Entry Pathways Introduction to Science Today

1. Entry Pathways Introduction to Science Today Brian Harris, Subject Officer Feb 2012

2. Aims • To help teachers deliver new Pathways Entry specification • To improve learning outcomes by focusing on the quality of teaching and assessment • To help teachers plan and assess work • To explore how Entry Science Today and Pathways Level 1 Applied Science can work

3. Overview of qualification • Number of qualification titles at three different levels • Entry 1 • Entry 2 • Entry 3

4. Qualification titles at Entry 1 • Personal Progress • ICT

5. Qualification titles at Entry 2/3

6. Size of qualifications • Three different sizes of qualification • Award (8-12 credits) • Certificate (13-36 credits) • Diploma (37+ credits)

7. Science Today qualifications

8. Unitised qualification • Unitised qualification • Allows flexibility • Enables teachers a learning programme to match learners needs/abilities • Some units can be used in more than one qualification • Link to Science Today unit titles

9. Units and qualifications

10. Qualification and units Over 50% of credits are at Entry 3. Therefore qualification at E3 Learner 1 9 credits therefore qualification size =Award • Pathways Entry 3 Award in Science for Today

11. Qualification and units 50% of the credits are at Entry 2. Therefore qualification at E2 Learner 2 18 credits therefore qualification size = Certificate • Pathways Entry 2 Certificate in Science for Today

12. Science Today • No compulsory units • You can use any science units to build your qualification • Science units available from webpage http://www.wjec.co.uk/uploads/publications/13719.pdf • Document available on website mapping units to the programme of study http://www.wjec.co.uk/uploads/publications/14157.pdf

13. Assessment and Moderation • Units internally assessed • Work must be internally verified where there is more than one assessor • Records of internal verification are kept • Work is externally moderated • Sample sent to WJEC but all learner work must be available, if required

14. The role of the Internal Verifier • Check that all tasks cover the assessment criteria and learning outcomes • Ensure that the assessment criteria are covered and there are no added requirements for the candidates • Ensure all Assessors have copies of the assessment forms • Sample Assessor judgements at appropriate times • Co-ordinate meetings of Assessors • Give and record feedback to Assessors • Maintain records of the evidence sampled More detail can be found on page 13 of specification

15. When to submit work for moderation. • Moderation points • January • Summer • Do not have to wait until learner has completed the qualification before submitting a unit for moderation

16. Unit and qualification entry • Entry for individual units must be made by submitting the relevant unit and option code • Aggregation does not take place automatically: it is necessary to enter the relevant ‘cash-in’ code for aggregation to take place.

17. Rules concerning aggregation Quote from specification page 10. • Units achieved may be used for re-aggregation for a larger qualification. However, units can only be used if and when included within the qualification. • For example, having achieved 8 credits for an Award in Independent Living and subsequently completed sufficient further units, a candidate may include the credit from the Award for aggregation towards a Certificate in Independent Living. • For example, credit at Entry 3 for Introduction to Animal Care used for aggregation to an Award in Preparing for Work can be re-used for aggregation to a Certificate in Science Today.

18. Achievement and Attainment Tables (AATs)