GQA Vehicle Stickers

GQA are pleased to announce the arrival of the new GQA Vehicle Stickers. 

The GQA MTC vehicle stickers for MTC Compliance are for individuals who have achieved Fenestration and / or Surveying qualifications or have achieved MTC Compliance with a GQA Approved Centre. We also have alternative vehicle stickers that include the Be Better Qualified stickers for achievers of all other GQA qualifications.

We intend to send these stickers out to centres with all certificates; if you would like to discuss distribution or if you require further stocks please do not hesitate to contact Emma on 0114 272 0033 / marketing@gqaqualifications.com

MTCs-more to it than I thought

I have spent some considerable time working with my GQA colleagues Andy Carrington and Phil Douglas to plan and deliver the first 2 of 5 planned MTC Standardisation sessions.  28 members of Assessment teams from 14 different GQA Approved Centres attended to hear more about the FENSA MTC scheme that GQA is involved in and I have to say they were some of the most interesting events I have been involved in since joining GQA in 2009.

The chance to get a number of our Centres together to discuss what is a significant step for upskilling and recognising competence in fenestration, was something we looked forward to and we were not disappointed with the amount of discussion and debate that took place. The meetings were roughly speaking split into 2 linked, but different sessions; the morning focussed on the MTC scheme itself, from the origins of the MTCs, the administration side of the process with GGF Training, through to the knowledge tests, site visits, evidence requirements and issue of MTC cards.
The afternoon started with all of the assessment team undertaking a version of the MTC knowledge tests followed by Andy delivering a session on best practice in assessment and a Building Regulations refresher.

Centres have been waiting patiently for the MTC scheme launch and although much has been discussed over a number of meetings over the last 2 to 4 months this was the real thing. The first, big message we wanted to get across was to stress that a robust, initial assessment of the candidate lays the foundations for the rest of the process.
Although Centres are used to doing this for qualification routes to competence we felt the MTC scheme required a different, much more specific, approach with the emphasis being with the candidate to give an honest self-assessment of their skills and knowledge directly related to the requirements of the MTC criteria. 

The document we used to demonstrate this proved so popular that it is likely several Centres will adopt this exactly as it is.

The most common thought from the people present was “this is much more involved than we thought”. Naturally, when a new scheme is introduced that is potentially able to be completed in a single day, many people could assume this would be a short cut route that is not as robust as the assessments for a qualification. Although there is no denying that as a qualification is normally completed over a number of site visits and the assessor sees evidence of consistency and performance over a period of time, the FENSA MTC card is something that has to be earned so we have set clear guidelines on what we expect from Centres.

It was good to see the positive way the Centres took the information, advice and guidance provided and as all Centres who attended completed the Service Level Agreement issued by GGF Training  we did not scare anyone off!

A number of other MTC Standardisation sessions are already in the diary and as there is a requirement for all involved in MTC assessment to attend a Standardisation meeting we expect these to quickly get booked up and we are fully prepared to put more sessions on as needed.

If your Centre is involved in the scheme, you need to contact Emma at GQA, e-mail to emma@gqaqualifications.com or 01142 720033 to book your place on one of the Standardisation meetings; if your Centre is not currently involved in the scheme but want to know more speak to Mick, Sean, Andy or Phil at GQA or contact Rebecca or Sarah at GGF Training on 020 7397 7206.

“FAB” CPD event for MRG Services

GQA External Quality Advisor Andy Carrington recently arranged a CPS event for some of the assessment team from MRG Services.  The Essex based Centre delivers GQA qualification in Fenestration Installation, and during a recent site visit Andy and the business owner/Lead Assessor Jane Gunn discussed the Fabrication process.  Jane felt that a CPD update on the processes used to fabricate the door and windows would benefit the assessment team and add even more value to their assessment processes and also help with plans the Centre has to deliver training and up skilling to those already in the Industry and those looking to get involved.

 

Andy made contact with Consort Windows in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire; an employer Andy had developed an excellent relationship with through qualification delivery while working at Derby College.  Who were very happy to work with GQA on this and a full day’s CPD event was arranged.

