10 June 2009
Welcome to the discussion. This discussion is designed to create an online networking community where lead assessors (or those taking on lead assessor responsibilities) can share their experiences and good practice with people in a similar role in other consortia. You should be able to share documents and take part in discussions amongst yourselves with minimal intervention from QCDA.
This discussion community is intended to facilitate sharing ideas and experience of the Diploma. We have created some high level principles of engagement to support this:
· Be constructive and meaningful with posts
· Think positively, stay engaged in the discussion, follow-up/respond to earlier posts and keep the discussion alive
· Share your experience, challenges and opportunities
· Use simple language, avoid jargon and keep cross references to a minimum
· Build connections and share knowledge
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I am the Lead Assessor for three consortiums and have developed a very good understanding of the role and its challenges. I have a company Lynne Dalby Associates (LDA) Ltd which can supply trained Lead Assessors. If anyone os looking for either training or a Lead Assessor to get them started then please contact me on
The QCDA Diploma internal assessment team are putting together a 'toolkit' of resources which could be used by lead and domain assessors.
It is envisaged that the toolkit will be available electronically (for ease of updating materials) and in hard copy form. The hard copy format may consist of a ring binder and loose leaf pages. This would allow a lead/domain assessor to add their own documents/documents from other sources e.g. Awarding Body guidelines.
Some of the toolkit contents could be
What would be useful to know would be your views on a toolkit.
I welcome this idea of a toolkit.
Can you please let me know whether it has been developed?
The toolkit is being developed.
Date of publication - by mid October.
Just to let you know that a lot of what was mentioned will be included) or there will be links to documents that exist on other websites).
The toolkit will be loose leaf and the templates that are included will be available for download from our website. They will be in an editable format.
Does anyone know where/how to access training for those who are new to this post?
Hi
It would help us to know what sort of training you are looking for.
Are you interested in the role and how to carry it out or is it some particular aspect of the role that you need training on?
You may find the following website helpful
http://testsandexams.qca.org.uk/21826.aspx
This web page identifies the different development outcomes that are suggested for someone taking on the Lead Assessor role. Whether you are taking on all or part of the role you might find it useful to look at the materials on the website.
If, for example, you are interested in LA 1 - Understand the role and responsibilities of a Diploma lead assessor then if you click either on
or
You will be taken to a page which has some support materials and activities which would help with understanding the role and responsibilities of a lead assessor.
Each of the other development outcomes have similar materials.
We hope that you find this information helpful.
I think that you will find a number of organisations will offer training to this post. QCA/NAA run Administering the Diploma and Good Practice events fairly regularly - I found these were a good place to start, but they are more about the structure of Diploma systems than actual Lead Assessor learning. Speak to/email your Centre Support Officer at QCA to identify the best events for you. I started with Gateway 1 Training, then attended Gateway 2 - but at Easter time there was very little difference between the two courses - things should have moved on since then.
Awarding Bodies seem to offer a range of sessions which can be adapted to your needs, and of them would be able to tell you what is on offer. Edexcel have also set up some online tools: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/diploma/Pages/training.aspx
For my part, I have found that there has been comparatively little assessment taking place for the Diploma to date, and so the Lead Assessor Role is still developing. The QCA "Controlled Assessment in Diploma Principal Learning" is a good guide to assessment.
Hope this is of help
A key requirement of the lead assessor role is to set up appropriate, workable reporting and tracking systems within a consortium to ensure that all the requirements at domain assessor and at individual teacher/lecturer/tutor level are being met.
It would be interesting to find out:
Answers to these questions/useful techniques/insights into the process would also be welcomed by other people who are currently setting up/considering different tracking systems.
If you are willing to share, with others reading this forum, any of your consortium's documents, e.g. a tracking learner progress spreadsheet, then please attach them to your message. Please remember to remove any learner/assessor information though.
If you are looking at documents that have been uploaded by other people then please remember that that person has worked hard to create a solution for their consortium and not a solution for all consortia. The documents might be a useful starting point for you rather than a complete solution.
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All statutory guidance and legislation published on this site continues to reflect the current legal position unless indicated otherwise.
Is anyone able to tell me what experience and qualifications it is necessary for a lead assessor to have please?