Update, Wednesday 25th March 2020 (all Blackburn College Students)

College Closure

You will be aware that following the Government’s latest announcements, all Blackburn College buildings have now been closed and we have moved solely to online and home learning. Of course, whilst our buildings are closed, learning still can take place remotely and your tutors are there to support you online through Moodle. At this time, you should not travel into College and you should follow the Government’s latest guidance.

GCSEs and A-Levels

No GCSE or A-Level examinations will take place this academic year. You will however, still receive a grade and still receive a qualification, subject to you completing all your qualification requirements. Ofqual, the regulatory body for qualifications, is currently working out how students can be given the correct grades. This is likely to include your mock exam results and a teacher assessment, for example. There is likely to be some provision made for students who wish to sit an examination at a future date. The exact arrangements, however, have not yet been confirmed. It’s therefore important that you continue with your online and home learning for these courses. We will ensure more information is sent to you when it is released but ask for your patience at this time.

Vocational and Technical Courses

Ofqual have today released a statement recognising that those learners on Vocational and Technical courses urgently need reassurance about how their qualifications will be assessed and awarded in the coming weeks and months. Ofqual has committed to working as quickly as possible to develop an approach which enables you to get the qualification you deserve and that you need in order to progress.

As yet, however we do not know what this process will be – nor do we have more information at this stage. In the meantime the best advice we can give you is to continue working towards your qualification online and through home-learning as directed by your tutor. We will share with you further details about the assessments for your Vocational/Technical course once more is known.

University Centre at Blackburn College students

For University Centre at Blackburn College students, your tutors are currently working on agreeing replacement/alternative assessments for all face-to-face assessments such as exams and presentations. Our partner Universities need to approve these alternative assessments and therefore it may take a little bit of time for us to be able to confirm to you what the alternative assessment will be. Some courses have already had this alternative assessment plan, but not all. Your Programme Leader will send more information when it is known to them. Until then I ask for your patience on this matter.

Online Safety

We’ve been made aware that whilst students work remotely they are at greater risk of online fraud or ‘phishing’ attempts. Please make sure that you are only replying to emails that end in @blackburn.ac.uk and avoid any emails that look like they could be fraudulent. Please remember you should not divulge sensitive information over email (this includes usernames, passwords, bank details, or personal information).

Queries It may be that you have questions. In this case please email thehub@blackburn.ac.uk. Please make clear in the email who you would like the enquiry to be forwarded to.

I will send further information in the coming days. Until then, please continue to keep yourself and your families and loved ones safe by following the Government’s daily advice.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Fazal Dad

Principal and Chief Executive