ABC Awards' Centres Success Stories
Chesterfield College / On Screen Assessment
Chesterfield College, offers the ABC Awards Level 2 Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Practice. They recently agreed to take part in an ABC initiative regarding on-screen assessment testing. This is some feedback from Ray Peet, Operational Manager Support for Students, Directorate of Engineering & Construction.
“We had approximately 90 learners undertake the Health & Safety and Related Studies units at Level 2 via on screen assessments. All of the learners found the experience much better than sitting a paper based examination and were very impressed with the layout on the screen and particularly about the speed in which their results were transmitted to them after the examination.
"What is also useful is that we can use the assessments outside the set examination periods giving us greater flexibility within our programmes. This year’s group has been outstanding even though we have had some challenging learners taking the on screen assessment. Some with specific learning needs found that they did not require support in the examination because of the clarity of the on screen display.
"Everyone has benefited including our examinations section once they got use to the set up and access to the system.”
Ray expressed his particular thanks to ABC Awards eAssessment Project Manager for her hard work and support. Contact Caroline Shaw on if you would like information about on screen assessment.
Posted 2.11.09
Sew Far, Sew Good for MDT
Birmingham-based textiles training provider, Market Driven Training Limited (MDT), is celebrating its first term with ABC Awards. MDT delivers NVQs in Manufacturing Sewn Products and decided to work with ABC so that it could have a greater input into the development of textiles qualifications. MDT worked closely with ABC and Skillfast-UK (the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles) to develop a qualification that fully meets the needs of the industry.
MDT has been delivering textiles qualifications across the East and West Midlands for over ten years, it is currently delivering training as part of the LSC's Train to Gain scheme and boasts achievement rates of over 95%. The majority of MDT's staff are multi-lingual and work hard to deliver training around busy company production schedules.
One company that has reaped the rewards of MDT training is Leicester-based textiles company K & A Fashions (Manufacturing) Limited. K & A Fashions has been manufacturing ladies wear for the past six years and predominantly manufactures samples for customers who manufacture overseas. K & A has three designers, two cutters and a small team of machinists and pressers. K & A is also employed by its customers to inspect and package goods that have been imported back in to the UK.
Directors of K & A decided that there would be several benefits of undertaking NVQ training, they hoped that the course would refresh employees' skills, increase safety awareness in the workplace, improve quality of work and boost staff morale.
Even Company Director, Sudesh Pancholi, took part in the training, completing an excellent portfolio. Rather than rely on photographic evidence, Sudesh worked hard to produce hand-drawn diagrams of machines and a detailed floor plan. Upon receiving his certificate, Sudesh said "The MDT training course has been an excellent experience for everyone at K & A. We really enjoyed working together in training sessions and discussing project work. We are thrilled to gain our ABC certificates and will put the group photo taken of everyone holding their certificate on the wall in reception. I am sure that customers will be impressed by K & As dedication to improving its employees' skills and knowledge."
MDT Business Development Executive, Sarbjit Johal commented : "It is fantastic to see how appreciative employers are when employees receive their ABC certificates. The textiles industry is really struggling in the current economic climate and employers understand that it is companies who invest in their workforce and the development of skills who will come out of the recession in a stronger position".
Posted 15.9.09Top Chesterfield College Welding Apprentices Win Awards
Apprentice Luke Morton has achieved a Chesterfield College Aspire Award and his story is to be published in the Learning & Skills Council's newsletter. Fellow learner, Reece Taylor also achieved an Aspire Award, both with different backgrounds and achievements via attendance on the ABC Welding and Fabrication courses. Learners were nominated by tutors from across the five directorates at Chesterfield College and an awards ceremony was held on 17th June at the college.
Luke has overcome the difficulties of living with profound deafness to progress from pre-16 vocational study to a career in fabrication and welding.
Luke joined the pre-16 study programme at Chesterfield College as he was interested in training for a vocation but also needed support in literacy, numeracy, life skills and social skills.
Luke studied for the Level 1 qualification whilst still at school, as well as attending lessons in Mechanical Engineering in order to achieve the full NVQ Level 1 qualification in Performing Engineering Operations.
Luke’s Tutor, Ray Peet said,
“Whilst attending the ABC programmes at College Luke has been a pleasure to teach, always co-operative and willing to take on new knowledge and put this into practice within fabrication and welding. Luke gained an excellent 97% Distinction grade in the Related Studies unit on-line examination at level 2 and will return in September to undertake the ABC Level 3 Fabrication & Welding qualification” .
Now working for Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd in Clay Cross, Luke has impressed employers and tutors with his dedication, willingness to learn, and commitment to his job, and recently received an Aspire Award from Chesterfield College for his outstanding achievements.
