I wonder if it might be worth lobbying Labour parliamentary candidates in marginalconstituencies on this issue, prior to the election ?
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:50:32 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
To: [log in to unmask]
Hello all,
Please see contents from my email that I sent to NOCN, NATECLA MC (and NIACE via NATECLA). Apologies if any of you are already on these mailing lists but I thought it may interest those of you who aren't:
I've just had a long chat with a provider in the Southwest- during this chat we ended up looking at the actual forms for applications for ILR and Naturalisation that are available online and updated April 2015.
I urge you to read through the application forms and guidance booklets too, if you haven't done so. Apologies if you have. Here are my observations:
1. There is conflicting information in each document.
2. When you go through the forms you will see that there is a space to tick if your qual is an Ofqual registered qualification:
This is the naturalisation form: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/420256/Form_AN_March_2015.pdf page
7 section 1.23 Then it tells you to go straight to section 1.27 Parents' details. No more questions about dates and awarding bodies required to be answered.
This is the guidance doc and booklet: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417549/an_booklet_mar_2015.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417550/an_guide_mar_2015.pdf The
full booklet still has Ofqual registered quals under acceptable qualifications on page 14 with no clause about changes.This is the ILR application form: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423228/SET_M__04-15.pdf Yet
again, once you have ticked that your qualification is Ofqual registered/ Scottish registered (page 16, section 5.4) you are directed straight to section 6, which is biometric details. Again, no questions about dates and awarding bodies.BUT in the guidance notes for ILR application https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419611/SET_M__guidance_notes_04-15.pdf,
the accepted qualifications is linked to the webpage we all know well. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests
3. I know we haven't had official confirmation/ response from Home Office/ UKVI so it's difficult to know what to think. It looks like
from the forms, Ofqual Registered quals are ok. But from the guidance it is very confusing. Have we tried contacting them on twitter?
I think the main focus should be trying to get clarification from the Home Office. Surely if there are many of us sending messages, they must respond. Is it worth all signing a letter together demanding clarification and if needed, demanding an extension
of the period that Ofqual Registered Quals are acceptable pending any action by AOs?
Best regards,
Naffy
_________________
Nafisah Graham-Brown
Head of Skills for Life and Work
ELATT Connected Learning
260-264 Kingsland Road
London, E8 4DG
0207 275 6750
www.elatt.org.uk
Confidentiality Statement
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message board <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Gail TB <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 23 April 2015 21:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
Dear Sam and all
Fortunately, I'm reasonably sure that the wording in the pdf is misleading. I think the phrase "a UK immigration application" is inaccurate, and it actually means a UK visa application.
One reason why I think this is that the document says "Anyone who has taken a previously approved test on or before 5th April 2015 may still use it in a UK immigration application until 5th November 2015 providing the test is one of those detailed in the Transitional
Approved Tests list". We know that this transitional list was the SELTs for visas, and had no relevance for settlement & citizenship.
OISC advisers instructed me to always read the actual immigration rules instead of relying on the simplified versions or other documents. Here, referring to indefinite leave, under 2.2a (vi) and (vii) we find the ESOL SfL and equivalent Scottish qualifications
that we are accustomed to:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-koll
(I'm not sure why citizenship is not here, but maybe it doesn't come under "Immigration" rules.)
This page backs this up and covers citizenship too:
https://www.gov.uk/english-language/approved-english-language-qualifications
So my understanding is that ESOL SfL, taken anytime, including after 5 April, will be ok for applications made until 5 November.
Gail
On 23/04/2015 10:47, Sam Shepherd wrote:
The crucial sentence for me is on the pdf in Natalia’s email: “Anyone taking a test on or after 6th April 2015 that they intend to use in a UK immigration application must take
one of the tests listed in table 1 at one of the approved test centres in table 2 or table 3.” I think that some of the confusion, for me at least, has been around the distinction between
taking the test and having the qualification. My reading is as follows:
·
Anyone who has an “old” qualification, e.g. C&G, etc. which was taken before April 6th 2015 can use this qualification for any immigration application
until November 2015.
