One Awards Centre Update from the Quality Team – September 2021
14th September 2021 Date of publication
I hope this finds you well and learners are enjoying the start of their courses. It was welcome news to hear that many of the restrictions affecting centres and learners over the past two years have been removed and we are all hopeful that this will remain the case. However we are aware that the pandemic is still with us and likely to cause some ongoing challenges and disruption at times. Therefore I wanted to provide an update on One Awards arrangements for this year and re-confirm the support which is available to you and your team.
- NOCN Qualifications
NOCN have recently updated their website with guidance for centres delivering NOCN qualifications this year. If you have not seen the updated information please follow the link to read about the arrangements for 2021-22: https://www.nocn.org.uk/support/covid-19-guidance/approach-to-awarding-in-2021-2/ . If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your External Quality Assurer (EQA) or [email protected]
- External Quality Assurer (EQA) activity
EQA meetings and sampling activities will continue to be undertaken remotely where possible. This decision is partly in response to the ongoing infection rate but also to make use of the systems and processes centres and One Awards have developed over the past two years which enable us to reduce the impact of these activities on time and carbon footprint. However, we appreciate that there are some circumstances in which a face-to-face meeting is necessary for a number of reasons, both risk-based and practically. If you have not already had contact from your EQA for this year they will be in touch soon and will discuss the mode of communication and meetings with you.
- EQA allocations changes
Due to recent resignations, new appointments and required rotations, we have needed to make a number of new EQA allocations to centres. We are in the process of confirming the arrangements and will notify you by the end of September should any of the changes affect your organisation.
- Adaptations to assessment
For One Awards units and Quality Mark provision the flexibility to adapt your assessment to meet your learners’ needs and accommodate extenuating circumstances continues. Please speak to your EQA if you would like to discuss any adaptations you are planning to make. Adaptations can also continue on NOCN qualifications – please see the link above for further details and information about sector specific adaptations.
- Centre Guidance and Information Programme for One Awards centres
We have recently published our schedule of events until Christmas: Centre Guidance and Information Programme Calendar
Please note there is a session for centres on planning and preparing for remote EQA which will be helpful for centres relatively new to this process.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a healthy and successful year and if you have any questions or need support in the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Jennie Lawson
Head of Quality
