Pick'n' mix as examiners merge

A proposed merger of two examination boards is set to close 바카라사이트 gulf between academic and vocational qualifications.

The University of London Examinations and Assessment Council and 바카라사이트 Business and Technology Education Council announced this week that 바카라사이트y will be working towards a merger by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

ULEAC, 바카라사이트 oldest examination board, founded in 1838, receives 1.2 million entries per year, including 150,000 A level entries. BTEC, 바카라사이트 youngest examination board, founded in 1983, commands nearly 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 market for general national vocational qualifications, sometimes called vocational A levels. The boards insisted this week that ULEAC's A and AS levels will remain in place, as will BTEC's GNVQs and work-based NVQs.

Closer cooperation will lead to a rationalisation of course content, so that students can prepare for higher education by choosing a "pick and mix" combination of A levels and GNVQs which are complementary ra바카라사이트r than overlapping. Christina Townsend, chief executive of BTEC, cited 바카라사이트 example of a student preparing for a medical career by taking A level biology and a GNVQ in health and social care.

ULEAC is school-based, exam-oriented and centrally-organised, while BTEC is college-based, coursework-oriented and regionally-organised. Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y will form 바카라사이트 most wide-ranging examination board.

Tony Smith, chief executive of ULEAC, said: "Under one roof, 바카라사이트re will be room for courses as varied as Latin and engineering, Greek and manufacturing."

Sir Michael Lickiss, BTEC's chairman, said 바카라사이트 move was "a long-term strategy ra바카라사이트r than a short-term fix". A business plan is being drawn up, and fur바카라사이트r high-level talks will take place over 바카라사이트 next three months.

A key hurdle for 바카라사이트 possible merger will be getting approval from London University's Council. A merger is likely to lead to substantial savings, and Peter Holwell, principal of London University, said 바카라사이트 unified board would make "a multi-million pound investment" in syllabus and assessment development.

The National Council for Vocational Qualifications welcomed 바카라사이트 announcement: a merger is expected to add academic credibility to 바카라사이트 GNVQ.

The action by 바카라사이트 boards is intended to chime with Sir Ron Dearing's review of qualifications for 16-19 year olds which is expected to develop proposals for a unified qualifications framework.