Thanks for this Saul - useful!

Since I posted last week I spoke to someone at Cambridge - our exam board or AO (?) - and they told me that the new level 1 and 2 reading papers were nearly ready to go and it was more than likely they would be ready this month (September) but wouldn't commit to a definite date.

They'd had several queries about funding for L1 and L2 SfL from people like me who were confused by the Funding Rules - I was afraid that only Functional Skills and GCSE English were fundable at Levels 1 & 2, not ESOL.  Cambridge said that as far as they were aware L1 and L2 ESOL SfL are still being funded.

This is good news for our December Reading tests!  Please let me know if anyone hears anything else on the subject!

Mike




-----Original Message-----
From: Saul Pope [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 16 September 2013 09:38
To: Mike Davenport
Subject: RE: L1 & L2 ESOL funding

Hi Mike,

It seems to still be up in the air regarding what is going to happen to L1/L1, but something will be in place. I just got this update from the City and Guilds website:

Update on full-mode Level 1-2 ESOL Skills for Life (3692-11 and -12) Applies to: England, Northern Ireland and Wales As we indicated in our last update in May, Ofqual has prohibited awarding organisations from extending the full-mode ESOL Skills for Life qualifications at levels 1 and 2 unless an alternative assessment is developed to assess the Reading unit.
Despite all of the ESOL Skills for Life awarding organisations seeking to have this decision overturned, Ofqual has regrettably refused to reconsider its position. We are therefore now working with Ofqual to agree an alternative assessment model that will enable us to continue offering full-mode qualifications at levels 1 and 2 during 2013-14. We will provide further details as soon as we receive confirmation that Ofqual is happy with these plans, although they are appreciative of the need to have the situation clarified in time for the new academic year.


Saul

-----Original Message-----
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message board [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Davenport
Sent: 10 September 2013 14:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: L1 & L2 ESOL funding

Help! This may have been answered earlier but I am still confused despite poring over Funding Rules 2013-14 Version 2 for hours ! We use Cambridge Level 1 & 2 Skills for Life exams with our students.
1.  Are these ESOL Skills for Life quals still funded 2013-14? I know Entry levels are funded from the Funding Rules but I don't understand if the L1/ L2 ones are?
2. Have the Awarding Organisations yet developed alternative assessment for the Reading Unit at Levels 1 & 2?  Any news on when alternative assessments models may be available?

Thanks for any help/ advice.

Mike Davenport
South Leicestershire College

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ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds.

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