 

Jane along with 2 more Assessors from MRG, Mandy Reynolds and Karen Petch spent the day at Consort, with Sean Hayes from GQA attending also.  The day started with Andy giving the delegates a presentation regarding the history of the Fabrication Industry and Consort Windows, this was followed by a full guided tour of the factory and the processes involved.  Thanks to Andy’s great relationships with the staff, at Consort, individuals at every stage of the process were happy to explain in detail what they were doing and how this fitted in to the overall production process.

 

Following the tour the delegate returned to the training room provided by Consort, where an assessment of the information given was carried out; all delegates achieved the pass mark.

 

The event was seen by all as very worthwhile and left the team feeling much better informed and ready to put their updated knowledge into action.  Comments made included “great to use this information that will help during our teaching sessions and problem solving questions with our installers on site”

 

Andy said “the delegates from MRG are striving to improve their own knowledge and understanding of the industry.  I am very confident their new knowledge will be passed on to their learners.  This is a reflection on their professional approach to teaching and assessment”.

 

Sean Hayes said “I have known Jane since MRG  became an Approved Centre and it is typical of Jane’s commitment to quality that she took this opportunity for improving the knowledge of the team.  Consort Windows has a very successful business and continues to invest in its staff and equipment-it was good to see a number of GQA Certificates on display”.

 

GQA would like to put on record their thanks to Consort Windows for hosting the event, in particular Daryl Lacey and Mark Bolton.  GQA would also like to thank the team at MRG Services for taking such an active part in the day.

 

GQA will be organising a full CPD programme of events for Centres in 2014, if you have any specific topics you would like us to cover please contact Emma at GQA by emailing emma@gqaqualifications.com

GQA Centres - Free Workshop - Green Deal

Have you heard about The Green Deal but don’t really understand what it is and the potential benefits to Assessment Centres and Industry?

GQA are holding a seminar to give you the facts and help you understand how your business can benefit from The Green Deal. This interactive event is being run by Neil Whitfield who has over 38 years experience in the Construction Industry and has been working with GQA Qualifications for many years.

The event will focus on:

What is Green Deal?
What are the financial aspects of Green Deal?
How is Green Deal likely to work in practice?

The event will take place at GQA's Sheffield office on January 29th and is available to you FREE OF CHARGE as a GQA Approved Centre and, as we expect demand to be high, early booking is recommended.

You can reserve up to 3 spaces for your Centre by e-mail to emma@gqaqualifications.com or by calling 01142 720033

Derby College Assessors add H&S to their repertoire

Andy Carrington and Dave Naylor of the GQA Approved Centre, Derby College, recently added to their already extensive list of skills with the achievement of the NEBOSH Level 4 Certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability.

Andy told GQA "the course was very intensive and covered all areas of pollution from land, air and water pollution, we also went into great detail on how we manage the removal of Nox and Sox within industry. We were taught how to carry out environmental risk assessment and how to apply current law and legislation.” With the 2 candidates being assessed through a combination of a written 2 hour examination and a workplace audit, achievement was not straightforward.

Andy added “The benefits are substantial with the impact that the Green Deal will have on our industry, and the inclusion of sustainability within our assessments”.

Congratulations to Andy and Dave from all at GQA.

1st round of GQA CPD events well received

Following on from our 2nd Conference in November 2011, and following requests from  Approved Centres, GQA ran 5 CPD events during April and May. There were 3 topics covered: Best practice in Assessment, Professional Discussion and the new Assessor and IQA awards. To give the opportunity for as many Centres as possible the events took place across a number of venues. 


The events were attended by Assessors, Internal Verifiers and Centre Coordinators from the Glass and Print industries, with all welcoming the chance to compare their Centres and Industries. Feedback from those attending was very positive with all asking to be kept informed on future events and offering suggestions for other topics to cover. 


