We moved from Edexcel to OCR two years ago and I have found it a lot more manageable. Invoices are also much clearer and easier to sort, as they come by cohort.

Key Skills is an administrative nightmare regardless of the Board used, but I would say that OCR has got it pretty well sussed by now.

Barbara Drinkwater
Exams Officer

>>> Myra <[log in to unmask]> 15:51:37 26/06/2003 >>>
Edexcel Key Skills invoices are a complete nightmare.  I request invoices to be listed by students names (not by course) and it is still such a tedious excercise.  We are looking to move to OCR - has anyone made this move and found an improvement or is it jumping out of the frying pan into the fire??
 
Myra Taylor
Central Admissions Manager
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Sharon Dawkins [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Thu 26/06/2003 15:42 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Cc: 
Subject: Re: Edexcel labels GNVQ and AVCE[Scanned]



        We make use of the labels by slicing them up and using them as desk
        slips.  We have found that the instructions on the question paper
        sometimes indicate that there should be two labels per student, when
        Edexcel have provided only one.
	
        We received an invoice this week for November 2002 key skills
        portfolios!! Checking Edexcel invoices is difficult enough without
        having to go back so far.
        I hope that comments from examination staff will make some difference
        to varied and complicated procedures.  Academic staff do expect us to
        know about every qualification and sometimes each student!
	
	
	
	
        >>> [log in to unmask] 06/26/03 03:17pm >>>
        We try to make note on the timetable of any erratum and when the exam
        packs are prepared write erratum on the front cover.  This hopefully
        prompts us to bring this to the attention of the invigilator and the
        reminder is there on the exam pack front.  (However we have had one
        instance where the invigilator did not read this out (senior moment I
        think) and I do agree that a copy to the exams officer is far
        preferable).  The sticky labels are also a nightmare and I have raised
        this for the last 2 years with an Edexcel inspector who agreed totally
        with me.
	
        Sue Farthing
        Examinations Officer
	
	
	
        -----Original Message-----
        From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
        [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of brs
        Sent: 26 June 2003 14:51
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Subject: Re: FromAoC: Edexcel - Summer 2003 GNVQ and VCE award claims
        inel igibility report
	
	
        Although we have had no problems at this college and all students have
        received erratum notices  agree the erratum notices on the back of the
        Edexcel exam paper bags can easily be missed.
        On a different Edexcel issue I find the following difficult to manage
        and would welcome any response:
	
        1.  the vocational exam labels that have to be cut up and stuck onto
        exam answer booklets or papers by students - this is very time
        consuming
        and Exams staff always have to remember to put them on the exam desks.
        2. The Edexcel registration number issue for vocational students.
        There
        seems to be no advce from Edexcel on any change to using candidate
        numbers.
	
        Any comments on this?
	
        -----Original Message-----
        From: Anne Mathieson [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
        Sent: 26 June 2003 11:56
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Subject: Re: FromAoC: Edexcel - Summer 2003 GNVQ and VCE award claims
        inel igibility report
	
	
        On a different admin point;  have you had any difficulty this year
        with
        the way erratum notices have been attached to the back of exam papers
        by
        Edexcel.  This college has had instances where the erratum notice has
        not been read to the candidates!  I much prefer AQA's method of
        dealing
        with errors on papers.  To send these direct to the examination
        officer
        is preferable, in my opinion.  I would be interested in any comments.
        Last year, in particular, the number of erratum notices on Edexcel
        papers was quite appalling.
	
        ----- Original Message -----
	
        From: Mandy  <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Ogden
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 11:49 AM
        Subject: Re: FromAoC: Edexcel - Summer 2003 GNVQ and VCE award claims
        inel igibility report
	
	
        I get the feeling that almost every institution in the country has had
        the same problem with the ineligibility reports and various other
        issues
        relating to the entry process with EDEXCEL.  I am on the planning
        group
        for the next AOC/ACRA Examinations Officers Conference, we will be
        meeting next month and I will be raising the issue again about EDEXCEL
        and its various admin procedures.
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
        -----Original Message-----
        From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
        [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of r.wordsworth
        Sent: 26 June 2003 10:28
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Subject: Re: FromAoC: Edexcel - Summer 2003 GNVQ and VCE award claims
        inel igibility report
	
	
	
        We also received a reasonably lengthy report from EDEXCEL for students
        that were ineligible, in virtually all cases there wasn't a problem or
        Edexcel had entered students for the wrong units.  I have written to
        EDEXCEL expressing my concerns over the procedure.  Two students in
        particular have been sorted out on three separate occasions but
        further
        ineligibility reports were received from EDEXCEL.
	
	
	
        I would also urge anyone who has had problems to contact EDEXCEL in
        writing otherwise the service offered will never change.
	
	
	
        Richard Wordsworth
	
        Accreditation Team Leader
	
	
	
        -----Original Message-----
        From: Cole Jon [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
        Sent: 25 June 2003 16:52
        To: [log in to unmask] 
        Subject: FromAoC: Edexcel - Summer 2003 GNVQ and VCE award claims
        ineligibility report
	
	
	
        As you know, AoC continues to work on behalf of colleges with the
        awarding bodies to look at how we can make processes more college
        friendly. This year, as last, we have received information from
        Edexcel
        about a considerable problem over ineligible student entries for GNVQ
        and VCE awards. While we cannot verify that all the information is
        accurate the scale of the problem ranges between 2 and 4% in some
        areas.
        This affects several thousand students.
	
        We would urge all colleges to read carefully the recent letter
        received
        from Edexcel and contact them directly with any queries in writing to:
	
        Edexcel
        32 Russell Square
        London, WC1B 5DN
	
	
	
        Jon Cole
        Student Records Manager
	
        Room 115                        Tel:  020 7510 7801
        Tower Hamlets College   Fax: 020 7538 9197
        Poplar High Street,             Email: [log in to unmask] 
        London., E14 0AF                http://www.tower.ac.uk 
	
	
	
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