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The new UCAS Tariff – for admissions cycle 2017 onwards PowerPoint pack for teachers and advisers

The new UCAS Tariff – for admissions cycle 2017 onwards PowerPoint pack for teachers and advisers. Purpose.

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The new UCAS Tariff – for admissions cycle 2017 onwards PowerPoint pack for teachers and advisers

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  1. The new UCAS Tariff –for admissions cycle 2017 onwardsPowerPoint pack for teachers and advisers

  2. Purpose The purpose of this pack is to provide a basic presentation that can be used with teachers and advisers to communicate that the Tariff is changing. The slides can be adapted, supplemented or deleted as appropriate to suit the audience. Staff working in an advisory role, whether they be teachers in a formal education environment, or an adviser working with applicants in another setting, may want to use the pack in different ways with different teams. Staff working in careers, administration, or in applicant support will need an overview of why, how and when the Tariff is changing, so that these key teams affected by the change are well informed. The main objective of this pack is to help teachers and advisers understand and manage the new Tariff so that they can then inform applicants appropriately. The pack covers: • Why the Tariff is changing • How the new Tariff point systems works • Possible impacts of moving to the new Tariff • Where to access the new Tariff points and how we are communicating the change with different stakeholders • The high level timeline and switchover date • Key factors to consider to prepare for the move to the new Tariff Any feedback should be sent to newtariff-feedback@ucas.ac.uk At the heart of connecting people to higher education

  3. Contents

  4. 1. Summary • UCAS is introducing a new Tariff for the 2017 admissions cycle i.e. for courses starting in the 2017-18 academic year. • The new Tariff addresses many of the shortcomings of the current model and enables international qualifications to be included. • The new Tariff is based on a significantly different number system to the current Tariff. • The new Tariff will be used for reporting purposes to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the 2017-18 Student Record onwards. This will apply to students starting courses from autumn 2017. • The information and guidance material you share with applicants and pre-applicants will need to be reviewed and revised as a result.

  5. 2. Why is the Tariff changing?

  6. 2. Why the Tariff is changing In 2012, UCAS completed the Qualifications Information Review working with higher education providers (HEPs), teachers and advisers, applicants and other education specialists. A number of concerns were raised with the current Tariff: • it is not suited to all qualifications, especially international and vocational qualifications • it is not aligned with the UK qualification regulatory process • the process is expensive and led by awarding organisations • it is complex and unclear exactly how points are allocated to qualifications. There are also concerns with the points allocated to some large qualifications.

  7. 2. Why the Tariff is changing • Outcome: • The review found that higher education providers (HEPs) wanted more information regarding qualifications and that there were issues with the current Tariff that needed to be resolved. • As a result the UCAS Board agreed to develop a new simple Tariff and support the development of qualification information profiles (QIPs) to provide clear and consistent information on different qualifications to support admissions staff. At the heart of connecting people to higher education

  8. 3. How the Tariff works

  9. 3. How the new Tariff works – Project Advisory Group Development of the new Tariff was overseen by a project advisory group comprising: HEPs Teachers Teaching representative bodies such as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) Association of Colleges (AoC) Higher Education Liaison Officers Association (HELOA) The group helped ensure the new Tariff was based on a number of design principles to ensure the limitations of the current Tariff were addressed.

  10. 3. How the new Tariff works - design principles

  11. 3. How the new Tariff works – new Tariff method Tariff points = size band x grade band Size bands - qualifications will be allocated a size band of 1 to 4, based on their guided learning hours/notional learning hours Grade bands – qualifications will also be allocated a grade band. The new Tariff has 12 grade bands across a value range of 3-14. These grade bands spread across the breadth of Level 3 / SCQF Level 6 New Tariff points are determined by multiplying size and grade bands

  12. 3. How the new Tariff works - size bands • Four size bands ensure that existing size relationships between qualifications are maintained whilst not over-emphasising the importance of size • The AS remains half the size of an A level and is size band 2 • Scottish Highers are allocated to a size band in between AS and A level • Scottish Advanced Higher, A levels, IBHL, Pre-U Principal Subjects are in the same size band, size band 4 • Welsh Baccalaureate is being revised for programmes starting in 2015. The new qualification is expected to be of equivalent size to an A level and would therefore be allocated to size band 4

