Exams and Access
Looking for the NatSIP Exam Access Guide?
The April 2022 Edition of Ensuring equal access to public examinations for candidates with sensory impairment can be found folder here in the NatSIP Document Library.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Recent Ofqual letter about regrading assessments for formal and vocational qualifications:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a-message-from-simon-lebus-chief-regulator-on-exams-in-2021
- Written by: Paul Simpson and Caireen Sutherland
NatSIP has today (17 September 2020) published an updated version of the document Ensuring equal access to public examinations for candidates with sensory impairment.
The updated version is available in the document library.
Available document:
- Written by: Ian Noon
NDCS have updated their blogs on exams in light of the announcements of the previous few days.
For professionals:https://www.ndcs.org.uk/blog/exams-coronavirus-info-for-professionals-supporting-deaf-young-people/
For families: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/blog/exams-coronavirus-info-for-families-of-deaf-children/
As many of us know, across the UK, teacher assessed grades will now be used if the exam body calculated grade (following moderation) is lower. This will be good news for many students.
However, it may not be the end of the story for some deaf young people. NDCS remains concerned about the risk that some deaf young people may be unfairly disadvantaged by teacher grades. This may be the case if, for example:
- Teachers did not seek or incorporate any advice or input from peripatetic Teachers of the Deaf
- Teachers based their grade on previous mock exams or coursework without taking into account if these were accessible or appropriate to deaf young people
Please do encourage any deaf young people who are concerned about their results to get in touch with NDCS helpline: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/our-services/services-for-families/helpline/ to see if NDCS can provide information or advice.
- Written by: Paul Simpson
Caireen Sutherland (RNIB) and Paul Simpson (BATOD) have been representing the SI sector at recent Ofqual meetings.
A link to the recently published guidance is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020
- Written by: Paul Sumpson and Rory Cobb
NatSIP is pleased to publish the September 2019 Edition of our guidance document Ensuring equal access to public examinations for candidates with sensory impairment.
The updated version is available in the document library.
Available document:
- Written by: Rory Cobb and Paul Simpson
NatSIP has today (2 October 2018) published the September 2018 Edition of our guidance document Ensuring equal access to public examinations for candidates with sensory impairment.
The updated version is available in the document library.
Available document:
- Written by: Rory Cobb and Paul Simpson
NatSIP are pleased to publish, through working with VIEW and BATOD, SI colleagues at NatSIP working days and the examination boards, a new resource to assist education professionals identify and gain approval for access arrangements for SI examination candidates.
https://viewweb.org.uk/exam_access/activities/ex_0_0.html
This comprehensive online resource is designed to help SENCOs, specialist teachers of the sensory impaired and staff responsible for public examinations in schools and colleges to identify and gain approval for access arrangements for candidates with accessibility needs resulting from hearing impairment, vision impairment and multi-sensory impairment. The resource is based on the official guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications and includes self-study units on the following:
- the principles of fair access and reasonable adjustment
- commonly used access arrangements and how to apply for them
- case studies of individual students and their access arrangements
- an overview of how exam papers are modified in terms of language and presentation for candidates with sensory impairment.
The resource also includes regular self-check questions and a final test which enables participants to print out a certificate of completion.
- Written by: Martin McLean
We are pleased to announce the publication of a framework for the allocation of communication support workers in education settings.
The aim of this document is to provide clarity to education providers on the role, skills and qualifications needed by CSWs in order to meet the individual educational needs and outcomes of the deaf young people they support. This work has been led by Martin McLean, NDCS, with colleagues across the sector.
The framework can be found pdf here in the NatSIP Document Library.
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