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OCR Nationals and Creative iMedia in light of the Wolf report

Last post 07/03/12 at 08:29 by mlinsley, 48 replies
Post started by HappyHippy on 25/11/11 at 18:17

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  • HappyHippy avatar
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    Posted by: HappyHippy 25/11/2011 at 18:17
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    I had a letter today stating that OCR Nationals was being rejigged to include 25% terminal, external assessment, there will be a new Distinction* grade and students will be entered for both L1 + L2 with the final grade and level being decided at the end of the course (presumably L2 D* equating to A*, L2 P equating to C, L1 D* equating to D and L1 P equating to G).

    Although the form of the assessment wasn't clear (I'm hoping for a practical test) and the issues over single, dual, triple award status is not resolved this at least gives me the confidence to make decisions about what options to offer.

    The Creative iMedia team, on the other hand, have said nothing and have ignored email requests for information. With time for a decision fast running out I have a horrible feeling that offering what has been a fantastically fun and engaging course is going to be untenable.

    Anyone have any input they could share?
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    Posted by: gq52 26/11/2011 at 12:57
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     I seriously hope C.Imedia 'stays the course' - like you my students enjoy the creativity it affords while I appreciate they still have to time plan, design and review as well as research & create. As it is firmly a vocational course and under the Media umbrella I would hope it continues. Not all vocational courses will be converted to meet 'The Dark Lord's ' criteria.

    As we have started KS4 in Y9 we offer C.Imedia (Y9 & 10) and will do a GCSE style course in Y11 (double time). Our SMT have looked at the potential figures and think most will have ebac results by the end of Y10, and those that haven't will be directed to Y11 'options' that will help them fill the gaps. Other quals like C.Imedia will be additional quals which may also count towards the best 8 bit.  Thats the theory anyway.....

     As with everyone else, we wait and see.

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    Posted by: tosbrown 27/11/2011 at 11:20
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    In order to comply with the new DfE regulations there must be a fully 40% external assessment component (i.e. "an exam bit").  OCR and Edexcel are clambering like mad dogs to get their qualifications accredited with the 40% 'exam' component on their vocational courses.

    As for Nationals well.  Like many in the ICT community, I've been very vocal against Nationals.  I continue to advocate that the safest bet is to avoid them.  The tide has turned with the government - the only "safe" qualification is GCSE [great :(  ]   Overall, what's the point in taking a risk - putting in hard work to create a new programme of study with a new spec only to find out the government keeps pulling the rug from under your feet with league table regulations.

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    Posted by: tonyuk 30/11/2011 at 17:15
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    I have just finally had an answer from OCR on Creative IMedia in that it is being redeveloped and will, by the sound of it, will have an external assessment and be graded so no more single grade!

    Hoorah can now teach this to all abilities and at last to echo the previous poster a good qualification!
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    Posted by: colwynexile 01/12/2011 at 13:24
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    And begs the question, which unit will they use as terminal assessment?

    Will it be practical or theoretical?

    Odds on it'll be a Unit 1 fudge - type a letter, design a poster, finish the presentation, complete the spreadsheet - similar to the old Bus/Comm ICT exam.

    Deep deep joy
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    Posted by: tonyuk 01/12/2011 at 20:20
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    Would agree with that for Nationals but can not be that for Creative as these things dont exist in it!

    Could be create a spider diagram of your ideas or a story board etc could be interesting I feel!

     
  • mpolley avatar
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    Posted by: mpolley 13/01/2012 at 23:04
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    HI tonyuk 

    Could you please tell me what you got in the way of your answer from OCR, that led you to believe creative iMedia will have an external assessment component and graded scale?

     Thanks

     

     
  • HappyHippy avatar
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    Posted by: HappyHippy 14/01/2012 at 09:44
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    The main thing is that they have to do that in order for the qualification to count in the league tables. Without that, the take-up will be practically nil.

    Thank you for getting in touch with OCR following the DfE announcement on 27/10/11 about new requirements for the inclusion of vocational qualifications in the headline measures of KS4 school performance tables.

    These new requirements follow on from the Wolf Report on vocational qualifications and are due to come into effect from September 2014.

    OCR is working intensively to ensure that key vocational qualifications are included on the list of qualifications that count towards the KS4 performance table headline measure. The DfE will publish a full list of these qualifications at the end of January 2012.Where our popular school-based vocational qualifications do not currently satisfy the new criteria announced on 27/10/11, we are preparing revised versions which we hope to be accredited in time for inclusion on the January 2012 list. There will be further updates to the list, starting in March 2012.
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    Posted by: gary_scott 16/01/2012 at 11:19
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    I spoke to the lady in charge of imedia at Bett at the OCR stand.  She told me the course was being re-developed but may not be ready for Sept, possibly the year after.  She said that there were no plans to change the structure so it would stay as a Pass / Fail course equivilent to 2 B's at GCSE.  Apparantly many of the units will be very similar to as they are now.  So positive news that it'll still be about and will end up on the league tables, not so good in my opinion that they are still going to keep the pass/fail and not do something like the nationals have done in their revamp with the Distinction*/Distinction/Merit/Pass.  If its not being changed before Sept then there is a good change I will not be allowed to offer it any more :(
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    Posted by: mpolley 16/01/2012 at 12:11
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    From what you [gary_scott] say iMedia WILL NOT be going on the list of vocational qualifications that will count towards performance measures as the DfE website states

    "Qualifications will only count if:

    • they offer pupils proven progression into a broad range of further qualifications or careers post-16, rather than narrowing students’ options
    • they are the size of a GCSE or bigger
    • they have a substantial proportion of external assessment and require students to use knowledge across their subject
    • they have grades such as A*-G (those with simple pass or fail results will be excluded)."

    From: http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00199719/all-vocational-qualifications-to-be-judged-against-strict-new-rules 

    As you state iMedia will still be a Pass/fail course then this will not meet the above.  
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