  13. 3. How the new Tariff works - grade bands A finite grade scale has been established for Level 3/SCQF Level 6 qualifications providing 12 grade bands that all qualifications can be mapped to. • The new Tariff uses a 3-14point scale with 12 grade bands • Scale starts at 3 points as 1 point does not provide a sufficient multiplier effect • The scale ensures that key UK benchmark qualifications such as Scottish Highers can be precisely positioned in agreement with UK qualification regulators • The scale is finite– for example, qualification grades operating significantly above A* at A level are considered Level 4

  14. 3. How the new Tariff works - size band examples

  15. 3. How the new Tariff works – in comparison with the current Tariff The new Tariff numbers are very different. For example, the illustration below taken from the new Tariff tables shows that the new total Tariff points for an A level A* grade = 56 points, under the current Tariff the A level A* grade is allocated 140 points. The new UCAS Tariff tables show the total Tariff points for all qualifications on the Tariff list.

  16. 3. How the new Tariff works - Positioning of the AS • Under the new Tariff the AS qualification has been adjusted to circa 40% of an A level at each grade to reflect the Ofqual statement –‘the material studied in AS is less demanding than an A level’. • The Welsh Government has confirmed the new Welsh AS qualification which will remain coupled with the A level, will be positioned at 40% of the A level. DENI in Northern Ireland has made the same proposal in a recent ministerial submission.

  17. 3. How the new Tariff works - example student profiles • UCAS completed significant modelling of the new Tariff points on different types of learners using UCAS candidate data to ensure no learner was disadvantaged. • Slide 18 provides examples of how different learner qualification profiles are affected by the new Tariff. It is based on a comparison against A grade at A level. For example Ben is compared to Dipak to show that Scottish Highers differed to an A level programme under the current Tariff by +11.1% and under the new Tariff that increases to +14.6%. • In summary, it shows: the impact of repositioning the AS qualification to 40% of an A level; the positive impact of repositioning Scottish Highers in between the A level and AS qualifications as requested by the Scottish qualification regulator and some impact to the IB Diploma depending on different grade combinations. There is no impact on BTEC learners or A level learners as the Tariff points for these qualifications have not changed.

  18. 3. How the new Tariff works - example student profiles This slide tries to demonstrate the difference between the new and current Tariff using A level A grade as a benchmark.

  19. 3. How the new Tariff works – key points to note • The new Tariff is based on a different scale and the approach for calculating points is based purely on the new size by grade band calculation. • We have produced a new UCAS Tariff tables document which lists qualifications covered by the Tariff together with their new Tariff point values. The separate Qualifications List explains decisions on size and grade bands and shows all calculations. As a general principle we have sought to maintain established relationships between benchmark qualifications. Both documents are available on the UCAS website https://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and-referees/tariff-2017. • The Tariff tables and Qualifications List will be updated annually, each time the new Tariff is updated with new qualifications. Similarly, if a qualification’s Tariff points change, because for example its size changes, this will be made clear in the annual update. Only qualification changes that go through the qualification regulatory process would result in a change to Tariff points and they would require sufficient lead in time for schools and colleges. UCAS will provide as much notice as possible of change in the annual updates. • Appendix A shows the current and new Tariff points for grade combinations for a range of qualifications for illustrative purposes. UCAS also plans to develop a new UCAS Tariff calculator.

  20. 4. Preparing for transition

  21. 4. Preparing for transition: supporting the admissions process • Schools and colleges should update their information and advice for students choosing their Level 3/SCQF Level 6 qualifications, who may go on to apply for HE courses starting from September 2017. • UCAS has provided downloadable fact sheets for teachers and advisers to use with learners, parents/carers and staff to explain the new Tariff. • A video for students about the new Tariff will be released on UCAS.com in January 2015. • UCAS will also provide training on the new Tariff for teachers and advisers through its Professional Development Team. Updates and workshop sessions will also be provided throughout the year at UCAS events and conferences for teachers and advisers.

  22. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 5. Implementation and switchover

  23. 5. Implementation and switchover date • The feedback exercise on the new Tariff showed that there was strong support amongst teachers and HEPs to introduce the new Tariff for the 2017 admissions cycle. This is because it will be the first year that students who are studying new A levels and other reformed qualifications will be applying to HE. • Slide 23 shows the qualification reforms timeline in detail. • Implementation for the 2017 admissions cycle ensures all applicants have at least one year’s notice of Tariff points changing in advance of any two year qualification study programme commencing in September 2015.

