Dear Paul
A number of colleagues to whom I have spoken have expressed
concerns about the new specifications. One, which may be of wider
interest, is that the 'vocational' has largely been removed, thus
making the GNVQ even closer to A-level Business Studies. If this is
true - and I haven't studied the specs myself - then this will play into
the hands of those who want to drop the A-level. Certainly that
option remains on the agenda, as Nick Tate suggested at a seminar I
attended at the Nuffield Foundation a couple of weeks ago.
David
On Thu, 19 Feb 1998 10:34:00 -0000 "Paul Unwin (Grantham College)"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> colleague has just shown me new draft specifications for GNVQs in
>Business.
>
>QCA issued details of the DRAFTspecs at a meeting yesterday at the
>Bloomsbury Hotel, London. Dr John Capey was in attendance as was
Judith
>Compton, who is in charge of the redraft. The meeting was run by
Network
>Training.
>
>My colleagues and I, at Grantham College as well as Dr Capey, are
>concerned with developments for the following reasons:
>
>1. The assessment load
>
>Assessment seems to be heavier in the new specs
>the assessments are huge and very difficult
>In the pilot: students when referred have become very demotivated
>this can only be avoided through a much closer monitoring of work in
>progress than that to which we are accustomed.
>
>2. Foundation and Intermediate
>
>The similarities in syllabus enabling joint teaching rule out
>opportunities for sensible progression from foundation to
intermediate.
>This is because those completing the foundation go on to study the
same
>course for Intermediate with different assessments.
>
>3. Key Skills Testing
>
>Key skills may require up to 9 hours of testing, in one week. as well
as
>9 hour preparation the week before.
>
>
>Whilst we are aware of the need for GNVQ to be more rigorous, it
seems
>the redraft is not addressing our key concerns of large assessment
loads
>and the government's wish for wider participation.These draft
>specifications have made us think seriously about reintroducing the
>National Diploma. The specs seem very inappropriate for students.
>
>
>
>Has anyone else seen any of the draft specs or been involved in any
>pilots?
>What do you think of developments?
>Would you like to see the draft specs and send you them as an
attachment
>via email?
>How can we make representations to QCA if we feel that GNVQ is
heading
>in the wrong direction?
>
>Looking forward to your thoughts
>
>
>
>Paul Unwin
>Grantham College
>
>
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