Adult GCSE courses

LittleVoice

grace2much wrote: »

Ahhhh the penny has dropped. I was muddled in my thinking as before I thought I "had" to go through the GCSE maths curriculum in a college etc. Now I realise I can learn online or through books etc and then just merely sit the exam at an approved college./QUOTE]

I thought that GCSE maths involved coursework (ie formal assignments submitted to your tutor) as well as sitting exams. If this is the case, it can't be just a case of turning up for exams.

LittleVoice

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You could only get funding in this situation for a full level 2 qualification (ie 5 GCSEs) not for doing just one.

The OP could look at doing the C&G Numeracy Certificates which are considered as GCSE equivalents and are free.

So the rules have changed. I certainly know that one used to be able to do just one GCSE and pay no fee if you didn't have a hand of 5 already.

The Adult Numeracy certificate (through whichever body, not just C&G) is NOT full GCSE equivalent: they are simply supposed to be at the same LEVEL. If you consider the curriculum for each you will see that GCSEs cover much more than numeracy.

Magnolia

Level 2 entitlement only applies to full time courses not part time. The GCSE equivalent is a basic skills course so attracts funding and is free if you don't have a level 2 qualification in either numeracy or literacy.

Concession fees are only available to people who are on JSA or ESF (not sure on the acronym but I think its another unemployment benefit) all other benefits have been removed from the funding list. Individual colleges may apply some reduction on fees for people on other benefits but it is at their discretion.

As a point of interest - there are no concessions on part time level 3 or 4 part time courses regardless of circumstances!

A new one this year is level 2 entitlement can be used to fund a level 1 course if the level 1 has to be done before progression onto the level 2 course. Level 3 entitlement stands the same with the same criteria.

Believe me when I say the new funding rules are a nightmare to get your head round as they have all changed :eek:

Oldernotwiser

LittleVoice wrote: »

So the rules have changed. I certainly know that one used to be able to do just one GCSE and pay no fee if you didn't have a hand of 5 already.

The Adult Numeracy certificate (through whichever body, not just C&G) is NOT full GCSE equivalent: they are simply supposed to be at the same LEVEL. If you consider the curriculum for each you will see that GCSEs cover much more than numeracy.

I agree with your comment about the C&G certificates, although they can be a good place to start.

I'm afraid that you've never been able to do just one GCSE under the level 2 entitlement, it's always had to be a full level 2 course. I was based in a college when it was introduced and went to all the training sessions on it.

Oldernotwiser

Magnolia wrote: »

Level 2 entitlement only applies to full time courses not part time. The GCSE equivalent is a basic skills course so attracts funding and is free if you don't have a level 2 qualification in either numeracy or literacy.

Has this changed? I know it was the case for ALG but the level 2 entitlement (and the level 3) used to apply to part time courses as well.

Re the benefits thing, where I worked you had to be claiming a means tested benefit to get any concession, you couldn't get one if claiming contributions based JSA or IB, as they're not.

(I'm so glad I no longer work in the field, it must be soul destroying nowadays.)

LittleVoice

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I agree with your comment about the C&G certificates, although they can be a good place to start.

I'm afraid that you've never been able to do just one GCSE under the level 2 entitlement, it's always had to be a full level 2 course. I was based in a college when it was introduced and went to all the training sessions on it.

So someone who achieved 4 GCSEs but not Maths couldn't be allowed to complete the clutch of 5 by attending an evening class unless they paid the full tuition cost?

Also I recall Buckinghamshire adult education, admittedly back in 2005 or thereabouts, offering single subject GCSE courses free of charge to those who did not have a clutch of 5 GCSEs.

Magnolia

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Has this changed? I know it was the case for ALG but the level 2 entitlement (and the level 3) used to apply to part time courses as well.

Re the benefits thing, where I worked you had to be claiming a means tested benefit to get any concession, you couldn't get one if claiming contributions based JSA or IB, as they're not.

Level 2 entitlement has never applied to a part time course unless that course is a full level 2 qualification - which AAT L2 was until it changed to whatever they call it now a days! The only L3 courses we offer that would attract the L3 entitlement is hairdressing and Spa Therapies - all other L3 courses are part of a full qualification and not the whole thing.

JSA and ESF (I think that's it) is the only benefit that attracts funding in the new rulings.

It is a nightmare this year. I am trying to put a crib list together but the funding rules are so complicated and not very 'user friendly' that the crib list is getting as long as the real thing:eek:

Oldernotwiser

Magnolia wrote: »

Level 2 entitlement has never applied to a part time course unless that course is a full level 2 qualification - which AAT L2 was until it changed to whatever they call it now a days! The only L3 courses we offer that would attract the L3 entitlement is hairdressing and Spa Therapies - all other L3 courses are part of a full qualification and not the whole thing.

JSA and ESF (I think that's it) is the only benefit that attracts funding in the new rulings.

It is a nightmare this year. I am trying to put a crib list together but the funding rules are so complicated and not very 'user friendly' that the crib list is getting as long as the real thing:eek:

I agree that the courses had to be full level 2 qualifications (whether full or part time) but the college where I worked had lots of these and I always encouraged mature students to take the part time route if it was available. It sounds as if the pattern's different where you work.

LV, I know it sounds mad but that's correct, you wouldn't get funding under the level 2 entitlement in the situation you describe.

Magnolia

LittleVoice wrote: »

Also I recall Buckinghamshire adult education, admittedly back in 2005 or thereabouts, offering single subject GCSE courses free of charge to those who did not have a clutch of 5 GCSEs.

Might be that their interpretation of the funding regs was a little off kilter.

I have been dealing with part time enrolment now for 9 years and it has never applied to GCSE's only the C&G equivalents.

LV - one GCSE isn't a full level 2 course - the fact that passing it will give you a full level 2 with your other GCSE's makes no different. The funding is specific and the course undertaken has to be a full L2 and not a part of.

EndlessStruggle

I am doing a course equivalent to one GCSE fully funded and distance learning and I am at Level 4 on their scale. Is best to talk to the providers and colleges to see what they say about what you can do and how much it will cost.