·
Anyone submitting an immigration application who currently doesn’t have a qualification has to take one of the new SELT tests (IELTS or Trinity).
Does that sound about right?
Sam
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message
board [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Natalia Witcomb
Sent: 23 April 2015 10:28
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
Dear Colleagues, Gail,
The Home Office claims that they informed all the Awarding Organisations of the change on 23rd March. They certainly did not notify Gatehouse Awards, and I have now
spoken to representatives of several other AOs offering ESOL and they were not notified either. So I think your description of the change as a ‘subtle alteration’ is very accurate, to say the least.
I attach the document with the new SELT centres, both IELTS and Trinity – please see page 2 for the list of the UK centres.
Kind regards,
Natalia
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message
board [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Gail TB
Sent: 22 April 2015 22:42
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
Dear all
I've gone back to Natalia's previous email to check details.
Was there an official "announcement" of the change to language requirements for settlement & citizenship, or was it just a subtle alteration of information on
https://www.gov.uk/english-language/approved-english-language-qualifications? Could anyone point me to an official announcement? (I know that Stuart Hanson had an email sent on 26 March as the source, but I wondered if there was anything more public.)
Natalia - how did you get this list of SELT test centres? (I've been struggling to find anything on the web that would list only SELT IELTS centres.)
Is anyone going ahead with the idea of a judicial review?
Thanks.
Gail
On 11/04/2015 09:50, Natalia Witcomb wrote:
Dear Colleagues,
Despite my earlier post on this matter in March, I am very disappointed and dispirited, to say the least, to have to say that our colleague Stuart is correct.
The Home Office have finally decided to formally announce their decision in an update published on 9th of April (see
https://www.gov.uk/english-language/approved-english-language-qualifications). According to their announcement, only the two new SELT providers’ English language qualifications can be used to support in country immigration applications, i.e. for British
Citizenship or ILR, as of November 2015.
Effectively this means that as of November, people who want to make their applications for BC or ILR will only be able to access the tests in the following locations in the UK:
Provider
Test centre number
Name of test centre
Address
Country
Test centre type
Date operational from
Trinity College London
58500
Trinity Belfast SELT Centre
Forsyth House, Cromac Square, Belfast, County Antrim BT2 8LA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58501
Trinity Birmingham SELT Centre
Lonsdale House, 52 Blucher Street, Birmingham B1 1QU
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58502
Trinity Cardiff SELT Centre
Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9HA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58503
Trinity Glasgow SELT Centre
The Centrum Building, 38 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3DX
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58504
Trinity Leeds SELT Centre
West One Building, 114 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 1BA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58505
Trinity London Hammersmith SELT Centre
26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London W6 7BA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58506
Trinity London Holborn SELT Centre
88 Kingsway, London WC2B 6AA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58507
Trinity Manchester SELT Centre
Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester M1 5AN
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58508
Trinity Newcastle SELT Centre
Milburn House, Dean Street, Newcastle NE1 1LE
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
Trinity College London
58509
Trinity Peterborough SELT Centre
Stuart House, East Wing, St John’s Street, Peterborough PE1 5DD
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS01
Basil Paterson College
Basil Paterson College, 65 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS02
Ealing Hammersmith & West London College
Ealing Hammersmith & West London College, Hammersmith Campus, Gliddon Road, Barons Court, London W14 9BL
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS04
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS03
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS05
University of Ulster
University of Ulster, St James's House, 10 Rosebery Avenue, Holborn, London EC1R 4TF
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS06
Joseph Chamberlain 6th Form College
Joseph Chamberlain 6th Form College, 1 Belgrave Road, Highgate, Birmingham B12 9FF
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS07
Connell 6th Form College
Connell 6th Form College, 301 Alan Turing Way, Manchester M11 3BS
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS08
Cardiff and Vale College
Cardiff and Vale College, 35 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AD
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS09
Highbury College
Highbury College, Tutor Crescent, Portsmouth PO6 2SA
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
IELTS SELT Consortium
GBS10
Belfast Metropolitan College
Belfast Metropolitan College, 7 Queen’s Road, Belfast BT3 9FQ
UK
UK permanent
06 April 2015
It remains unclear when the decision was made by the HO, however as far as I can tell it was not announced when the tender for the new SELT list was issued in autumn 2014, therefore
at the time the AOs considering whether or not to apply were under the impression that the SELT list would continue to serve the same purpose that it did historically, i.e. both visas and in country immigration applications, with the option for the candidates
to use any B1 or above ESOL qualification from the Ofqual register, or those from Scottish Qualification Authority, remaining.
