Access to Higher Education Diploma
We wrote to you in March telling you we will now be collecting and passing on unit grades for the Access to Higher Education Diploma. This means you will now receive the overall pass mark, and the individual unit grades will also be sent to you in the results files we produce.
This marks the final stage of changes for the collection of the Access to Higher Education Diploma since the pilot scheme launched in 2013.
These changes mean we’ll be creating two additional fields within the link products to enable us to provide the unit value/credit and indicate whether the unit has been graded or not.
Changes will be made to the following views/method:
- odbc-link – cvRefUnits
- xml-link – getReferenceUnits
- web-link – exam results screen
Below are the main points on the changes we have made in the electronic collection of unit grades for the Access to Higher Education Diploma.
1. Clarification of subject code source
- We agreed with QAA that all new Access to Higher Education Diploma (AHED) subjects would be generic across all Access Validating Agencies (AVAs). This meant that subjects would be generic and not unique to each AVA.
2. Clarification of submissions on 5 August (unit results; overall) no overall grade for AHED? Is the overall submission to indicate pass/fail?)
- Agreed with QAA that if an AHED is not passed or is not yet complete, then we should not receive a subject result (or unit grades).
3. Ungraded elements – no grade vs. ungraded vs. other? – the perception of providers
- The AVA can send through a unit grade result with a unit code that indicates no grade is expected, and can then leave the grade field unpopulated in the result record.
QAA asked how units for the ‘same’ unit title could be sent through, either with or without grades depending on context.
It is possible as long as the AVA has set up different unit code reference items for the graded and ungraded versions of given units (even if the unit title is the same). The AVA then needs to pick the right one when sending the results.
4. Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
- Some students may be exempt from some elements of the AHED because of RPL and will not have a full graded transcript.
Scenario 1 – exemption: Some applicants are exempt from certain units of an AHED because of prior learning. The AVA then sends through the subject record and a ‘shorter’ list of units, because some of the standard units were exemptions and not needed by the applicant.
How does the receiving provider know this is right? We agreed with QAA the approach should be to advise applicants to complete their education history in Apply for the AHED, including ‘exemption’ modules for which they expect to qualify. The receiving provider can then cross-reference.
Scenario 2 – credit transfer: Some applicants move mid-course from one AVA to another (for various reasons) and can transfer some credit/completed units. The second AVA then sends through the subject pass and a ‘shorter’ list of units because some of the units were completed at the original AVA.
We discussed with QAA there is no easy answer to this (as the applicant will already have completed and submitted their application/educational history). We agreed with QAA that we only expect to receive the subject record and a ‘shorter’ list of units from the second AVA. The applicant then has to contact the receiving provider and produce their transcript from the first AVA in support of the missing units.
Scenario 3 – credit transfer within AVA: Some applicants start one AHED but move to another mid-course. Agreed with the AVA that we only expect to receive subject results / units from the AVA for the AHED that the applicant finished.
5. ABL for old specification diplomas (ungraded). How will this work? Is it just pass/fail?
- We agreed with QAA that we only expect to receive subject results for AHEDs that have been passed.
BTEC unit results
As with the Access to Higher Education Diploma unit results, the addition of the ‘unit value’ field will also enable us to provide the BTEC qualification unit grades electronically (previously this information was only available on the paper transcript).
These changes mean we’ll be creating two additional fields within the link products to enable us to provide the unit value/credit and indicate whether the unit has been graded or not.
Changes will be made to the following views/method:
• odbc-link – cvRefUnits
• xml-link – getReferenceUnits
• web-link – exam results screen
New exams
This summary document outlines the new exams for 2015
• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
• UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology (QCF)
• UAL Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology (QCF)
• CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) (VRQ)
• CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education (VRQ)
• CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education (VRQ)
• Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Certificate in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Sports Performance (QCF)