How Bridgewater and Taunton College designed its own Access to HE Diplomas

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Success Story

Bridgewater and Taunton College left its previous Access Validating Agency and switched to Gateway Qualifications, using the freedom to write its own unit specifications and assignments and to design Access to Higher Education Diplomas around its learners’ progression.

If you run Access to HE provision and you are weighing up whether to change Access Validating Agency, wary that switching will be difficult or disruptive, this is a college that made the move and would tell you to do it. If you need any help, get in touch.

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At a glance

Centre

Bridgewater and Taunton College, a further education college

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Qualification

Access to Higher Education Diplomas (Level 3), designed bespoke with the college as its Access Validating Agency

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The challenge

A poor fit with the previous AVA: last-minute changes, poor communication, inflexible unit design and an unwanted compulsory graded exam

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The solution

Switched to Gateway Qualifications and used the freedom to write their own unit specifications and assignments, and to remove the compulsory graded exam unit

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The result

A Diploma the college designs around its learners’ progression, communication Pam describes as “very good, regular, and clear”, and a switch she now recommends to others

My advice to anyone who is considering swapping their provider is – Do it! It really isn't as much hassle as you might think. It really helps to have an AVA where you can tailor a Diploma/units to suit your delivery team and your learners' needs.
Pam Jones, Course Leader, Access at Bridgewater and Taunton College

The challenge: what makes a college change its Access Validating Agency?

Enough was enough for the Access to HE team at Bridgewater and Taunton College. After growing increasingly unhappy due to a number of needs being missed, Course Leader Pam Jones decided to change Access Validating Agency (AVA).

We were becoming increasingly unhappy with our AVA due to a range of issues: inaccurate mark schemes; assignments with content that would not allow a learner to meet all criteria; poor communication. We wanted the removal of the ‘compulsory’ graded exam unit, and we wanted better communication.

Pam Jones, Course Leader, Access at Bridgewater and Taunton College

The solution: Choosing Gateway Qualifications as its new AVA

Even though switching AVAs has been tarnished as “difficult” or “scary” amongst centres, Bridgewater and Taunton College decided to give the Awarding Organisation of the Year a chance. Gateway Qualifications was the star performer in 2022, winning two important national accolades: Awarding Organisation of the Year, and Innovation of the Year. These commendations matter not just for Gateway Qualifications but for the further education sector as a whole: they help to continue to raise the bar in the qualifications industry, and show the sector that not all Awarding Organisations are the same.

Pam’s team were looking for a new AVA who would be receptive to the needs of the college, and the learner. Gateway Qualifications met that criteria; the decision, as Pam put it, was easy to make.

Gateway Qualifications was already being considered by Bridgewater and Taunton College for its computing qualifications, and it was soon discovered that Gateway would facilitate bespoke Diplomas for Access. Pam’s team explored this further and concluded the switch would resolve most of the issues they were having.

We were looking for the flexibility to write our own unit specifications and our own assignments, so that we could be assured they were fit for purpose; we wanted the removal of the 'compulsory' graded exam unit, and we wanted better communication.

Pam Jones, Course Leader, Access at Bridgewater and Taunton College

The results: how the switch to Gateway Qualifications has gone

The validation process was completely new to the college. As Pam described it, the initial meetings “were very helpful and gave us all the information we needed to get the ball rolling”. It is still early days, but so far so good.

Getting started with Gateway was great – lots of helpful information and communication, a lot of support from their Quality Development Team, and lots of guidance on setting-up our units. The validation panels were a bit more challenging, partly because we had problems getting HEI representatives to attend. But the process itself was pretty smooth, and it had helped that I was previously invited [by Gateway qualifications] to attend a panel with another college that was setting up new Diplomas, so I already [had] an idea of what to expect and how to prepare – it was immensely helpful.

Pam Jones, Course Leader, Access at Bridgewater and Taunton College

Pam’s advice to other centres

“If you’re going to go through a validation process, definitely attend one first so you’re prepared. Make contact with local HEIs as early as possible and make sure you’ve already sorted out how they will be paid, and how much before you make contact. And keep contacting them if they are slow to respond. Talk to [someone] who has already been through the process – I think that’s the only thing I would have found useful and didn’t do.”

– Pam Jones, Course Leader, Access at Bridgewater and Taunton College

What this could mean for you

Deciding to start your Access to HE provision with a new AVA can be nerve-wracking, but our streamlined approach makes the process as simple as possible without compromising validity. You will be given a named account manager, and our dedicated Access to HE team will be with you every step of the way to get you up and running as quickly and smoothly as possible.

If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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