Latest News
ABC Gains Ofqual Recogition as a QCF Awarding Organisation
ABC has been fully recognised by Ofqual as a QCF awarding organisation. This means that it is now able to extend the accreditation life of current QCF qualifications beyond December 2010. ABC will be working with relevant SSCs to extend all current QCF provision as quickly as possible.
All new qualifications will be recognised for the QCF and will be approved beyond December 2010. ABC intends to replace the majority of its remaining NQF qualifications with updated provision on the QCF as soon as possible. All plans are subject to SSC approval and timescales.
Centres should regularly check the Development page of the ABC website for the latest news.
Posted 4.2.10Customised Provision
Throughout 2009/2010 ABC will be reviewing its accredited and customised provision and migrating suitable provision onto the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Provision that is not suitable for migration onto the QCF will be required to be updated in accordance with current approval requirements, and submitted for re-approval.
The approval period for all current ABC Customised Provision Programmes will therefore end on 31st December 2010. Centres offering Customised Provision Programmes will be contacted individually in due course. Posted 26.8.09
Apprenticeship Framework
Visit Skillfast-UK web site for information on the Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeship Framework. This Framework contains many ABC Awards qualifications and was implemented on 17 August 2009. www.skillfast-uk.org/uploads/. Posted 25.8.09
Information For ABC Awards Centres Regarding LSC Continued Funding For NQF Qualifications 2009/10
We would like to clarify the position in relation to the funding of NQF and QCF accredited qualifications. As you are aware, ABC Awards (ABC) has been steadily redeveloping its NQF portfolio of qualifications to take them onto the Qualifications and Credit Framework for 2010. We are working closely with over 20 sector skills councils to significantly expand our offer of vocational and competence qualifications from Entry Level to Level Six. This work will continue throughout 2009 and 2010.
Until all qualifications are approved onto the QCF, ABC's NQF qualifications will continue to be eligible for LSC funding. LSC National Office clearly state that they are not themselves withdrawing funding from any NQF qualifications for 2009/10.
Funding would only be withdrawn if there is a direct replacement qualification on the QCF which results in theawarding body and Ofqual agreeing to bring forward the accreditation end date for a NQF qualification and this would be reflected on the NDAQ.
The only other possibility is if a SSC withdraws a NQF qualification from its SQS. In the unlikely event of this happening centres will be informed.
If providers encounter issues with funding, please provide us with the details and we will take the matter up with the LLSC concerned.
We hope this clarifies the situation but please do not hesitate to contact ABC if you require further advice or assistance. Posted 18.5.09
Administration Transfer from ABC Reading to ABC Nottingham
Following a review of the ABC Awards partnership organisation, with effect from 20 April 2009 the administration of qualifications previously managed at the Reading Office will transfer to the Nottingham Office.
All centres affected will be fully informed of the new arrangements and contact details. There will be no impact beyond this change of administration, location and contacts and your moderation arrangements will continue as planned.
If anyone has any questions or issues after the transfer date please contact in the first instance Chris Gray, the Nottingham Office Manager.
Julie Lloyd, Director of Operations, continues to have overall responsibility for administration at all ABC Awards offices and Caroline Shaw continues as Quality Manager (Assessment) with overall responsibility for examiners and moderators.
Letter to centres March 2009Posted 16.3.09
Updates to Train to Gain Funding
The Learning and Skills Council has provided some documentation that further explains the changes to Train to Gain funding. It has been made available from the Train to Gain web site at - http://fundedtrainingmadeeasy.co.uk/en1/pressreleases.htm. Posted 5.1.09
UCAS Tariffs
Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art, Design & Media
Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail
ABC Awards has received confirmation from UCAS regarding tariffs for the above two qualifications. UCAS have uploaded the Expert Group Report onto their website and amended appropriate text.
Points for the Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies Art, Design & Media are - Distinction 285, Merit 225, Pass 165.
Points for the Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail are - Distinction 160, Merit 120, Pass 80. Posted 15.12.08
People 1st and ABC Catering Qualifications
ABC Awards has met with People 1st, the SSC for the catering sector, regarding our provision in this sector. They are planning to look at the development of shared common units across Awarding Bodies in their sector, and have some work to do to finalise this. They recognise that we need to ensure continuity of provision for our centres and have agreed that we should extend our existing L1, L2 and L3 provision in this sector until 31/12/2010 as it is.
This means that we shall be extending L1 Hospitality and Catering and L2/3 Pastry Chefs & Patissiers as they are. We are awaiting official final support for this from People 1st. As soon as this is received, we shall submit for the extension.
It is our understanding that People 1st has already put these qualifications on the LSC funding list. Posted 20.11.08
NVQ Levy
Following the Leitch Review the Government has decided to replace the current statutory levy on NVQs with a grant to SSCs with effect from Autumn 2008. This has involved legislative change and the regulators have now written to all awarding bodies to inform them that the requirement on awarding bodies to pay the regulator £10 for each NVQ certificate will be withdrawn with effect from 1 October 2008.
Whilst the Ofqual website states that centres should reasonably expect to see the cost savings resulting from the removal of the levy being passed on by awarding bodies it also states that these savings will vary between qualifications as some awarding bodies do not currently pass the (full) cost of the levy onto centres. ABC Awards, which currently offers only four NVQs, has never incorporated the £10 levy into its fees for these qualifications. We have a formula for the calculation of fees and are in the process of building a new formula and fees model appropriate for the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Neither of these has included an additional or specific incorporation of £10 to cover the cost of the levy. As ABC Awards has had only a small number of NVQs in its portfolio the levy has simply been subsumed along with all of our other operational costs and overheads.
ABC Awards has always been extremely competitive with its fees and will continue to be so in the future. We are therefore entirely confident that we will continue to represent excellent value for money with all our qualifications. Posted 26.8.08
Accreditation End Dates & The Learning Aims Database
Qualifications listed on LSC's LAD (Learning Aims Database) have an accreditation end date. This end date does not mean the qualification will no longer be available after that date, unless ABC Awards has specifically written to you to say the qualification is to be withdrawn or re-developed.
Within six months of the accreditation end date ABC Awards submits qualifications for re-accreditation to QCA. If the qualifications change in any way, a new version of the specification is sent to all centres accredited for that qualification. New accreditation dates are posted on the ABC Awards web site and appear also within ABC Awards Guide. These will also appear on the LAD once QCA have notified LSC.
