Category: Uncategorised

Dear Centres,

As you will be aware the Department for Education and Ofqual commenced a joint consultation on Friday 15th January about alternative arrangements for the award of Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) in 2021 following the cancellation of exams and centre closures. The consultation covers general and vocational qualifications, with the linked document focusing on the latter. It is important that centres, assessors and parents are aware of and respond to the positions upon which the consultation is based, as it does not propose a simple repeat of the outcomes from the Summer Term 2020 – that being adapted assessments or Calculated Grades for the relevant ESB International assessments that were affected in the summer of 2020. 

As ever we will contact centres directly and place updates on our website when we are in a position to share any outcomes. We will be contacting a range of centres to seek their feedback as to what we feel might be the impact on our work together and are happy to receive any views via product@esbuk.org.

The consultation closes 11:45pm on 29 January 2021.

Tina Renshaw
Chief Executive
English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.

ESB International has been successfully carrying out a proportion of its assessments remotely using video conferencing technologies since September. We have been sharing these successful adapted assessment experiences with our centres via our website and social media so that centres could maintain their confidence in working towards and booking assessments, during the continuing uncertain environment.

As a result of the England wide national lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on January 4^th, ESB International’s Speech and ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening assessments will continue to take place remotely. We use the video conferencing facility that centres habitually use and that your learners are used to. We hope, therefore, it will not be necessary for centres to cancel any existing bookings they may already have in place which are due to take place shortly.

Detailed information about each qualification, how we are adapting it, and what centres and learners need to do to prepare for remote assessments are set out in the guidance documents below:-

If you have any questions about these guidance documents or delivering adapted assessments, please contact the Product Development team at product@esbuk.org.

Any centre wanting to have ESOL Skills for Life Reading or Writing assessments during this lockdown period should please email product@esbuk.org.

Not only do our qualifications build learners’ confidence and boost progression and employability, but they are also built with our learners’ interests at heart, ensuring an enjoyable learning experience.