The following is just a selection of the comments received:

• “Rewarding and informative, will use information gained in my job role”- David Edwards, NLTG 
• “Very useful day to clarify some questions”- Chris Whitehead, Manchester College School of Printing
• “Very good, helping me to focus on areas within my own Centre” –Tony Blake, Schueco
• “Realised how far we have come - facilitator was very good”- Roy Pusey, NLTG
• “Good opportunity to see how other industries assess”- Geoff Lowe, Manchester College School of Printing
• “Interesting and informative, will definitely use the knowledge gained today”- Tony Green, Autowindscreens
• “Feel I gained clarification on changes to aid reinforcement of our own systems and procedures”-Jo Taylor, IPS International
• “As someone new to assessing I got so much information and knowledge”-Ray Yonnish, Freelance Assessor
• “Good course, made enjoyable and all topics were covered”- John Cook, Pilkington
• “Understanding and knowledge of new Assessor requirements is now much clearer, very good”-Lee Harland, IPS International 

The events were delivered by GQA External Verifier Martin Sadler, supported by GQA Technical Officer/EV Sean Hayes. Martin said “It was a pleasure to be able to help our Centres understand the changes in assessment and Quality Assurance and also get them to share best practice and look at new assessment methods, as the GQA mantra is “advice, support and guidance” the opportunity to be involved in delivering CPD events was too good a chance to miss” 


Sean said “It was good to have Centres from Print and the wide ranging Glass industries attending the same event; the commitment to quality shown by all those attending was great to see. I would also like to thank the Centres who generously helped by providing venues and catering facilities and look forward to the next series of CPD events and hope even more of you take the time to attend”


Venues were provided by North Lancs Training Group, The Vocational College, Schueco, Autowindscreens and CTS Ltd. 


If you would like information on future events or have particular topics you would like to see GQA run CPD events on then please email GQA or speak to your External Verifier. 

Best Practice in Assessment CPD Event

GQA will be running the Best Practice in Assessment CPD event on the 18th April 2012 at The North Lanc's Training Group, Accrington and 24th April 2012 at Schueco, Milton Keynes.

This GQA CPD event is a 1 day interactive event that has been designed specifically around the delivery of GQA qualifications but many of the practices can be used across qualifications in other occupational roles.

The day will include a session on the new standards for assessors, and then cover every stage of contact between Assessor and Learner. This will include the Initial assessment process, effective assessment planning, and the range of assessment methods available and the use of RPL. Also included are sessions on adopting a holistic approach to assessment, evidence gathering and judgement, an overview of questioning techniques, use of professional discussion and how to deliver effective feedback.  There will also be the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the part that Regulatory Authorities and Sector Skills Councils play in qualification delivery.

Target Audience

This event is suitable for qualified assessors, new assessors, and assessors in development, those with a responsible for internal quality assurance as well as those with responsibility for the quality of provision. The course content has been produced to ensure anyone wishing to gain skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to assessment methods will have the opportunity to do so, and will also satisfy the requirements for proving an understanding of the new Assessor awards and their approach.

Resources

Delegates will be provided with comprehensive resources including delegate pack and a range of handouts that will be useful both during and after the workshop.

Course Leader

The event will be delivered by a highly experienced External Verifier with comprehensive experience of assessment and quality assurance in addition to having extensive practical experience in the learning and development sector. All courses are quality assured and delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Price: £75 (including lunch and refreshments)

Please Contact Emma at GQA to book your place Tel: 0114 2720033 

Assessor & Internal Quality Assurance Awards Update

GQA will be running the Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance Awards Update CPD event on the 16th May 2012 and 24th May 2012 venues to be confirmed.

Course overview

The old individual “A” and “V” Assessor/Verifier qualifications and their predecessors D32/33/34, were replaced at the end of 2010 with new series of Assessor and Quality Assurer Qualifications. These new qualifications have some important differences when compared to the old A, V and D awards - and all Assessors and Verifiers/Quality Assurers will need to be able to evidence that they are fully familiar with the changes and new approaches, and that assessment and Internal Quality Assurance practices in the Centre are in line with these updates.

