Changes to Performance Tables from 2014

The full range of ASDAN qualifications and programmes remain approved by DfE and Ofqual for use in schools and continue to be valued for the impact they have on student achievement.

The Government has announced the list of qualifications that will count in headline measures for performance tables from 2014. The focus on subject-based courses means this list doesn't feature ASDAN qualifications. These changes will come into effect for students completing their qualifications in Summer 2014. Read more

ASDAN at Whole Education regional conferences

ASDAN will be exhibiting at four Whole Education regional conferences in March. The events, entitled Whose Curriculum is it Anyway?, are designed for headteachers and deputies at primary or secondary schools, as well as heads of year/department and local authority managers. They will offer ideas and inspiration on:

• helping young people develop a range of skills, qualities, knowledge and qualifications for life and work
• helping make learning more relevant and engaging, supporting young people to take more ownership of their learning
• supporting learning taking place in various settings, engaging the wider community in learning

ASDAN will be at the events in Coventry on March 8, Durham on March 14, Taunton on March 20 and London on March 21. To find out more or book a place, visit the Whole Education website.

UNIQ opportunity

Following discussions with The University of Oxford, ASDAN is pleased to confirm that students who complete Oxford University's UNIQ summer school programme will also fulfill the requirements of the ASDAN Universities Award. Read the full statement here.

ASDAN in China

ASDAN is pleased to announce its new partnership with Chinese education company Seed International, to deliver CoPE Level 3 qualifications through a range of learning programmes in China and across the world.

This is an exciting time for both organisations, with students taking part in ambitious research projects and cultural activities, as well as taking on the challenge of completing the qualification in the English language. The aim of the partnership is to help the students prepare for entry to University, both in the UK and abroad. ASDAN looks forward to working with and supporting Seed in their plan to take CoPE Level 3 to the whole of China over the next few years.

ASDAN features in UCAS How to Apply Guidance

We are pleased to confirm that the UCAS How To Apply 2012 Guide for Applicants suggests that details of ASDAN achievements should be included in the Personal Statement. Applicants are invited to include:

“Details of non-accredited skills and achievements which you have gained through activities, such as ASDAN awards, for example Universities Award”
and

“Details of accreditation achieved for any activities in preparation for Higher Education, for example, through the ASDAN Aimhigher Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) qualification” - download the CoPE Level 3 Student leaflet for details.

ASDAN launches Football Short Course

A new Short Course to help football-mad youngsters engage with education has been launched by ASDAN. ASDAN teamed up with the Football League Trust, which oversees the community work of all 72 Football League clubs, to produce the Football Short Course. The curriculum programme can be used to reward ... read on

AoPE Level 3 qualification

The Award of Personal Effectiveness is a shorter alternative to the very popular Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE). At Level 3, AoPE and CoPE provide qualification outcomes for entitlement and enrichment activities. AoPE Level 3 is approved by Ofqual and will be submitted for UCAS tariff rating this year.

New Functional Skills resources

The Function Junction books are designed to help learners develop functional skills in Mathematics and English at Level 2. The activities in these resources are relevant to everyday learning and encourage learners to build on their existing experience. The books can be used alongside GCSE English and maths and apprenticeship, vocational, diploma or foundation learning programmes. 

Entry Level Diplomas in Life Skills

Based around the development of personal, social and employability skills at Entry 1, 2 and 3, ASDAN’s new Diplomas in Life Skills can provide a complete, accredited curriculum for Entry level learners aged 14+ (notional learning time is 370 hours).

The Entry 1 qualifications are made up of PSD (Personal and Social Development) and work-related/Employability units that will prepare the learner for independence and working life.

Accrediting the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning through Macmillan Cancer Support and ASDAN

Macmillan Cancer Support and ASDAN have teamed up to promote the accreditation of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 30 September 2011. This is an opportunity for learners to accredit the skills and knowledge gained through this fundraising initiative with ASDAN programmes and qualifications... read on

ASDAN featured in PSHE report

A recent report by the PSHE Association has highlighted ASDAN's commitment to promoting high-quality PSHE education. The PSHE Association paper, 'PSHE education, having an impact and making a difference' emphasises the impact PSHE education (including ASDAN courses) can have on attainment.

Download the report from the PSHE Association website.

Congratulations from ASDAN

ASDAN is delighted to congratulate all those who have achieved ASDAN programmes and qualifications this year.

We wish all students the best of luck as they progress to further education or the world of work.

ASDAN's community impact highlighted

A new guide launched this month to help people get involved in local community activities and bring lasting improvements highlights the positive part that ASDAN can play in their success.

In Inspiring Communities, Changing Behaviour, Andrew Stunell MP, minister for community cohesion, recognises how important it is to acknowledge young people’s valuable contribution to local improvement schemes ... read on

The Government's Response to the Wolf Report

ASDAN welcomes the Government’s response to the Wolf Report, in particular the emphasis on improving literacy and numeracy, and the recognition that high-quality qualifications are the key to supporting progression to further learning and skilled jobs.

Through our programmes and qualifications, we have always been committed to this principle, stated in the response: "The most important thing is that the choice of course or qualifications is driven by what is best for the pupil" and we firmly agree that "young people should be able to undertake courses which provide them with the skills they need to progress into employment". 

We look forward to working with the Government in achieving their objectives through our high-quality qualification provision.

