Access to HE Conference 12 July 2012 Chichester College

Funding - 1 Funding for provision 2012-13 Removal of ‘L3 Jumpers of all ages’ from SFA funding guidance re eligibility for ‘full fee remission’ In 2010-11 national QAA data showed 53% of all Access students over age of 24 Potential impact on recruitment? But Learners aged 19-24 studying on first L3 qual are eligible n.b. As prescribed in the Education Act 2011 the upper age limit, 23 or 24 years of age, is the learner’s actual age on the day the Learner starts the relative learning aim and not the learner’s age at the start of the funding year Please do respond to our consultation on this issue – download the form at: http://www.ocnser.org.uk/uFiles/file/Access%20Files/Response%20Sheet%20-%20Impact%20of%20funding%20changes.doc

Funding - 2 2013-14 FE Loans, 24yrs+ Likely to be c.£3,000? Similar to HE loans re pay back terms etc. Still much detail to be published Potential Impact on recruitment to Access

Subject Clusters - 1 Rolling out for 2012-13 7 Subject Areas with: Lead Subject Moderator Subject tutors from colleges Monitored by LASER Access Quality Manager Online workspace area Functions: Moderating samples of subject work & assignment briefs Reviewing units for unit bank Discussion area for subject specialists Professional studies Social sciences Humanities/ Combined Studies Science and Engineering Visual and Expressive Arts Business Studies Core Studies

Subject Clusters - 2

Coming Soon LASER Online Resource Centre Opening September 2012 Tutors invited to share learning materials on reciprocal basis (e.g. assignment briefs, project briefs etc.) Organised by Access Subject Cluster area Moderated by LASER staff Invites will be sent out during August

Access Unit Bank We can send units now from large offline bank Some subjects available now on web site More to be ready for 2012-13 Online searchable unit bank currently in development

LASER Learning Aimed at practitioners Accessible and lively We need YOUR contributions Articles on education Reviews of books, web resources etc. Case studies of successful students Contact Sue with copy s.martin@laser-awards.org.uk

New monthly Access News New for 2012-13 for all Access providers and staff Monthly e-update featuring update and news focussed just on Access Links to useful resources Brief articles with links to fuller versions Contributions from practitioners welcome

Communications Social Media: Search for ‘Laser Learning Awards’ on We have a Facebook page for ‘LASER Learning Awards’ and another just for Access to HE Students – ‘Laser Learning Awards Access to HE’. Search for both from inside Facebook Follow us on Search for ‘Laser Learning Awards’ on

Or contact your LASER Business Development Manager Contact Us if you have any suggestions about things we could be doing to support Access in 2012-13 Name Email Phone David Gittins Director of Access d.gittins@laser-awards.org.uk 07943 864545 or 01227 824018 Sylvia Waghorn Access Quality Manager s.waghorn@laser-awards.org.uk 07900 265802 Sue Martin Communications s.martin@laser-awards.org.uk 01227 823916 Emma Sharp Moderation e.sharp@laser-awards.org.uk 01227 827249 Marie Jones Registrations & Certification m.Jones@laser-awards.org.uk 01227 827823 Or contact your LASER Business Development Manager

New name, image & status Up to 1 Aug 2011 Aug - Dec 2011 Jan 2012 onwards Since 1st August 2011 OCNSER has been trading as Laser Learning Awards We are an Awarding Organisation approved by Ofqual and we remain an Access Validating Agency licensed by the QAA From 1st August 2012 we will be completely independent of NOCN

Why the change? Develop qualifications and courses which: Despite being a founding member of NOCN we felt it time to get back to our OCN origins whereby we can: Develop qualifications and courses which: directly meet customer and learner needs respond to changing priorities (political, economic & social) are produced quickly are easy to use are supported by new learning and assessment materials Despite having over 300 qualification titles via NOCN, only a small number of those qualifications were ever used by providers!

Why the change? We can: Provide a better value service Saving on costly fees to NOCN Being able to set our own prices for customers Competitive pricing with flexibility at individual customer level including a reduction in our annual admin fee for colleges from the previous OCN fee of up to £2,000 to a flat rate of £375, plus lower qualification prices.

Why the change? We aren’t alone in making this change Three OCN regions, representing 2/3rds of the English OCNs, have decided that they can offer a more responsive and better value service as independent awarding organisations. (previously OCN North West Region) (previously OCN East Midlands Region) We are working closely with Aim & Open Awards on a number of joint ventures