1. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Competence standards – what on earth are they?! Jenni Dyer, Policy Director Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities

2. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Definition ‘An academic, medical or other standard…for the purpose of determining whether or not a person has a particular level of competence or ability’ They must be genuine, objectively justifiable and proportionate –ie they should apply to everyone and should be fair and valid

3. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities What are they? They apply to ALL aspects of the curriculum Competence standards = Entry criteria Competence standards = Assessment criteria Competence standards = Placement criteria Therefore they apply to individual courses and not blanketly across the university

4. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Who sets them? Members of staff with responsibility for admissions, examinations, courses, etc. Competence standards can be set by the university and by professional or qualifications bodies (eg GMC, Law Society, RIBA) HEIs are not responsible for standards set by others, but ARE responsible for implementing and assessing them in a non-discriminatory way Competence standards  Fitness to practice

5. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities What about making adjustments? Reasonable adjustments are NOT made to competence standards Reasonable adjustments ARE made to the way the standards are implemented and assessed Simple example: –Standard: Demonstrating knowledge of 19 th Century history to pass first year history course –Assessment: 3-hour written exam, extended essay or presentation

6. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Examples These are likely to be competence standards (depending on the circumstances) –A in Biology A-Level to study Biology –Having good health and fitness to study sports science –Clear spoken French to study French Language –1-hour time limit on a practical test for emergency medicine These are NOT likely to be competence standards –Being able to cope with the demands of a Biology course –Having good health and fitness to study history –Clear spoken English to study English Literature –100% attendance requirement on any course

7. © Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities What do we do now? Remember that competence standards are a help, not a hindrance Having appropriate competence standards will ensure that you do not discriminate against any one Students will be able to demonstrate how they can meet a standard Ensure staff are aware that they need to review their standards to ensure they are justifiable Ensure students really understand what is expected of them