  24. 5. Implementation and switchover date – key milestones The key milestones in the implementation timetable are: • The new Tariff points are published in September 2014 and communicated to all UK secondary schools, colleges and HEPs • The new Tariff will be implemented for the 2017 admissions cycle • Implementation from the 2017 admissions cycle involves a new Tariff switchover date of September 2016for Apply – HEP communication materials such as prospectuses will need to be updated before this if references are made to the Tariff UCAS has produced a detailed implementation plan which is available on UCAS.com. A screen shot of the plan is provided overleaf. There is also a one page high level plan showing key milestones for the next four years. This is at slide 27.

  25. 5. Implementation and switchover date – implementation plan New Tariff goes ‘live’ Entry 2017

  26. 5. Implementation and switchover date – high level one page plan 2014 entry cycle 2015 entry cycle 2016 entry cycle 2017 entry cycle UCAS Board approved new Tariff & plan Jun 14 UCAS Board preparedness review April 2016 UCAS begins to process 2017 applications HEPs make decisions /offers using new Tariff from Sep 2016 End of Cycle Report published with new Tariff Jan 2018 Schools and colleges advise level 3/SCQF level 6 students from Sep 2014 Course Collect (entry 2017) opens Oct 2015 UCAS search tool opens (entry 2017) New Tariff Calculator rolled out to HEPs Dec 2014 C&C reporting (new Tariff) Jul/Aug 2017 HEPs publish prospectuses for 2017 Jan-Feb 2016 Feedback Survey published Jul 14 New Tariff published Sep 2014 Apply Opens (entry 2017) HESA publish Performance Indicators (new Tariff) Dec 2018-Mar 2019 Initial support and communications on the new Tariff from August 2014 Regional Training for schools and colleges commences Oct 2014 UCAS HE conventions for applicants Mar 2016 Tariff switchover Regional training for HEPs commences Jan 2015 Continual communications and engagement UCAS IT development Jul 2015– Mar 2016 IT test environment opens IT suppliers commence development and testing Nov 2015 Link products rolled out Oct 2016 IT sign-off for implementation Mar 2016

  27. 6. Resources

  28. 6. Resources The new UCAS Tariff Tables are available on UCAS.com. The contents have been organised to list UK benchmark qualifications first, then other qualifications in alphabetical order, followed by international qualifications and legacy qualifications. There are other information tools available on UCAS.com such as information sheets for teachers to use with parents/carers, applicants and staff, plus the detailed implementation plan. A video for applicants will be available in January 2014.

  29. 6. Resources Resources currently available to support the transition, referred to in this deck, are available on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/about-us/our-work-sector/ucas-consultations • Qualifications Information Review (QIR) Findings and Recommendations • UCAS Tariff technical briefing document • New Tariff feedback exercise – outcomes https://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and-referees/tariff-2017 • Tariff tables • Qualifications List • FAQs • Factsheets • Toolkit

  30. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 7. Be prepared

  31. 7. Be prepared What questions do you think your applicants and their parents will have regarding the new Tariff? Read our factsheets to prepare your responses. Keep in touch with your school or college’s UCAS correspondent. We will be contacting them throughout the cycle seeking feedback on any issues or problems you may have with the switchover. Look out for updates on the new Tariff at future UCAS events and conferences. If you or your colleagues need further information, book on to UCAS regional training events taking place in 2014-15.

  32. Appendices The Welsh Baccalaureate is not included because it is being revised for first teaching from September 2015, as explained on slide 12.

  33. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations Slides 32 to 38 provide examples of total new Tariff points for certain grade combinations for a small range of qualifications. A new Tariff calculator will be developed to show totals for any qualification and grade combinations that are on the new Tariff Qualifications List.

  34. New Tariff points – examples of within grade combinations

  35. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations

  36. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations

  37. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations

  38. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations

  39. New Tariff points – examples of grade combinations

  40. Feedback Please feedback on this pack if you require additional content, or get in touch to discuss any queries you may have on the new Tariff via newtariff-feedback@ucas.ac.uk. Alternatively contact the UCAS Policy Team directly: Margaret Farragher Head of Policy and Qualifications  01242 223765  m.farragher@ucas.ac.uk 41

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