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Just been on a training course all day about good communication skills so only just seen the JCQ response. Maybe Mr Lait should have attended it could have done him some good! Sorry to be rude and unprofessional but what a complete and utter t***er. He might "re-call attending examination officer network meetings during the academic year 2010/11 with former QCDA Centre Support Officers where we explained the picture of need" but were all of us there.....NO....and why were we not there...probably cos we were too busy bl***y working out what the ICE booklet is on about! If, as Mr LATE says, the "painting pictures" has been in place since 2010, why has our JCQ Inspector never asked to see any evidence of this painting over the last 2 years? He looks as the application form I complete and the covering letter I send to the student and that's it. So then their own Inspectors aren't following the regulations. The following bit is so patronising; Where a centre has an in-house specialist assessor I have always stressed that an in-house specialist assessor should, in an ideal world, assess the candidates, complete the paperwork, process the applications and hold the documentation for inspection purposes. Personally, I do not think that examination officers should be involved in the process at all, aside from invigilation, training and rooming requirements. I think the key phrase is " in an ideal world ". Well sorry Nick we aint living in an ideal world, we work in a very complicated, very demanding and un-cooperative world which is why it's our job to fill the forms in and process the applications as we have done for years. I'd like to see him come and tell our Learning Support Dept and Principal what they should and should not be doing, he would get his backside whooped! So we shouldn't be involved, so how are we going to guarantee getting all the information about who has concessions that we need. Are the "specialist assessors" always going to let us know....they are human like the rest of us and can forget. So when the JCQ Inspector turns up out of the blue we then have to go hunting for the "Specialist Assessor" for the paperwork.....they might not be in that day. This sort of thing makes me so mad. We're asking for help/support/advice/guidance and we're the ones getting slagged off! Unbelievable. Kate Oliver Examinations Manager 020 8326 2298 West Thames College London Road Isleworth TW7 4HS [Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Visit our website]<http://www.west-thames.ac.uk/>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: How to find us]<http://www.west-thames.ac.uk/en/about-us/how-to-find-us/>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Receive our RSS news feed]<http://www.west-thames.ac.uk/en/news/index.cfm/rss>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Connect with us on Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/WestThamesCollege/>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Follow us on Twitter]<https://twitter.com/westthames>[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Watch our videos on YouTube]<http://www.youtube.com/user/WestThamesCollege> From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Duncan Buck Sent: 14 November 2012 11:27 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Evidence required to "paint a picture of need" and to demonstrate the "normal way of working" Dear Colleagues Please find attached the response from Nick Lait. I'll withhold my comments until you have had a chance to make yours and I decide whether to adopt my new name. Regards Duncan >>> nick lait <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> 14/11/2012 11:17 >>> Dear Mr Black Thank you for your e-mail message. The requirement to paint a picture of need is not new: it has not suddenly been introduced this academic year. The requirement to paint a picture of need was first introduced in September 2010 and solely applies to extra time of up to 25%. Within the JCQ publication 'Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration' for the academic year 2012/13 the requirements for painting a picture of need in respect of extra time of up to 25% are given. Page 8 of the above mentioned publication sets out clearly the picture of need, colour coded, particularly where a candidate has two or more standardised scores between 85-89 and no scores below 90. Where a candidate has at least one standardised score of 84 or less the picture of need can be painted through Section A of Form 8. I can re-call attending examination officer network meetings during the academic year 2010/11 with former QCDA Centre Support Officers where we explained the picture of need. Training events run by Communicate-Ed and PATOSS for specialist assessors have comprehensively covered the requirements for painting a picture of need. Form 8 has been in existence for many years and Section A requires centres to comment on history of need and provision. This is effectively the picture of need for a candidate requiring a computer reader, extra time of over 25% and up to 50%, an Oral Language Modifier, a reader or a scribe where he/she has a learning difficulty. Where a candidate has at least one below average standardised score relating to speed of processing and requires extra time of up to 25%, the picture of need can be painted through Section A of Form 8. The JCQ can only set the regulations governing access arrangements. It cannot account for the behaviours within an individual centre. Yes, an examinations officer does have to rely on the professional judgement and integrity of a specialist assessor. Where a centre has an in-house specialist assessor I have always stressed that an in-house specialist assessor should, in an ideal world, assess the candidates, complete the paperwork, process the applications and hold the documentation for inspection purposes. Personally, I do not think that examination officers should be involved in the process at all, aside from invigilation, training and rooming requirements. However, it is for the senior leadership team to determine the roles of staff within their centre and not the JCQ. Yours sincerely Nick Lait Senior Manager, Exam Services JCQ From: Duncan Buck [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 10:04 AM To: nick lait Cc: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; Paul Dingle <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; Duncan Buck <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Evidence