In light of recent government announcements regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19, QAA will be reissuing the guidance on the arrangements for the assessment and award of Access to HE Diplomas which outline the safeguards in place against potential future disruption to student learning as a result of the pandemic. These can currently be found in the update section below (13th September 2021).
QAA are also offering further webinars for providers and students. Please click on the links below to book a place:
Wednesday 15th December 2021, 1.00-2.00pm
Wednesday 12th January 2022, 3.00-4.00pm
QAA have published an updated Provider Information Sheet which has been developed by Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) for providers. It presents an outline of possible adaptations that providers can apply to support the delivery and assessment of the Access to HE Diploma in 2021-22. The information sheet may inform your contingency plans for groups and individual students. Some of the suggested adaptations will not be appropriate for all or any students but it is important that all providers are aware of the options available in case they provide a solution for students facing particular challenges.
QAA hold regular briefings/meetings with all AVAs which provide an opportunity to share information and so further measures and suggestions may be highlighted. QAA are also working directly with providers in relation to particular challenges and agreeing appropriate adaptations. As further adaptations are logged the document linked below will be updated and recirculated.
QAA Provider Information Sheet - Adaptations.pdf
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the example adaptations further please don't hesitate to contact your Lead Moderator or [email protected].
QAA have collated a list of flexibilities which may inform provider contingency plans for groups and individual students.
Information Sheet - Provider Flexibilities 2021-22.pdf
Some of the suggested measures will not be appropriate for all or any students but it is important that all providers are aware of the options available in case they provide a solution for students facing particular challenges. QAA will hold regular briefings/meetings with all AVAs which provide an opportunity to share information and so further measures and suggestions may be highlighted. As further flexibilities and possible solutions come to light we will update the document and recirculate:
Please notify your Lead Moderator immediately:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the options further please don't hesitate to contact your Lead Moderator or [email protected]
QAA have published guidance for AVAs, providers and students on the arrangements for the assessment and award of the Access to HE Diploma 2021-22, along with explanatory videos. Please follow this link to the QAA website: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/access-to-he/covid-19-support-and-information-for-providers-access
QAA are also offering webinars for providers and students to attend in which they outline the arrangements, roles of providers, AVAs and QAA and explain further sources of support and guidance. Follow the links below to book a place:
As you will read in the guidance, in principle the arrangements are the same as 2020-21, including the requirement for providers to apply for any necessary adaptations to assessments and/or units during the year. Please use the application forms available on our website or contact [email protected] for advice and support. As in 2021-22, all quality monitoring requirements will be embedded into our usual moderation cycle led by your Lead Moderator. Alongside the moderation process we are offering a series of Hot Topics sessions to support providers with delivery, assessment, internal quality and student support. The first round of sessions has been published and our annual programme of standardisation events will be advertised by the end of September. Please following the link below for details:
https://www.oneawards.org.uk/events/events-calendar/access-to-he-4/
We will also be adding further Hot Topics Sessions throughout the year as themes emerge and/or in response to provider requests, so please do let us know if there is anything you would like us to provide or if you would welcome the opportunity to talk to other providers about a particular topic. We will continue to keep you updated over the coming weeks but if you have any questions in the meantime please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
“One Awards' innovative results service has been a fantastic development for universities and allows us to check students' achievement immediately ourselves. This is an excellent service which means that we are able to confirm student places quickly and effectively without having to follow up with providers and students or wait for results to be sent on to us. This is because their certification turnaround time of less than two days allows One Awards to process student results almost as soon as the colleges/providers have provided the final verified results. This really does help us put students at the heart of our confirmation process”.
Jane Oswald, Head of Marketing Strategy
University of Sunderland
One Awards
23 Manor Way
Belasis Business Park
Billingham
Teesside
TS23 4HN
t. 0191 518 6550
f.
e. [email protected]