The decision has already sparked some outrage in Scotland, you might want to see an article to which I have been signposted by one of my colleagues (see
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/anger-over-home-office-threat-to-scottish-language-qualifications.122374706).
SQA themselves have expressed their concern about the change and are seeking clarification from the Home Office (see
http://mailer.sqa.org.uk/english-language-testing-for-settlement-and-nationality/2015/16/27/deafc51d-3248-41a2-8e52-a46800da26da).
As far as I can tell, Ofqual have not officially commented on this change.
Yours,
Natalia Witcomb
Quality Assurance Manager
Gatehouse Awards
Oaktree House
408 Oakwood Lane
Leeds
LS8 3LG
Office: +44 (0)113 249 1000
Mobile: 07816 353 429
Email:
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From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message board [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Rupinder K Kanda
Sent: 11 April 2015 00:29
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
Hello,
Although the below is true, this question was clarified in an earlier discussion.
Yes, the candidate can take the Trinity or IELTS SELT consortium option, etc. However, candidates can still opt to take an ESOL exam from an OFQUAl registered body.
Please see the link below, which states that this is still a valid route - the website was updated 5th April 2015.
https://www.gov.uk/english-language/approved-english-language-qualifications
Kindest regards,
Rupinder K. Kanda
> Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2015 22:43:22 +0100
> From:
[log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fwd: Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
> To:
[log in to unmask]
>
> For all ESOL teachers out there!
>
> Stuart
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>
> SUBJECT:
> Regarding Changes to ESOL in November 2015
>
> DATE:
> Thu, 9 Apr 2015 16:28:31 +0100
>
> FROM:
> "Harjinder Singh" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> TO:
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Dear Sir / Madam,
>
> I am writing to you with regards to the changes taking place regarding
> the English examinations for spouse, settlement and Citizenship
> applications by the Home Office. I know you are a provider and cater for
> learners in this area.
>
> I have attached an email received on Thursday 26th March 2015 through
> Home Office communications to me which I have attached. You will see
> that all examinations regarding spouse applications, TIER 4 applications
> and other similar immigration categories will have to do the English
> proficiency test through the new SELT examinations through Trinity and
> IELTS consortium after 6th April 2015. Furthermore you will see the
> changes further down in the email being announced in November 2015 for
> applications being made for Citizenship and Indefinite Leave to Remain
> (ILR). They will also need to do the examination through the new SELT
> examinations. The current OFQUAL awarding bodies will no longer be
> valid.
>
> This is a major concern for all providers and awarding bodies who are
> involved in this area of work. We are proposing a meeting on Friday 17th
> April 2015 in Birmingham (venue will be confirmed) to discuss this issue
> with other providers and representatives from OFQUAL registered awarding
> bodies.
>
> I would greatly appreciate your support in this matter and would like to
> stress to you to contact other providers and awarding bodies you have
> connections with to give their support and attend this meeting as a
> matter of importance.
>
> I look forward to hearing from you to confirm your support and
> attendance. Please confirm your interest in this matter at the earliest
> convenience by ringing me on my mobile or emailing me.
>
> Thank you and kind regards,
>
> Harjinder Singh
>
> (Director)
>
> Extra Learning UK Limited
>
> 104 High Street
>
> Smethwick
>
> Birmingham
>
> B66 1AA
>
> Tel: 0121 565 2475
>
> Mb: 07888 650725
>
> Web:
www.exluk.com [1]
>
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1]
http://www.exluk.com
>
> --
> STUART M HANSON
> Director
>
> M +44 (0)7748966211
> T +44 (0)8452993507
> E
[log in to unmask]
> W
www.lux-world.com
>
> OISC Registration: F201200652
>
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