07 December 2011
Wales’ qualifications fit for purpose? Discuss.
Is the qualifications system in Wales and the qualifications themselves fit for purpose? Join the online discussion on http://qualificationsconference.pbworks.com – the precursor to the national conference on qualifications on 2 February 2012 – and which will feed into the official Review of Qualifications commissioned by the Welsh Government.
The online discussion and the conference are organised by ColegauCymru / CollegesWales in partnership with the Welsh Government. Leaders, managers, teachers and learners who are involved in education and training are all invited. The focus is on the qualifications available to 14-19 year olds. Participants are likely to include further education colleges, schools, higher education institutions and independent work based learning providers, as well as awarding organisations, sector skills councils, 14-19 learning partnerships, Estyn and employer representatives.
Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, John Graystone, said: “In September, following the Education Minister Leighton Andrews’ call earlier in the year for a national debate on qualifications, the Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert AM announced a Review of Qualifications. This is an exceptionally important review that will help shape the future direction of our 14-19 qualifications system for at least the next decade.
“ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is keen to assist and support the review’s project board to reach out and gather views from the wider education and training sector. Hence, we are organising, in partnership with the Welsh Government, an online discussion forum open to all as a space to discuss the future path of qualifications in Wales, which will be followed by a national conference on qualifications in February.”
Key points emerging from the online discussion will be fed into the national conference on qualifications. A further opportunity to contribute to the online discussion will follow the conference, with a final report on the evidence gathered being submitted to the Review’s project board by ColegauCymru. The Review’s project board is scheduled to submit its report to the Deputy Minister for Skills in autumn 2012.
Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert AM said: “Having access to a high performing, well understood and responsive qualifications system is hugely important to learners, educationalists, employers and the wider economy. In considering the future path for qualifications in Wales, it is vital that our deliberations and decisions are based on clear evidence.
“I am delighted that ColegauCymru has taken the initiative, in partnership with the Welsh Government, and set up an open online discussion forum that will be followed by a national conference on qualifications. These two opportunities will enable the Review’s project board to gather a lot of relevant evidence about what works well, what works not so well and what needs to be changed.”
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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:
1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales was previously known as fforwm. It is a national educational charity that represents all 20 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk or www.collegeswales.ac.uk
2. The online discussion forum is at: http://qualificationsconference.pbworks.com
3. Click for the conference programme and flyer: Review of Qualifications
4. The Twitter hashtag is #QualsConf
5. On 29 September 2011 the Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert AM announced a Review of Qualifications. The Review team is chaired by Huw Evans OBE. The full list of members of the Review’s project board was announced on 6 December. The first meeting of the project board is held today, 7 December 2012.