English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: SEND

  • Centre update 5: update for centres offering Speech assessments in summer 2020

    We are writing to you to update you about the Extraordinary Regulatory Framework that is in place for assessments that would have taken place between 20th March and 31st July 2020. We are still waiting for Ofqual’s final guidance, but we wanted to update you about what we know so far, taking into account your expressions of interest and communications with us in the last few weeks.

    What qualifications are going to be awarded on the basis of calculated grades?

    ESB International (Ltd) is going to use calculated centre assessments for ESOL Skills for Life and for qualifications for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

    What assessments are going to be adapted?

    We propose to use adapted assessments for the following Speech qualifications:

    • ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grades 1, 2, 3)
    • ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grades 4, 5)
    • ESB Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grade 6, 8)
    • ESB Level 3 Award in Travel and Tourism Oral Communication Skills for Overseas Resort Representatives
    • ESB Level 4 Award in Professional Presentation Skills
    • ESB Level 1, 2, 3 Awards in Using Oral Skills for Interviews
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 1, 2, 3) (EAL-A1, A2, B1)
    • ESB Level 1, 2, 3 Awards in Debating
    • ESB Level 1 Award in Group Speaking
    • ESB Level 1 Award in Oral Skills for School Interviews

    Our aim is to support our centres so that as many learners as possible can take their assessments this term given the current situation. We will be contacting all of our centres after half term by phone to see how we can support you and your learners.

    What is adaptation going to look like?

    As a centre you need to consider which form of adaptation would allow your students to complete their assessment.
    We are considering three possible forms of adaptation:
    1) Asynchronous assessment where you film your learners performing their assessments, with a teacher acting as interlocutor and facilitating the interactive phase of the assessment, and you submit the videos to us for assessment. This would be for a situation when you and the learners can be at school together, but an external assessor is not permitted to come in. ESB would provide scripts and guidance for teachers acting as interlocutors.
    2) Synchronous assessment set up by the centre using video conferencing software, with all the participants and the assessor working remotely.
    3) Asynchronous assessment for more independent learners who are still based at home. This would include a calculated component for the interactive stages of the assessment when the learners are expected to demonstrate their listening skills. ESB would provide guidance for centres for filming and separate guidance for teachers to submit their calculated grade for the learners’ interactive skills

    The assessor will complete a report form as usual and results and certification will have the same value as the qualification taken under the usual Regulatory Framework.

    What guidance will there be?

    We will be providing guidance on:

    • how to facilitate and conduct your assessments
    • accommodating learners with special educational needs and disabilities
    • technical requirements such as filming, uploading video
    • guidance where teachers will need to submit calculated grades for learners interactive skills
    • additional documentation that you need to collect – consent forms, etc.

    What can centres do at the moment?

    You and your learners can start choosing your prepared texts, and preparing for the assessment. You can think about the dates for your assessment and which learners you will be registering, and you can book and register them in the usual way on our system. We do not anticipate the adapted assessments beginning
    before the middle of June.

    Our aim is to support our centres so that as many learners as possible can take their assessments this term given the current situation. We will be contacting all of our centres after half term by phone to see how we can support you and your learners.

    What if I have a question?
    Please send your questions to product@esbuk.org

  • ESB learner makes waves in Special Olympics

    Emma Carlisle swam her way to victory by winning Ireland’s first medal in the 2019 Special Olympics.
    special olympics
    Emma (middle) with her proud parents at the 2019 Special Olympics

    As part of her ‘Oral Communication in the Community’ qualification, Emma delivered a superb presentation to ESB Assessor, Joan Blackham, on her swimming training schedule in preparation for the big event, this year held in Abu Dhabi.

    Joan had quite a job keeping note of all the details of Emma’s intensive training, and was impressed by her enthusiasm which shone throughout her talk. Said Joan:

    Emma delivered her talk on swimming with such passion, it really was no surprise to us all that she came out a winner!

    Emma’s classmates at Belfast Metropolitan College followed the press coverage of her swimming successes, including bronze medals for back stroke and front crawl and ultimately gold for four-length front crawl!

    Fellow student, Joshua McKinnell recalls, “I was very impressed by the hard work Emma had put into preparing for her Olympic challenge. It was great to see her sporting the ‘Team Ireland’ t-shirt!”

    Emma was greeted with cakes and high-fives from her fellow ESB learners when she returned to Northern Ireland an Olympic champion.

    Please watch the mini BBC documentary ‘The Kennedy Who Changed the World‘ on iPlayer to find out how the Special Olympics began, and how sport can change the lives of people with learning difficulties.

  • English Speaking Board Ambassador goes live on BBC Breakfast

    English Speaking Board Ambassador goes live on BBC Breakfast

    Hrishi Venkatesh (ESB Ambassador) and Tina Renshaw (Chief Executive, CEO)

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. was delighted to showcase one of its Ambassadors on BBC Breakfast television this morning.

    Hrishi Vankatesh, one of ESB’s newest Ambassadors, spoke about how he has become a confident communicator through his ESB assessments. He also shared his top tips for people who are nervous of speaking in public.

    He also spoke about his personal journey being diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum and how ESB has helped him to grow in confidence and communicate well with others.

    Please watch Hrishi speak on BBC Breakfast in the clip below.

    ESB’s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw accompanied Hrishi to the BBC studios, and says, “We enjoyed an exciting morning taking part in a topical dialogue on the importance of oracy. Hrishi spoke eloquently to the BBC audience of over 1.5 million viewers. It was very supportive of presenter Dan Walker to take such a personal interest in the issue by tweeting to his 515,000 followers about the value of public speaking.”

    On the programme, Hrishi, said: “When I started with English Speaking Board, it really helped to boost my confidence and just made me feel like people wanted to hear what I wanted to say.”

    Tina added: “Hrishi’s performance on BBC Breakfast follows his recent appearance at the Houses of Parliament speaking on ESB’s behalf on the subject of oracy. He is also joining us at our Young Speaker of the Year event in November, as a worthy winner of our ESB Ambassador award.

    “ESB supports schools, young people’s groups, colleges and universities to build confidence in communicating, speaking and listening.  We have a fantastic track record for 65 years in giving young people a voice, oracy skills and a recognised qualification. We’d love to hear how we can support you.”

    If you would like to learn more about the range of qualifications we offer, and join the ESB conversation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on speech@esbuk.org.

  • Government minister visits Foxes Academy

    Penny Mordaunt visits Foxes Academy

    Penny Mordaunt, Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health recently visited Foxes Academy in Minehead for an event at the Academy’s very own Foxes Hotel.

    After a dinner prepared by the learners, seven of them gave a presentation on their passion for working, and put forward their ideas on how to decrease the learning disability employment gap.

    Said Penny:

    Foxes Academy is a real asset to the Taunton area, helping empower local disabled people in the workplace. As a leader in our Disability Confident scheme, they are also showing employers across the country how they can make the most of the huge pool of untapped talent that disabled people offer.

    The unique Foxes Hotel, which provides educational and vocational training for young people with disabilities, equips learners with the practical skills needed for future employment. As part of their Functional Skills programme, learners at Foxes Academy achieve nationally recognised qualifications with ESB.

    ESB examiner, Jane Cross, who attended the event, said:

    Foxes Academy is an amazing place and ESB qualifications are certainly an integral and very important part of their Functional Skills programme. They provide learners with essential communication skills to use in a work environment.