required to "paint a picture of need" and to demonstrate the "normal way of working" Dear Nick I feel that JCQ needs to be aware that there is great confusion and concern amongst experienced examination officers regarding the evidence required to "paint a picture of need" and to demonstrate the "normal way of working" under the 12-13 JCQ Regulations. We are generally supportive of the changes set out in the AARA&SC Section 1.1.3 and appreciate how this links to 1.1.4 and the possible provision of inappropriate access arrangements in the past. However, the JCQ are asking examination officers to take responsibility for signing (for example on Form 8, Form 9 or Access Arrangements Online) to say that we have evidence to "paint a picture of need" and to demonstrate the "normal way of working", both of which will be available for inspection by your inspectors, but without defining exactly what we will be required to hold immediately available. Particularly in large colleges examination officers are unable to know all of the students personally, and as such we have to rely on the word of our professional colleagues such as SENCOs/specialist teachers and teaching staff. The JCQ needs to define, along with example documents, what it expects examination officers to hold available for inspection for each generic group of access arrangements. Your current approach of expecting each centre to develop the requirements for themselves without providing examples of what you are expecting is unsustainable and is resulting in inconsistency of provision to candidates. Please can we ask you to reconsider the JCQ's current approach and to provide examination officers with a much clearer understanding of what your inspectors will be looking to find. In addition, in future when such major changes in working practice are planned you should consider providing training meetings before the changes are implemented to assist those who are expected to apply them to do so in the way that you desire. Yours sincerely Duncan Duncan Buck Exams Co-ordinator Herefordshire College of Technology DDI: 01432 365315 On behalf of: Michelle Banks, Team Leader Exams, Tower Hamlets College John Bland, Examinations Officer, New College Durham Sue Brennan, Examinations Officer, Hertford Regional College Duncan Buck, Exams Co-ordinator, Herefordshire College of Technology Vicky Buckle, Examinations Officer, Bishop Burton College Graham Buss, Examinations Manager, East Berkshire College Elaine Christian, Examinations Manager, Birkenhead Sixth Form College Stephen Collinson, Examinations Officer, Hartlepool College of Further Education Amy Coombes, Exams Officer, Pontypool Campus, Coleg Gwent Claire Coterill-Smith, Examinations Manager, Midkent College Liz Crannage, Examinations Supervisor, Walsall College Stella Daly, Examinations Officer, Sparsholt College Hampshire Rachel Dearing, Examinations Manager, Manchester College Paul Dingle, Examinations Officer, Plymouth City College Chris Dulieu, Examinations Team Leader, Newham College of FE Alan Fenton, Head of Exams, Newcastle College Matthew Fletcher, Examinations Manager, College of North West London Joyce Forster, Examinations Officer, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College Darlington Sara Galloway, Examinations & Achievement Officer, Hull College Sally Graham, Exams Team Leader, Stockport College Meg Gwilliam, Exams Officer, Ludlow College Shirley Hallett, Examination Manager, Warrington Collegiate Richard Harrison, Examinations Officer, Stafford College Peter Hearn, Examinations Officer, Capel Manor College Karen Heath, Examinations Officer, Hartlepool Sixth Form College Chris Hemming, Examinations Officer, Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge Jen Henry, Examinations Officer, North Hertfordshire College Jennifer Hoare, Exams Officer, Truro College Colin Humphreys, Registrations and Assessments Manager, Coleg Morgannwg Jayne Jenkins, Senior Exams Officer, Uxbridge College Wilma Khaliq, Examinations Manager, Sir George Monoux College David Kilpatrick, Exams Manager,Kent College Tonbridge Michelle Lockett, Administrative Officer MIS/ Exams, Mid Cheshire College Jake Meechan, Exams Manager, Guildford College Sarah Moody, Exams Officer, City College Coventry Elaine Monks, Assessments & Achievements Manager, Yeovil College Pippa Newman, Admissions & Examinations Manager, Harrow College Roz Nolan, Exams Manager, City College Coventry Kate Oliver, Examinations Manager, West Thames College Charlotte Pearton, Examinations Manager, Cambridge Regional College Margot Pitt, IS Manager (Exams), Gloucestershire College Jayne Pownall, Examinations Manager, Rotherham College of Arts & Technology Sarah Rainford, Head of MIS and Examinations, Blackpool Sixth Form College Gillian Russell, Examinations and Assessments Manager, Kingston College Lynne Savage, Exams and Data Co-ordinator, North West Kent College Sarah Short, Examinations and Accreditations Manager, Stockton Riverside College Cath Smith, Examinations Officer, New College Stamford Ros Stapleton, Achievement & Exams Officer, College of West Anglia Karen Sturland, Exams Manager, Brockenhurst College Mike Swann, Examinations Manager, Huntingdon Regional College Mark Tate, Examinations Officer, City of Bath College Fi Taylor, Cross College Examinations Manager, Sussex Downs College Sarah-Jane Taylor, Examinations Officer, Carlisle College Sarah Thompson, Exams Manager, King Edward VI College, Stourbridge Janice Tweed, Examinations Manager, West Suffolk College Samantha Vowles, Exams Officer, Somerset College Trudy Wallis, Examinations Officer, New College Telford Sandra Watson, Exams Officer, Swindon College Dr Alan Waymont, Examinations Manager, Peter Symonds College Shirley Westall, Examinations Manager, New College (Swindon) Sue Wood, Examinations Officer, Brooksby Melton College Marjanne Worsley, Examinations Officer, Central Sussex College ______________________________________________________________________ This email and any content are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Herefordshire College of Technology. Herefordshire College of Technology. Folly Lane, Hereford. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ http://www.hct.ac.uk/News/info_event.html Information Event Dates ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the iCritical Email Security.cloud service. For more information please visit http://www.icritical.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. 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