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The NFEC
Autumn National Conference was held at the
Holiday Inn, Coventry,
on Thursday & Friday, 26 & 27 November
2009 |
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Our
conferences are open to ALL - but members enjoy attractive
preferential rates |
What was it about and
how did it go?
The programme looked
closely at the impact that the QCF developments were
having on the qualifications and programmes of
learning that Centres would be delivering from Autumn
2010. Other subjects that got close scrutiny
were Apprenticeship Frameworks, Diplomas, the plans
for Credit Funding and the revised Common Inspection
Framework. Still many 'ifs and buts', but
speakers brought delegates up-to-date. Even more
importantly, delegates had the opportunity to work
with colleagues across the country to influence the
level and nature of the changes that would confront
them and which would affect the futures of centres,
companies, teachers, trainers and learners.
You
can access the programme and the feedback from
delegates by using the links below.
Presentations
caused much thinking and the workshop sessions allowed
good discussion of points that had been raised.
However, there are still clear concerns regarding the
implementation of the QCF, not the least of which is
the news that Functional Skills are not now included -
at least until we have a further 'review'.
So
where does that leave the Apprenticeship Frameworks?
It looks like the NVQ name has been retained but NVQs
will now be Diplomas. Positive news is that
there is good indication that the Technical
Certificate will remain, but nothing is yet clear.
We want to see the Functional Skills included, but
Centres do not need the extra work of bringing QCF and
non-QCF elements together.
Awarding
Bodies are certainly not currently on the same 'hymn
sheet' and there appears to be a range of levels of
understanding of what Learners and Providers need.
Centres
are being encouraged to develop and offer their own
qualifications but where does that leave
standardisation across the country? How portable
will these centre-devised qualifications be?
And
what about funding? It is a brave person who
will try to predict the outcome at this stage!
NFEC
will be pursuing these concerns on behalf of Members
and the Sector, but there may well be other issues
that you would like to see addressed. Get in
touch and let
us know
Good news is that
delegates voted unanimously for NFEC to return to its
'two conferences a year' format. Delegates were
adament that the pace of change is such that just one
per year will not 'get it done'. So there will
be another in the Spring of 2010 and the planned dates
are 27 and 28 May.
Delegates were well
pleased with the venue so the May event will be in the
same place.
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