Linking London Events

For the full programme of Linking London events, click here. Non members should be aware that because of the new funding arrangements, Linking London is now charging for some events, details of these charges are listed on the event flyers.

Friday 8 October Diploma Delivery Partnership Meeting (DDP)

This meeting, bringing together 14 -19 borough representatives, FE and HE partners and Awarding Bodies will focus on progression to HE this year from the Advanced Diplomas and recruitment onto new and existing 14-19 Diploma lines.

This meeting is by invitation only. If you are involved with the 14-19 Diplomas and would like to attend and have not done so before please contact Pam Calabro, Network Officer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.

Wednesday 13 October, The Changing Vocational Landscape Event  

Vocational qualifications have been subject to an unprecedented period of change recently and it is often hard to gauge just what the combined effects of these will be both on institutions and on the learners themselves, as they strive to gain qualifications that will provide progression to HE or work.

At this event, speakers who have been at the heart of recent changes in BTEC, Access to HE Diplomas and Advanced Diploma programmes will share their experiences, together with their perception of the likely effects on curriculum management and learner take-up. This event should be of particular relevance to staff planning and supporting vocational learner progression, both at curriculum level and in HE admissions.

Wednesday 20 October, XCRI Awareness Raising Event for Partners

The XCRI Course Advertising Profile (XCRI-CAP) is a specification to enable the interoperability of descriptions of courses, or any other kind of learning opportunity, between the course provider and any number of aggregators and brokers, by supplying an XML description. (see www.xcri.org) If you’re interested in finding out how your institution can benefit from implementing XCRI please contact Peter Nguzo This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Friday 5 November, Progression from the Advanced Apprenticeships onto Higher Education

Research by HEFCE has suggested that progression rates to HE from Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships are very low (2 - 4%). Although there are many reasons for this, there are good models of progression where institutions have identified their own flexible, work-based provision that is appropriate for apprenticeship progression.

Moving on from previous Linking London staff awareness raising events we would welcome partners at this event who are interested in identifying relevant provision (ie work-based/flexible/on-line provision) within their institutions that is appropriate progression for apprentices, with a view to working towards clarifying this route for learners, in partnership with stakeholders such as the National Apprenticeship Service.

Wednesday 17 November, Progression and Functional Skills Event

Functional Skills, which have been designed to replace Key Skills, although a year’s delay in implementation was announced, were an integral part of the last government’s 14 – 19 reforms, and students on a range of current qualifications, including the Advanced Diploma and Advanced Apprenticeships have to pass English, Maths and ICT at level 2, to gain the full qualification.

Feedback from partners on Diploma programmes, in particular, has highlighted that many students are struggling to achieve all three parts of this Diploma component and, in the context of results for this year’s cohort, this event will provide a timely opportunity to reflect on the link between Functional Skills achievement and learner progression