Access the Government's Response to the Wolf Report here

Get Involved with ASDAN's Campaign

Do businesses in your area support your school, your students and the qualifications they achieve?

As part of our campaign to ensure young people leave school life-ready and work-ready, we are keen to hear from ASDAN-registered centres that have links with local employers... download full details

ALAN qualification approval continues for 14-19

The DfE has recently agreed to the continuation of ALAN qualifications (Basic Skills/Skills for Life) for 14-19, as they will contribute to the development of English and Mathematics, as recommended by the Wolf Report, and accepted in the Government’s response.

Accreditation and funding approval for ASDAN ALAN qualifications has been extended until 2012 (with certification until 2014) for all learners 14-19 and post-19. Section 96, which lists all qualifications eligible for funding 14-19, will shortly be changed to reflect this.

ASDAN's response to the Government's Review of
Offender Learning

ASDAN welcomes the Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation Report from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministry of Justice, in particular the emphasis on enabling offenders to develop the skills and aptitudes that will make them attractive to employers, via skills and employment systems at a local level... read on

ASDAN launches Employment and Skills Forum

The ASDAN Employment and Skills Forum launch took place on Monday 28th March at the House of Lords. Hosted by Baroness Joan Walmsley, the event brought more than 80 education and business leaders together to discuss ways to address the skills gap for those moving from education into employment... read on

ASDAN's response to the SEN and Disability Green Paper

ASDAN welcomes the recent Green Paper, 'Support and Aspiration: A New Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability', published by the Department for Education on March 9 2011, and its focus on redressing the disproportionately poor life chances of the two-million young people in England who have been identified as having Special Educational Needs. Education providers will be pivotal in ensuring every young person is provided with opportunities to have their aspirations and hopes met... read on

ASDAN highlighted in new education report

The Education for All: Evidence from the past, principles for the future report, launched on March 29th at the House of Commons, holds ASDAN qualifications up as part of a ‘wider vision of learning’ and calls for this vision to be realised by ‘reward[ing] the practical as well as the academic, informal and experiential as well as formal learning, and draw[ing] upon the wide range of expertise within the community’... read on

Baroness Walmsley stresses the relevance of ASDAN qualifications in House of Lords debate

Baroness Walmsley made the following statement, as part of a House of Lords Grand Committee debate, 'Education: 16 to 18 Year-olds', on April 4th:

“There are many young people who do not get from their home environment communication skills, problem-solving, punctuality, perseverance, conscientiousness, the ability to work in a team, social and emotional maturity, drive and energy, initiative, ability to adapt to change, the skills needed to learn new things et cetera-all the things that make a successful employee. It is important for those young people that schools and colleges provide opportunities to develop all those. This is where PSHE comes in, as well as courses such as the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, Wider Key Skills and other qualifications developed by ASDAN..." read on

Collaboration with the British Safety Council

ASDAN is working in collaboration with the British Safety Council, one of the World’s leading Health and Safety organisations, to enable credits from their Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness and Level 1 Award in Health and Safety at Work qualifications to contribute to ASDAN’s Employability qualifications at Entry 3 and Level 1. These will act as alternatives to ASDAN’s own Health and Safety units.

ASDAN scoops Sunday Times accolade

ASDAN has been named one of the best places to work in the country. It was ranked 3rd in the 2011 Sunday Times list of the Top 100 Public/Third Sector Companies to Work For. Associate CEO Maggie Walker picked up the award at a ceremony in London on February 23. She said: "We are proud and delighted to have ASDAN's pioneering work within the education sector acknowledged by such a prestigious award, and I see this as a testimony to the qualities of the superb team of staff working for the organisation."

CoPE Level 2 Demonstration Portfolio

This new resource is based on a genuine portfolio, produced by a real student and successfully moderated last year. It is useful for anyone delivering the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness at Level 2 and helps candidates, parents, assessors and other staff to get a feel for the kind of work involved in CoPE. It contains a completed student book, assessment checklist, feedback from moderation, evidence and recording documents for the assessment units and supporting evidence for all 12 curriculum credits.

The CoPE Demonstration Portfolio is available from the Online Catalogue priced £30. A Level 1 version is currently in development.

Download sample pages from the portfolio.

DfE Foundation Learning Update

The DfE has clarified that: “Providers are not restricted to QCF qualifications for Foundation Learning programmes and should use their own judgements about which qualifications to offer”... read the full update.

This means that, as well as using ASDAN's QCF-approved qualifications, centres can also use CoPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness) and Wider Key Skills as part of their Foundation learning provision.

Leadership Short Course

The new Leadership Short Course is now available, providing a way to record and recognise skills developed through leadership activities. The course accredits up to 60 hours of leadership activities and gives learners the opportunity to demonstrate how they perform in a leadership role. Visit the Leadership Short Course page for further information.

Response to The Schools White Paper 2010 From ASDAN's CEO Marius Frank

"The English Baccalaureate will be only one measure of performance, and should not be the limit of schools' ambitions for their pupils. Schools will retain the freedom to innovate and offer GCSEs, iGCSEs and other qualifications to best meet the needs of their pupils" - The Importance of Teaching White Paper 4.24

It is clear from the statement above that schools are still free to create a mix of GCSEs and other qualifications that best meet the needs of their learners.

Read Marius's Response to the White Paper in full