Foundation Practical Assessments

The mandatory Foundation level practical assessments have been suspended during the past 18 months when clubs were unable to meet in-person due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has allowed over 4,500 candidates to take the remote-invigilation online Foundation exam through self-training and/or distance learning.

Now that Covid-related social-distancing restrictions are ended, clubs can meet again and re-start in-person training for those candidates that want it. Naturally, tutors are wanting to know if and when the mandatory practical assessments will be resumed.

This was considered by the RSGB Examinations Standards Committee (ESC) at its recent meeting, at which Ofcom was represented, and we can now announce that the following decision has been reached:

The current mandatory Foundation practical requirements, as detailed in Section 10 of Syllabus 2019 v1.4, are, with immediate effect, permanently removed.

The Examinations and Syllabus Review Group (ESRG) and the ESC will consider whether it is desirable to reinstate some mandatory practical tests, which are compatible with distance learning and remote examination, and details will be included in the forthcoming syllabus revision (version 2). The amateur radio community will be consulted on these as part of the syllabus v.2 consultation.

In the meantime, if clubs want to retain a practical element of training to support the learning of their candidates, either as demonstrations or hands-on, they are strongly encouraged to do so. They may use Section 10 of the syllabus as a guide or develop their own practicals to illustrate areas of the theory they feel their candidate needs more help with.

If you have any questions, please contact Examinations Quality Manager & Board Liaison Dave Wilson, M0OBW: eqam@rsgb.org.uk

Essex Ham comment on removal of Foundation Practical Assessments
Essex Ham reports on the RSGB announcement that the current mandatory Foundation Practical Assessments are, with immediate effect, permanently removed from the syllabus

Essex Ham say the decision is largely set to polarise the UK amateur radio community, with arguments both for and against.

The article highlights the various points, both in Favour and Against Mandatory practicals, and notes clubs are still free to run hands-on practicals and demos during their training courses. Just because they’re no longer mandatory, that doesn’t stop clubs from demonstrating concepts via demos, practicals and show-and-tell.

Read the Essex Ham article and Comments section at
https://www.essexham.co.uk/rsgb-removes-practicals.html