QTLS: Funding support and a call for 14-19 Teaching Certificate pilot centres

This edition of News contains the following information: a

• student support and initial teacher training (ITT) awarding body provision
• unique learner numbers (ULN) and learner achievement record (LAR)
• call for centres to pilot Certificate in Teaching 14-19 Diplomas.

It follows the previous edition sent in June 2008.

Student support and initial teacher training (ITT) awarding body provision

Bill Rammell, Minister of State (Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education), has approved the 'designation' of awarding body validated level 5 DTLLS courses, with effect from the start of the 2008/09 academic year.

This designation will enable students undertaking awarding body courses to apply for the package of student support in the same way as those studying through an HE institution.

Individual applicants will still need to meet the wider eligibility requirements for the student support scheme.

This step supports ambitions that were set out in 'Equipping Our Teachers for the Future' (2004), which recognised the diversity of the FE teaching workforce and the importance of supporting teacher training through a variety of ITT opportunities, including through awarding bodies.

This change will help meet the requirement to achieve a fully qualified FE teaching workforce by 2010.

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Unique learner numbers (ULN) and learner achievement record (LAR)

From 1 September 2008, City & Guilds will be able to accept Unique Learner Numbers (ULN) as an additional part of a candidate’s qualification registration.

This number is assigned by the MIAP Learner Registration Service. This allows students over the age of 14 to build a lifelong record of their QCF accredited learning achievements. The ULN will also play key part of the new 14-19 Diploma systems and LSC funding records.

Learners will then have access to this centrally managed electronic achievement record - the Leaner Achievement Record (LAR) in England - that logs all units and qualifications achieved.

This will eventually enable the transfer of units across awarding bodies, as well as helping the learner to track and plot progression pathways and give permission to employers to view their success. At this stage the QCA LAR will only be an interim system (if available) which will be replaced in September 2009. A clear pathway for the development of the new achievement record system will be made clear after QCF implementation proposals are released in October 2008.

Centres registering learners from 1 September 2008, who plan to include the ULN, will be able submit them on registration/entry via the Walled Garden or with an updated EDI file (or secondary EDI file) with the ULN field completed. City & Guilds will then populate any QCF achievement to the LAR when it is available. At no stage is the critical path of registration and results entry affected by the failure to submit a ULN. Full details of the amended processes will be sent to centres in late July/early August.

At present, the use of the LAR is optional. To enquire about a LAR for their learners, centres will need to access the QCF system by emailing QCFADmin. Pleas visit the QCA website for more details. 

Centres must register with MIAP LRS as a learner registration body to obtain ULNs for their learners.

Centres are also advised to talk to their Management Information System (MIS) provider/supplier to establish any operational changes that may be required to handle the ULN data.

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Call for centres to pilot Certificate in Teaching 14-19 Diplomas

In September 2008, City & Guilds will be looking for centres to pilot the new Level Five Certificate in Teaching the 14 – 19 Diplomas.
 
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) has been charged by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) to work with the Training and Development Agency (TDA) to facilitate workforce development opportunities for those delivering the new 14-19 diplomas from September 2008.
 
A key part of this has been to develop a specialist qualification for the teaching workforce, ensuring that it reflects the generic skills, knowledge and attributes required to deliver the diploma, as outlined in the Excellence in Applied Learning and Training and Development guidance reports. 

The units of assessment reflect six key skills and attributes needed to deliver the diplomas:

• personalised learning
• assessment
• generic learning skills
• information, advice and guidance
• working collaboratively and 
• developing reflective practice.

This continuing professional development (CPD) module will comprise a number of units of assessment that reflect the skills and attributes above and will complement existing continuing professional development structures and pathways.

Email us if you are Interested in being involved in the September 2008 pilot. 

Please state full centre details as well as an estimate of your potential learner numbers.

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