1. February & March 2016 The New Essential Skills Wales Qualifications

2. * Look at an overview of the new ESW qualifications including how they differ from the old level 1 and 2 Communication and Application of Number projects * Locate relevant documentation that you should be familiar with * Explore a level 2 controlled task in either Communication or Application of Number

3. Developed in response to the findings and recommendations of the Review of Qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds in Wales Renewed focus on the development and assessment of skills needed for learning, work, life / valued by employers and HE. * increased emphasis on rigour / more robust quality assurance * clear purposeful assessment of skills * revised subject specification for Essential Employability Skills to replace Wider Key Skills / Essential Digital Literacy Skills to replace ICT

4. New and revised stand-alone qualifications for teaching from September ’15. * Essential Application of Number Skills (L1-L3) * Essential Communication Skills (L1-L3) * Essential Digital Literacy Skills (E1-L3) * Essential Employability Skills (E3-L3) * Entry Level qualifications in AoN and Comms remain the same.

5. * Summative qualifications * Cover the whole curriculum at each level * Learners must demonstrate competence in all skills at that level before they begin the assessment * Teaching & learning must be carried out before assessment begins * Agored QALL units can be used to show competence in individual skills and show progression within a level as an alternative to learners working towards an ESW qualification * Learners cannot achieve a partial ESW qualification

6. #AgCymES Assessment Essential Communication and Application of Number Controlled Task and Confirmatory Test Essential Digital Literacy and Employability Controlled Task and Structured Discussion

7. #AgCymES Assessment Controlled Tasks Externally Set* Internally Marked Externally Verified Confirmatory Tests Externally set Externally marked On-screen

8. #AgCymES Controlled Tasks These may be written by centres but they must be approved by the Awarding Body These need to be submitted 3 months prior to the proposed test date

9. Controlled Task externally set or signed off by awarding body internally assessed by appropriately qualified staff using marking schemes provided by awarding body internally standardised quality assured by awarding body compliant with Controlled Task Guidance provided by awarding body - completed under controlled conditions within a maximum of an 8 week period special dispensation on task duration may be allowed in extenuating circumstances

10. Confirmatory Test externally produced by awarding body treated as confidential material by centres taken unseen and completed unaided (access guidance provided by awarding body) non-calculator for EAoNS externally marked compliant with Confirmatory Test Guidance provided by awarding body confirms underpinning knowledge and skills

11. #AgCymES Duration - Essential Communication and Application of Number Level Controlled Task Confirmatory Test 14 hours30 minutes 25 hours30 minutes 38 hours45 minutes

12. Part 1 Reading (1 doc) Formal Discussion Writing Part 2 Reading (1 doc) Writing Essential Communication Level 1 #AgCymES

13. Part 1 Reading (2 docs) Formal Discussion Writing Part 2 Writing Part 3 Talk/ Presentation Essential Communication Level 2 and 3 #AgCymES

14. Make sure your learners...... know to read the topics for discussion and writing before reading the source documents are familiar with text types know to read carefully the skills they are required to demonstrate in the discussion

15. Confirmatory Test - ECommS Assesses aspects of C1/2/3.2 and C1/2/3.3 fixed response/ multiple choice Levels 1 and 2 (max 20 items/ max 30 mins) Level 3 (max 30 items/ max 45 mins) each item worth one mark questions - scenario based using everyday contexts completed in one sitting conducted under invigilated conditions no dictionaries (of any kind) pass mark determined for each Test - anticipated to be around 70%

16. #AgCymES Essential Application of Number Understand numerical data Select data from source material Plan and describe how they are going to tackle the task Carry Out Calculations Interpret and Present Results and Findings Present and describe findings Explain results

17. #AgCymES Make sure your learners........ have planning skills are aware of the calculation requirements at each level know mathematical terminology know different ways to present results can demonstrate a range of manual calculations can demonstrate how they check their calculations in a range of ways

18. Confirmatory Test - EAoNS Assesses aspects of N1/2/3.1 and N1/2/3.2 fixed response/ multiple choice Levels 1 and 2 (max 20 items/ max 30 mins) Level 3 (max 30 items/ max 45 mins) each item worth one mark questions - scenario based using everyday contexts completed in one sitting conducted under invigilated conditions no calculators pass mark determined for each Test - anticipated to be around 70%

19. * Register learners using the usual Agored registration form, submitted to Sam Hopkins via your Lead Tutor * Order controlled tasks via your Lead Tutor/ ES Manager * Book the confirmatory tests (via your Lead Tutor) for a date after controlled tasks have been completed * You should arrange access to an IT suite or bank of laptops or tablet computers for the confirmatory tests * An independent invigilator should be used for the confirmatory tests (rather than the tutor/assessor)

20. * Essential Skills Wales Suite: Implementation, Delivery and Assessment guidance for Tutors, Assessors and Learners - https://moodle.colegaucymru.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/8456/mod_resource/content/3/Essentia l%20Skills%20Wales%20Suite%20.pdf * Sample controlled task and confirmatory test – Communication – http://www.agored.cymru/Units-and-Qualifications/Essential-Skills-Wales/Essential-Skills- for-Learners/Essential-Communication-Skills/Level-One-to-level-Three-Essential- Communication * Sample controlled task and confirmatory test – Application of Number – http://www.agored.cymru/Units-and-Qualifications/Essential-Skills-Wales/Essential-Skills- for-Learners/Essential-Application-of-Number-Skills/Level-One-to-Level-Three-Essential- Application-of-Number * Qualifications Wales, Essential Skills Wales – http://qualificationswales.org/qualifications/essential-skills-qualifications/?lang=en * Education improvement plan for Wales – http://gov.wales/docs/dcells/publications/141001-qualified-for-life-en.pdf

21. * Looked at an overview of the new ESW qualifications including how they differ from the old level 1 and 2 Communication and Application of Number projects * Located relevant documentation that you should be familiar with * Explored a level 2 controlled task in either Communication or Application of Number