1. A2C Scomis EO Network Conference 18 th November 2015 Chris Wiltshire A2C Programme Director

2. Why A2C? EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) been in use for over 20 years unable to support broad range of qualifications currently on offer relies on outdated technology and processes has become inefficient and difficult to use  is no longer fit for purpose

3. A2C will replace JCQ’s system for General Qualifications Edexcel’s Edifact City & Guilds Walled Garden file upload Awarding Organisations’ extranets will continue to be supported

4. History 2004 and 2006 abortive attempts to restructure 2008 MIS and colleges/schools petition for modernisation JCQ AOs recognise need to replace existing systems 2010 A2C proposed

5. A2C Vision to agree and embed a common set of best practice standards, including new data structures, business processes and messaging that will transform the way in which our customers are able to select and utilise general and vocational qualification products and services, allowing them to make informed choices on a cost effective and fit for purpose basis.

6. Benefits realised by MIS suppliers by incorporating A2C standards into the design and implementation of their updated systems. will bring quality, consistency and ease of use to Examinations Officers.

7. Benefits similar look and feel greater consistency in process use of harmonised lists standardise terminology and naming conventions

8. Benefits – Product Catalogue include both general and vocational qualifications across all participating awarding organisations additional Awarding Organisations plan to become A2C compliant

9. Benefits - Validation MIS will be able to provide immediate feedback based on the validation rules within the relevant product catalogue. eg provision of the appropriate learner identifiers defined by individual Awarding Organisations for individual products, but the validation process will operate consistently for all.

10. Benefits – Event Schedule The event schedule will provide details such as system deadlines and fee discounts allowing EOs to obtain best value for money.

11. Benefits - Results Results outcome data will be harmonised and significantly enriched to include: contributing outcomes certification detail raw mark grade boundaries

12. Terminology Product Catalogue (static and instance) Orders (registrations and entries) Results Schemes, Learning Units, Assessables, Pathways Centre Assessed Outcomes Parties (learners, centres, etc)

13. Who is Involved? The A2C programme is being delivered by JCQ Awarding Organisations and MIS Suppliers. We are also working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across the education sector. The key stakeholders in the A2C Programme are: JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) JCQ ISB (Information Standards Board ) ISB Commercial MIS Suppliers Homegrowns (centres with an MIS developed in-house) Homegrowns FAB (Federation of Awarding Bodies) FAB Avco AoC (Association of Colleges) AoC EOA (Examination Officers Association) EOA The Exams Office

14. JCQ

15. Other Awarding Organisations We are working with the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and many are actively considering implementing A2C The standards are open source which means that everyone can use them and other Awarding Organisations can adopt them at a time that suits them.

16. MIS Suppliers Advanced Learning (Facility, Progresso) Arbor Education (Arbor) Behaviour Watch (SchoolPod) Bromcom Computers (Bromcom MIS) Capita FHE (UNIT-e) Capita SIMS (Examinations Organiser) Civica (REMS) Compass Computer Consultants (Prosolution) Double First (Engage) Furlong Business Solutions (SchoolBase) iSAMS Learning Platforms Monterpoint Technologies Pellcomp Software (PICS) RM Education (Integris) Software Solutions (Warwick) Ltd Tribal (ebs4, Maytas, eTrack, SITS:Vision, Synergy in Schools) Unit 4 (Agresso, Citrix QL) vsware WCBS (Pass 3Sys) West March Systems Ltd (TERMS Evolution)

17. Phase 1: A2C Transport The first phase was completed in Sept 2012. Focused on updating the way in which data was transmitted EDI relied on the use of carriers (VANs) Achieved cost savings for our customers at the earliest opportunity. The JCQ Migration Application is a temporary transport solution which will be replaced during phase two.

18. Phase 2: A2C Message Structures The second phase will: streamline data transfer between Awarding Organisations and Centres MIS suppliers will embed the migration application functionality within their systems Automated polling Feedback messages

19. Phase 2: A2C Business Processes Developing best practice businesses processes to ensure a consistent approach for centres. The new MIS and AO systems will focus on the following: Product Catalogues Orders - Registrations & Entries Centre Assessed Outcomes Awards Outcomes

20. Messaging Tranche (from Sept 2015) Centres XML via Secure Internet Awarding Organisations Data Transfer Before A2C Centres MIS Interface EDI Files Van Carrier EDI Files Awarding Organisations Transport Tranche (Complete June 2012) Centres MIS Interface EDI Files via Secure Internet Awarding Organisations XML Programme Overview

21. Achievements to date September 2011 All JCQ centres using an MIS in conjunction with a VAN carrier can download the JCQ migration application September 2012 All centres using the migration application and stopped using their VAN carriers; carrier contracts could be terminated at this point. May 2013 Decision to align A2C with DfE/BIS data model (ISB). Jan 2015 Version 2 of the A2C specification published. This is the baseline version which MIS Suppliers and Awarding Organisations are using to develop their systems.

22. When? September 2014 – August 2015 Development of AO and MIS systems Integration testing Testing with a small subset of centres Planning the rollout

23. Autumn 2015 Capita SIMS Pilots 8 centres in Northern Ireland working with CCEA, OCR and WJEC. 4 centres in Gwynedd and Cardiff working with WJEC. November resits, Functional Skills, January entries, Welsh Bacc registrations processed November exam results in January

24. Spring/Summer 2016 Pearson to go-live in time for summer entries AQA to go-live September 2016 C&G and NCFE ready but SIMS functionality hadn’t been developed Testing with all suppliers ready to start rollouts in September 2016 Pilots with colleges

25. EDI Switchoff The last date for new entries in EDI format will be 31 st December 2018 Existing EDI orders will be completed in EDI. Awarding Organisations expect to be able to switch off EDI completely in 2019.