Letter - Minister for Education re Jersey Progression Qualification - 8 November 2019

19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 4RR

Deputy Rob Ward

Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel Scrutiny Office

States Greffe

Morier House

St Helier

JE1 1DD

08 November 2019

Dear Deputy Ward ,

Post-16 Education – Jersey Progression Qualification

Thank you for your letter of 11th October 2019 requesting further information on the Jersey Progression Qualification (JPQ). The answers to your questions are listed below:

1. You have stated that the Jersey Progression Qualification (JPQ) is now described as "benchmarked at Level 2". Can you explain precisely what the term benchmarked' means?

"Benchmarked at level 2" is a replacement of previously terminology "GCSE equivalent" NCFE the awarding body who regulates the Jersey Progression Diploma ensures that the programmes are written, structured, delivered, assessed and verified at Level 2. Hence Benchmarked'.

2. How many students have achieved this qualification to date compared to the number originally enrolled on the courses? How does the pass rate for the JPQ compare to other courses that it is benchmarked against?

739 young people who have not yet achieved 5 GCSEs at grade 4(C), or above, including English or Mathematics, at the time of leaving schools have enrolled on a Jersey Progression Qualification (average grade entry profile D/E or 3/2).

The table below illustrates student performance when compared against the English average for a Level 2 study programme qualifications. This average is published by the ESFA (Employment and Skills Funding Agency). Highlands College students consistently outperform ESFA in terms of pass rates and overall achievement.

3. How does this compare with the attainment in other Level 2 qualifications offered by the College (if any)?

The College offers level 2 provision within technical areas i.e. apprenticeship provision. However, given the nature of the two provision types direct comparisons cannot be fairly made, However, apprenticeship provision at Highlands College is also high performing.

*Note this table only illustrates students who are graduating in the 17/18 academic year, a further 200+ students are also studying at the college on a 2 or 3 year programme taking the cohort to 404 learners in total.

4. The website now states in relation to Business Studies: What qualification will I gain?

The Progression Certificate has been benchmarked at Level 2. It contains 240 guided learning hours.

The Progression Diploma has been benchmarked at Level2. It contains 480 guided learning hours.

And in relation to Building Services:

What Qualification will I gain?

Jersey Progression Diploma in Building Services.

Do you consider that this information makes it sufficiently clear to potential students that the JPQ is not a regulated qualification and, as such, is not formally recognised?

Potential students would not receive this information in isolation. Highlands College has clear processes in place that enable us to recruit with integrity and ensure our students have made the right choice to enable them to transition to positive next steps. This would typically include but not be limited to:

• School visits via transition coordinators to discuss college life and programme content

• A visit to the campus during an open evening

• A visit to Highlands College for experience days (multiple areas)

• A Transition day visit to meet the delivery team and explore course content

• Parent evenings

• Interviews as required

• A full right choice review one month into the programme

Staff also attend at post 16 open evenings within schools, the skills show and regularly brief careers advisors.

The Jersey Progression Diploma is a qualification regulated by NCFE and is recognised in Jersey. The Jersey Progression Qualification has also been used successfully on several occasions to progress to level 3 qualification within the UK.

The qualification is not regulated by OFQUAL. This is partially due to the fact that it does not draw funding from England's EFSA and as such does not need to be on the OFQUAL register. By comparison, the iGCSE qualifications delivered widely in Jersey schools are also unregulated by OFQUAL but are regulated by respective awarding bodies and are ultimately successful in Jersey.

5. Do you consider it is it made clear to students applying for either of the courses that in order to gain formal qualification they will need to progress onto another study programme beyond the JPQ?

Upon successful completion of the programme Students will formally receive a Jersey Progression Qualification within the subject area from the awarding body NCFE. It is quite common for students to then progress to level 3 (A-level), Employment or an Apprenticeship. In the same way that Level 3 students would then typically progress to Employment, or Higher Education on or off Island.

As explained above Highlands College recruits with the upmost integrity, is the most inclusive educational establishment in Jersey and is high performing in terms of the outcomes of our students. Students who enrol on the Jersey Progression Diploma will benefit from a curriculum designed in Jersey by dual professional expert lecturers, Benchmarked and regulated by one of the leading awarding organisations in the UK.

Whilst on programme students will be taught by our dual professional lecturers, have access to English and Mathematics GCSE resits alongside supportive study programme content, designed to develop the wider individual not only the subject skills such as:

• Team and communication building enrichment days

• PSHE, wellbeing and global citizenship days

• The VESPA tutorial framework and performance coaching

• Industry linked work experience placements and vocationally Live' projects

• Industry guest speakers

• Vocational trips and visits

Beyond the programme Jersey Progression Diploma students will then have very high likelihood of progression to positive next steps (94% positive headline). Should the students choose to progress to Level 3 (A level) the attainment gap left by compulsory education is likely to have closed. In recent data analysis based on national statistics Advanced Level Performance System (ALPs) students who progress to Level 3 from a Jersey Progression Diploma are slightly outperforming students who are direct entry from school leavers in terms of value added. Last year, Highlands institutional ALPS grade was 4 which is rated as very good'. This year, it is 3 (subject to validation) which puts the College in the top 25%.

The Principal of Highlands College recently attended the Association of Colleges Curriculum conference in London on the 7th of October 2019. This is to ensure we keep abreast of national developments.

Deborah Garniss, Senior Policy Advisor for the Department for Education (DfE) presented a new "Transition Programme" in preparation for T-Levels*. This will target students who are not ready to move post-16, direct into Advanced (Level 3) study.

It has five elements:

1. Diagnostic assessment
2. English and Mathematics
3. Work experience
4. Introduction to skills area
5. Pastoral and social development

These are the elements we already provide as part of the study programme for the JPQ. Interestingly, the DfE is proposing the "Transition Programme" has no qualification attached to it at all. Its purpose is to progress students to advanced study. That is also the purpose of the JPQ.

*Jersey cannot offer T-Levels, neither can Northern Ireland, or Wales. They are only approved to be offered by colleges in England and funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The DFE policy lead confirmed to the Principal that we would be unlikely to have access for at least another 2 years.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely,

Senator Tracey Vallois Minister for Education

D +44 (0)1534 448394 E [email protected]

States Greffe: Scrutiny

Senator Tracey Vallois Minister for Education By email

11th October 2019 Dear Minister,

Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel Post 16 Education – Jersey Progression Qualification

Thank you for your email of 17th September 2019 in which you provided additional information about the Jersey Progression Qualification following questions during the hearing on Friday 13th September. The Panel has identified some further questions that it would like to follow up from this information:

1. You have stated that the Jersey Progression Qualification (JPQ) is now described as "benchmarked at Level 2". Can you explain precisely what the term benchmarked' means?
2. How many students have achieved this qualification to date compared to the number originally enrolled on the courses? How does the pass rate for the JPQ compare to other courses that it is benchmarked against?
3. How does this compare with the attainment in other Level 2 qualifications offered by the College (if any)?
4. The website now states in relation to Business Studies:

And in relation to Building Services:

Scrutiny Office | States Greffe | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: [email protected]

Website: statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny

5. Do you consider that this information makes it sufficiently clear to potential students that the JPQ is not a regulated qualification and, as such, is not formally recognised?
6. Do you consider it is it made clear to students applying for either of the courses that in order to gain formal qualification they will need to progress onto another study programme beyond the JPQ?

I thank you for your assistance in this matter and would request a response to the questions above by Friday 25th October.

Yours sincerely

Deputy Robert Ward

Chair

Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel