OCR 2011

I originally left this article in draft format, but now the published deadlines I was referred to have past, I am getting a little frustrated.

There is still no absolute confirmtation from OCR that the ICT OCR Nationals will be accredited and available for teaching the next cohort of students at Hamble College. Even our local ICT advisory service were unable to confirm or refute my query,although I was advised to proceed with caution. After investigating online, I was still none the wiser, although I did stumbleupon the OCR Nationals Forums and found some sterling exemplar resources from Mr Pearce. Sadly posts were speculative, contradictory and often terminology was interpreted differently by various contributors. So I contacted OCR and spoke with ICT team. I was therefore pleased to see an artlicle puiblished in their news section ‘OCR response to TES article on OCR Nationals,’ the following week.

Mid January and all that HODs have to go on is the information that posted on December 9th and a strong verbal conviction that these dates were accurate from the OCR ICT team.

Our expected Development Timetable for OCR Nationals is:
• Now – January – Development of specifications and liaison with Regulators.
• End January 2010 – Expected accreditation.
• April 2010 – Expected confirmation of funding.
• May – June 2010 – OCR Inset meetings.
• September 2010 – First teaching.

As a department, two years into teaching the qualification, we are only now well equipped to deliver this qualification to our students. Marking is standardised, internal verification / moderation takes one or two hours per unit, we have a positive relationship with our external moderator and we have integration between units. The thought of getting to know a new qualification completely from scratch is not one that inspires me, but if needs be, then we will do that.

Since my initial investigates I have shared my frustrations with other OCR colleagues. Most recently, I had a one hour private conversation with an out of area OCT moderator, who was very confident that OCRs would be available for Dept. Sadly, here we are in late Feb and still no official communication from OCR. Come on OCR talk to us! In desperation, I am listening to Russell Prue’s interview / radio show / podcast with Nigel Lofthouse for OCR.

GCSE, Diplomas, Functional Skills and finally in last place the ‘really successful qualification’ OCR Nationals. Skip to 9 mins 45sec. Accreditation at the end of January, (well thats past us by) to sit on the QCF, ready for teaching in September. Well, OCR we are still waiting…