Senior Human Resources Officer for Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd., Carole-Ann Oberhauser said, “Luke has been assigned a Mentor at work, and is progressing quickly through his training. He takes part in regular reviews where he is set new targets and training goals, whilst studying for the ABC Welding and Fabrication Level 2 Technical Certificate".
Posted 15.9.09
On Screen Assessment
When asked for feedback regarding on screen tests that learners have taken with ABC, West Nottinghamshire College commented -
"I can honestly say this is one the best things ABC has introduced in the eight years I have been at West Notts College, the students who have undertaken this form of assessment for 'related studies' have all gone on to complete, where as previously many of them would go down as a fail, meaning they would be rolled over to the next academic year, this as you are probably aware causes all manner of problems for us.
"The way the assessment is administered is very flexible and the format it is presented in is conducive to our centre achieving much higher pass rates than would otherwise be the case, this alone has made the difference between us moving to another awarding body to achieve a higher pass rate, and staying with ABC.
"As for giving any feedback to help you improve the online assessment, I cannot think of anything I would change.
"The online testing ABC is currently providing to West Notts should continue as it is."
Brian Wigfield, Program Area Leader
Fabrication & Welding, West Nottinghamshire College
Posted 2.7.09
Student window display showcased at John Lewis
Martha Oliver, following the ABC Awards Fashion Retail qualification triumphs at John Lewis - second successful year for New College Nottingham learners.
A ladies’ fashion window designed by New College Nottingham (ncn) Retail student Martha Oliver, 20, was unveiled at John Lewis in Nottingham on Wednesday 13th May.
Students on the ncn ABC Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail were given a brief to design a window display showcasing a range of women’s fashion brands, giving the window a ‘wow’ factor. They then worked alongside John Lewis staff to transform a window in the store.
Martha said: “I am really pleased with the way that my design has moved from being on paper to reality in the window. This has been a great opportunity that will enhance my CV. I found it really useful to see the whole process firsthand.”
Kate Hollingsworth, Visual Merchandising Manager for John Lewis, said:
“Martha’s window design was chosen as it is attractive and up to date yet understated, really allowing the clothing to speak for itself. This is a great reflection of the John Lewis brand. The students have chosen a vibrant range of clothing and created an eye-catching display.”
Martha’s design focuses on simple floral patterns and has a subtle gold theme running through it, which she then tied in with the clothing to create the display alongside her fellow students.
Michelle Foster, Retail Lecturer, ncn, added:
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with John Lewis for a second year. Working with industry is a key element of the programme, and having a real life brief is a great opportunity for all the students to put into practice the theory they have learnt so far. “
Martha is due to progress to University in September to study a degree in Fashion Buying Management at the University of Westminster.
Fashion Retail Academy students winners of the ‘Retail Futures Challenge’ in Barcelona
Learners following the ABC Awards Fashion Retail qualifications triumph in top competition.
We are proud to announce that a student team from the Fashion Retail Academy have triumphed over students from New York and Hong Kong to become the winners at The World Retail Congress in Barcelona.
Students from across the globe were challenged with presenting their concepts of the shape and direction of retail for 2012 specifically aimed at 18-21year olds.
One team from each college was selected to go forward to the finals and received mentoring from key players in the retail industry. The team which included students Michelle Hammon, Julia Shipton, Lisa Storrier, and Arianna Wright, were mentored by key personnel in top companies. The team worked principally with Terry Green, CEO UK Clothing Tesco. The students were able to draw on Terry’s experience in the retail industry and put together their winning concept.
In addition the students worked with Felicity Howard-Allen, Director of Communications for Marks and Spencer for presentation skills and Oracle to understand the technology required for their concept.
updatemywardrobe.com was the winning concept which combines a shopping website with a social networking application to enable users to shop whilst chatting with friends and sharing ideas and outfits. This was deemed the perfect way to engage the target market of 18-21 year old shoppers.
The Fashion Retail Academy http://www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk/
Posted 4.6.09
e-Portfolio Endorsements
Over the past two years as part of a wider eAssessment strategy, ABC Awards has worked and supported centres wishing to pilot e-Portfolio systems, providing advice, guidance, system implementation and project support. These pilot projects have enabled learners to create electronic coursework portfolios and submit them as part of ABC's qualifications assessment requirements. Centres have been using the OneFile and Learning Assistant ePortfolio systems with very positive outcomes, such as better tracking and management of learner progression, increased learner motivation and more timely achievements.
Customer Quotes:
“The tracking of the ePortfolio development is one of the greatest attributes, especially for motivating candidates on their progression”
“The beauty of ePortfolio’s means that candidates can login and do work during their lunch times”
‘.....an efficient means of delivering a quality learning experience in practical art subjects to students previously excluded’.
‘........... individual students can gain access to learning resources and continue their work when not on site; assignments can be submitted electronically; and teachers effectively use the technology to monitor submissions.'
The Learner Voice:
‘......flexibility to study at my own pace, whenever and wherever it suits me’.
ABC Awards continues to support innovation and development in the use of ePortfolios for vocational qualifications.
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For further information on Learning Assistant please visit their website at www.learningassistant.com |
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For further information on OneFile please visit their website at www1.onefile.co.uk |
If your centre is interested in using ePortfolios or require further details please contact support@abcawards.co.uk
Posted 16.12.08
Young Artists Going Far!
A group of young Norfolk artists are set to go far after all twenty one of them secured places at university or art school right across the country. Members of the graduating class on the ABC Awards Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies Art and Design at Wensum Lodge will be heading off to destinations as far off as Manchester, Brighton, Nottingham, Dartington and Bournemouth, while others will be pursuing their artistic careers closer to home a the Norwich School of Art and Design. Nineteen out of the twenty-one students applying for higher courses were accepted at their first choice university, college or art school.
It’s been a very successful outcome for the Norfolk Adult Education course, which is only in its second year and seems to be going from strength to strength. One distinguishing factor about the course which students are quick to appreciate is that tutors are all practising artists. Abigail Toll (Sussex University, Art History,) says:
“The people here are passionate about art. The tutors are absolutely committed and that’s inspiring for the students.
For mature student Paul Dack, (Nottingham Trent, Product Design), the Art and Design Foundation course opened new horizons and offered a way out of a dead end job:
“I’ve been out of education for ages and this course has given me a second chance and helped me get to university…and it’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
Course leader and sculptor Dominique Bivar Segurado explains that the course has several distinct advantages to offer students. With a maximum of thirty places, it is small enough to guarantee each student individual attention from specialist tutors yet they still have access to a wide range of art and craft facilities at a well-equipped Adult Education centre in the heart of Norwich. As part of their studies the class of 2008 students also had a trip to Paris and made visits to museums and galleries. She said:
“This year’s foundation students have done really well. They are proof that, with the right support and some hard work, talent will come through and flourish. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and we believe we can help them all improve their chances of getting to art school or university. ”
Posted 10.6.08
Student’s Window Design unveiled at John Lewis
A window designed by New College Nottingham (NCN) Retail student Danielle Wilson, 23, was unveiled at John Lewis Nottingham on Friday 22nd February.
Students on the ABC Level 3 Fashion Retail course at NCN were given a brief to design a window display for the JL brand. John Lewis sponsored the assessment in collaboration with the NCN Retail Centre of Vocational Excellence, delivering a workshop for the students and judging their individual ideas.
Kate Hollingsworth, Visual Merchandising Manager at John Lewis, said:
"It was fantastic to work with the students. Through their individual window designs they demonstrated an empathy towards JL own brand clothing, and an understanding of how our John Lewis policy and our focus on customer service translates into our windows."
"Danielle’s window was the closest to meeting our brief. The clothing was her main focus which was supported by a simple contemporary scheme, great ticketing and a strong brand presence."
Michelle Foster, NCN Retail Lecturer, added:
"New College Nottingham is the first college outside London to run the ABC Level 3 Fashion Retail course."
"We are delighted to be working in partnership with John Lewis for the Visual Merchandising module of the course. Working with industry is a key element of the programme and having a real life brief is a great opportunity for the students to put into practice the theory they have learnt so far."
Winner Danielle Wilson enthused:
"I think it looks fantastic. It has come together how I had hoped. I was really surprised to win, but the course has brought out my confidence and now I know I want to go into Visual Merchandising as a career."
ABC Foundation Studies Diploma in Art and Design
Art, Design and Media - Student of the year Citation Daniel Mynard
Daniel has shown himself to be an excellent student with great potential as a graphic designer and Illustrator obtaining consistent high grades in all of his taster sessions within term one. He obtained Merit and Distinction grades within weeks of beginning the course and has sustained continuous improvement of his grades ever since displaying considerable skill in almost every artistic discipline he engages with.
He experienced a number of difficulties of personal circumstances some of which were financial in the first term at college which he overcame with characteristic audacity and determination. Daniel has energetically continued to complete external commissions and sustain a personal website of his own work and demonstrated a professionalism and maturity beyond his years. Daniel’s attendance and punctuality have been exemplary. Daniel is a sincere, imaginative and industrious student with great potential in his chosen area.
Award sponsored by ABC Awards and presented by Carol Graham from ABC Awards.
