions are undertaken, monitored by the Quality Assurance Contact and the QR. When successfully completed the centre will receive a letter from OCNLR confirming the new status.

How long do we retain direct claims status?

Your Quality Reviewer keeps your new status under review and formally renews it each year. The status is retained as long as the centre runs OCN accredited training, unless:-

the Approved Internal Verifier no longer performs the IV role for OCNLR accredited training because s/he leaves the centre or moves to another job within the centre. AIVS is given to named individuals NOT to the centre itself.* In this situation, the centre can discuss with the QR the nomination of another person to play the AIV role;
the Quality Reviewer, on their visit to check performance, has serious doubts about the quality of work being done, especially in the internal verification process and recommends withdrawal of the status;
the centre ceases delivering OCNLR accredited training for a considerable period of time.

* Direct claims status is not transferable, either between verifiers or between centres.

Will our relationship with OCNLR change?

Relationships with your Curriculum Development Manager and Admin Contact at OCNLR remain the same and all processes and rules relating to these two functions still apply.

Regarding quality review:-

you do not need to contact OCNLR to arrange external moderation visits;
you send in your RACs signed only by the tutor and AIV, not an external moderator/ quality reviewer;
the Quality Reviewer visits once a year to meet the Quality Assurance Contact and AIV to review practice during the year and, all being well, confirm DCS for a further year. This review will include sampling of portfolios.