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Asset Languages
Organisational issues
Make time for planning
It takes some time to make the transition to Asset, especially if you are going to run the teacher assessment scheme as well as the external exams. Asset have changed their policy on accreditation recently, so it is only necessary to be accredited to issue their Asset certificates now, not to run the teacher assessments. However, it is to be recommended that teachers new to the course should take the time to go through the accreditation process as it helps staff to gain an understanding of the various grade descriptors (what it takes to get a certain grade) and it also enables teachers to issue Asset certificates to the students. Asset regularly runs courses at different venues around the country and attendance at these is advisable especially for teachers who are unfamiliar with the course.
Contact could also be made with other schools or colleges in the area as such a support network can be very beneficial and allows teachers to exchange ideas and resources.
Teacher assessment and external assessment
Schools using Asset Languages have found it useful to run both schemes in parallel (teacher assessment and external assessments) rather than just use Asset as another external exam/qualification scheme. This is because students generally find the small steps and issue of certificates to reward their success very motivating.
Offering just teacher assessment only
If you simply wish to offer teacher assessment, you do not need to register as a centre. You can simply purchase the Teacher Assessment Packs straightaway. Please go to the availability page of the Asset Languages website to find the catalogue and order form.
It is a good idea for the Centre coordinator in the school or college to attend training. Details of this Centre Coordinator training, may be obtained by requesting a booking form from assetlanguages@ocr.org.uk or the Asset Languages website.
Offering external assessment in addition
If your school or college is already an OCR customer for existing general qualifications (eg GCSE or GCE in any subject) and wish to add Asset Languages to the range of qualifications you offer, you just need to return the form which can be downloaded from the Asset Languages website. If your school or college does not yet offer OCR general qualifications you will need to register as a centre.
Careful consideration of entry level is necessary
When offering the course as an alternative to GCSE it is important to note that there is no overlap between the stages. With GCSE, the foundation and higher papers overlap and it is possible to achieve a D or a C grade regardless of which paper you are entered for, however this overlap does not exist in the Asset Languages system. If you are entered for the intermediate paper, the lowest score you can get is a grade 7 (=C). Below that you fail. Similarly, the highest grade you can get in a preliminary paper (stage below) is a 6 (=D). There is no overlap and this can pose problems when entering C/D borderline students for final exams. A suggestion would be to enter these students for both the preliminary and intermediate papers which means that they will get the best of both grades. Unfortunately this can only be done at an extra cost!
Administrative issues
Administration is quite extensive and where a large number of students are entered, some schools have enlisted additional administrative support in relation to the testing. For schools that have Language College status, Language College funding is sometimes used to support delivery of the Asset Languages course.
Training students in the completion of OMR sheets
Students should be familiar with the completion of OMR sheets in other areas of the curriculum but may need advice on this nonetheless to ensure that they are filled in correctly.
The Advanced Asset Course as an alternative to AS
Dorothy Stringer High School has used the Advanced Asset course with KS4 students who have completed a fast track GCSE. Students who follow the Advanced Asset course have 5 hours a fortnight of lessons as well asone homework a week. Extended written homework is also regularly set as a means of practising written skills in preparation for the writing examination. A similar scheme of work to that of the AS course is followed with regards to topic areas and grammar and an AS textbook is used. However it is important to ensure that pupils are also prepared for the specifics of the Asset speaking examination, such being able to make comparisons of pictures. It is also necessary to adapt many of the listening and reading exercises from the AS text book, in order that they are more in line with the Asset style of examination and to ensure that questions are in English.
Class size for Advanced Asset
It is important to remember that the advanced Asset course is an advanced course and where possible, class size and curriculum time should reflect this so that the students can achieve their full potential. For comprehensive information on Asset Languages visit the Asset Languages website.
