Row over qualification confusion

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Teachers and parents are warning that confusion over qualifications is hitting students.

It comes after a Pembrokeshire pupil was told his computing certificate did not count towards Key Skills accreditation.

Despite the course being equivalent to a GCSE, he may have to sit new tests before taking an apprenticeship course.

His concerned former headteacher at Pembroke School said regulators "don't appear to be talking to each other".

The pupil, who has not been named by the school, is one of the 275,000 students across Britain who have taken the Level 2 National Award diplomas across a whole range of subjects.

The diplomas, set by the awarding body OCR, promise to deliver a vocational approach to developing skills, and are promoted as an exam-free alternative to a GCSE.

It is unrealistic to have a qualification recognised for one purpose but not for Key Skills Pembroke School head teacher Frank Ciccotti

The information, communication and technology (ICT) diploma taught at Pembroke School for the last three years is approved by the assembly government, and accredited by the National Qualifications Framework.

However, it has emerged that it is not currently recognised as counting towards another qualification regime - Keys Skills.

Key Skills courses were introduced at the start of the decade, as an answer to employers' complaints that even youngsters with A-levels lacked basic workplace skills.

ICT is one of six subjects covered - and some further education colleges insist that potential students must have attained that level of Key Skills knowledge before being accepted for a course.

But because not all schools have signed up to teaching specific Key Skills courses - some qualifications are automatically accepted in their place.

These are known as "proxy" qualifications, and for ICT include a GCSE in computer studies and some GNVQ awards - but not the OCR diploma.

Protest

Pembroke School head Frank Ciccotti said he plans to write about the current situation to the assembly government's education body, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (Dcells).

He said: "The problem is that the [regulator] has many divisions and they don't appear to be talking to each that closely, because the OCR qualification is not accepted as a valid proxy for key skills.

"It is exactly the kind of vocational qualification the assembly government is encouraging us to take up in Wales.

"It is unrealistic to have a qualification recognised for one purpose but not for key skills. I will set out the case."

His view was echoed by Pembrokeshire's education authority.

A spokesman said: "This is one of the problems that we have in an increasing situation where we're all being put under pressure to find new exams, better exams and better experiences for students.

"This has come about because the awarding bodies have missed something here."

'Stolen future'

Simon Wiggins's eldest daughter has just passed two OCR Level 2 ICT modules at Grade A at Pembroke School and he has two other daughters taking the course.

He said: "I'm gobsmacked. They've stolen, my daughter's future. I've got three of them who're going to be affected by it."

The assembly government said although accredited, the ICT certificates concerned were not recognised as proxy qualifications for the ICT key skill.

Those qualification rules have been in place since September 2000 and "it is a matter for the individual college to set out the qualifications they require for specific courses".

The spokesman added: "Approval of qualifications is a statutory requirement and confirms that a qualification can be delivered to learners aged under-16 and can be funded for post-16 learners.

"However, the Welsh Assembly Government does not promote one approved qualification ahead of any other."