Tutor Update
Edition 1 – August 2009
The Awarding Body is committed to keeping our key workforce up to date with relevant information concerning the development, delivery and certification of qualifications and intends to issue news and updates to Tutors at least every 6 months. Welcome to the first issue and thank you – as much of the content comes as a result of feedback and contributions provided by you.
Results
Following the introduction of the UKCC qualifications in September 2007, a decision was made to only provide pass or fail marks to tutors and training providers. Feedback has indicated that you need actual examination scores to measure the success of the course, identify any weak areas of delivery, provide additional support to candidates and identify potential reasonable adjustment issues.
As a result, specific scores will now be issued for all examination and resit results and copied to the training provider and the tutor.
When specific results are reported it is our experience that queries are often raised if a candidate fails by half or one mark. It is important to note that our centralised marking team always mark papers fairly and would only fail a candidate by half or one mark if that mark could not be found anywhere on the paper. Additionally, a recent Markers Standardisation training session concluded that there is a high level of consistency in marking. The Awarding Body will not accept challenges to issued results except via the formal appeals procedure stated in the Policy and Operations manual. We hope that this new approach to issuing results meets with your approval.
Examination Papers
The Level 2 Unit 4 Teaching Aquatics examination papers have recently been updated - one new paper has already been released and another is to follow shortly.
To support candidates who require sample examination papers, we intend to provide a selection of questions rather than a full paper so that the candidate can understand the types and format of the questions they are likely to come across. The first selection of questions will relate to Level 2 Unit 4 Teaching Aquatics as it is felt this is unit most candidates need support with. The sample questions are currently being developed and will be issued in due course.
Level 2 Unit 4 Pass Rate
In order to improve the pass rate on Level 2 Unit 4, we would ask that you ensure you provide particular support to candidates in relation to LTAD, stages of NPTS, stroke techniques and fault correction. It would also help to narrow candidate’s knowledge gaps if they attended the 4 stroke CPD’s. Other tools to assist with this will be announced in the future.
Assessment Forms
New assessment forms are currently being trialled for Levels 1 and 2 Teaching Aquatics to reduce paperwork and increase efficiency. The new forms will be launched within the next few months in conjunction with a mandatory training event for all tutors.
Unit 6 Assessment Procedure
Clarification of the procedure for Unit 6 workplace assessments: To ensure that each candidate has been assessed for Level 2 competency, an assessor or expert witness needs to visit the candidate in the workplace at least twice to view practical sessions and to measure the participant’s progress and development. It is not acceptable to carry out an assessment of the log book instead of a visit.
If the Unit 6 assessment is not carried out by the Unit 5 tutor, arrangements for an expert witness should be made in conjunction with the tutor. Upon completion of expert witness observations the Unit 5 tutor must sign off the assessment appropriate to the level of competency.
Reasonable Adjustments
Often candidates do not request a reasonable adjustment when booking a course, but wait until they arrive or midway through the course when they begin to struggle with written assessments. The later it is reported, the less assistance we can practically offer, so if you identify any potential requirements please discuss this with the candidate at the earliest opportunity.
The process for agreeing reasonable adjustments is contained in the Policy and Operations manual. Ultimately, the centre’s external verifier is responsible for signing off additional assistance but if you or the centre are not aware of which external verifier is assigned, please contact the Awarding Body.
Once the reasonable adjustment has been agreed, the completed reasonable adjustment form must be returned to the Awarding Body immediately, preferably electronically.
Wavepower
Please note that you will receive new log books on your courses from now on, which no longer contain Wavepower booklets, so candidates need to be aware of the British Swimming website address so that they can download it: Corporate>Legal>Child Protection>Child Welfare in Swimming: Procedures and Guidelines. The link is here.
Tutor Titles
Authorised titles for tutors were simplified a while ago – ‘ASA Tutor’ is now the only approved designation. There are no longer differing levels so ASA Principal Tutor, ASA Senior Tutor and ASA Lead Tutor should not be used. Those tutors who have been accepted as British Swimming Lead Tutors can refer to themselves as such. Please ensure your letter headings, email signature and any other media containing your titles is amended with immediate effect.
Tutor Licensing Extension Period - CRB renewal
The tutor licensing scheme will be reviewed soon so any tutors whose licence expires this year have had their licence extended until 2010. Please note that CRB certificates are valid for 3 years so if yours expires prior to the renewal of your licence a new one must be applied for via Sam Massey, ASA Membership Department at crb@swimming.org.
Contact Details
If you are a registered tutor and would like to receive future copies of this update via email please send your name, current address, email address and telephone numbers to awardingbody@swimming.org so that we can update our database.
If there are any matters that require further clarification or if you have any comments or suggestions as to the format or content of the update for future issues please contact awardingbody@swimming.org.
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