This CPD event  is one of the suite of GQA CPD workshops. This one explores the requirements of the latest assessment qualifications, explains how the new qualifications differ from the old “A” and “V” units and provides practical guidance on how to perform to, and meet, the new requirements for assessment practice.

  

• A short overview of the new awards and how they sit in relation to previous awards and qualifications
• The key principles and practices of assessment in relation to changes in the new awards, in particular:
• Increased need to ensure the learner is at the centre of learning
• Developing and Using assessment plans which are truly holistic
• Involving candidates and others in the assessment process
• The Importance of reflective practice and continuing professional development
• The key principles and practices of internally assuring the Quality of assessment in relation to changes in the new awards

Target Audience

This intensive combined one-day update workshop is designed for experienced assessors, verifiers and quality assurers (Internal Verifiers) who hold existing qualifications, A1, A2 and/or V1 or the older D32/33/34 units who now need to gain and evidence understanding of the new standards, in order to ensure their authority to assess remains current.

This workshop is NOT considered suitable for those new to assessment or quality assurance. Practitioners looking to gain the assessment/quality assurer qualifications for the first time should aim to achieve the full qualification.

Resources

Delegates will be provided with comprehensive resources including delegate pack and a range of handouts that will be useful both during and after the workshop.

Course Leader

The event will be delivered by a highly experienced External Verifier with comprehensive experience of assessment and quality assurance in addition to having extensive practical experience in the learning and development sector. All courses are quality assured and delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Price: £75 (including lunch and refreshments)

Please Contact Emma at GQA to book your place Tel: 0114 2720033

Make Professional Discussions work for you

GQA will be running the Make Professional Discussions work for you  CPD event on the 25th April 2012 at Auto Windscreens, Chesterfield and 15th May 2012 venue to be confirmed.

Course overview

This CPD event is a 1 day interactive event that has been designed specifically around the delivery of GQA qualifications but many of the practices can be used across qualifications in other occupational roles.

What is sometimes described or presented as a Professional Discussion is in reality a question and answer session. There is a place for Q&A sessions; this course is intended to help you understand the difference and see the benefits of an effective Professional Discussion. The benefits apply to both Candidates and Assessors; some candidates are far more at ease with the Professional Discussion finding it less intimidating than straightforward questioning. As an Assessor a well prepared and structured Professional Discussion will allow you the opportunity to draw out the required response and range of information that questioning alone will not do. If the Professional Discussion is recorded, either on audio or video, it also saves time in writing reports and deciphering candidate’s (and Assessor) handwriting.

The event will use a combination of examples of good and bad practice in Professional Discussions, practical activities, group discussions, tutor input and a range of exercises to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of how to plan, conduct and evidence Professional Discussions. The event will be highly interactive and be delivered through coaching and facilitation to ensure all delegates achieve their desired outcomes from the day.

The day will cover every stage of Professional Discussion; this is just another tool in the Assessor toolkit and requires the same approach as other assessment methods; Plan, Assess, Review, Feedback.  Professional Discussion used correctly will allow candidates to relate evidence that can be used holistically, something that is not often possible with more specific Q&A sessions, Professional Discussion can also help overcome difficulties a candidate may have with, for example, dyslexia or a lack of confidence in written skills.  The session will allow plenty of time for delegates to raise any queries about the use of Professional Discussion.

Target Audience

This event is suitable for qualified assessors, new assessors, and assessors in development. You may never have used Professional Discussion, either through lack of opportunity or lack of understanding, if so this course is ideal for you. At the same time if you have used Professional Discussion before this is a great opportunity to consider different approaches and share your experiences with others. We are confident there is something for everybody in this course.

Resources

Delegates will be provided with comprehensive resources including delegate pack and a range of handouts that will be useful both during and after the workshop.

Course Leader

The event will be delivered by a highly experienced External Verifier with comprehensive experience of the use of Professional Discussion.  All courses are quality assured with an assessment of the learning and successful delegates will receive a GQA Certificate.

Price: £75 (including lunch and refreshments)

Please Contact Emma at GQA to book your place Tel: 0114 2720033