October 3, 2011 – 2:55 pm
We are very pleased to confirm that AAt have continued our exam success with the new QCF qualification using the Computer Based Assessments.
October 3, 2011 – 2:50 pm
AAt are pleased to be able to offer Apprenticeships to all students. But like a game of snakes and ladders, the climb to the top may come with a few challenges along the way.
For most of the last 15 years AAt have been able to offer Apprenticeships to all its students under the age of 25. AAt is now potentially able to extend this service to all students irrespective of age. (Although we are waiting for final confirmation of this). We hope to offer all our courses to all our students via the apprenticeship program. This will mean that if your staff are accepted onto a programme we will be able to reduce our charges by up to 75% and 50% in most cases.
October 3, 2011 – 12:26 pm
On July 5th 2011 AAt held its annual presentations. Presenting the awards this year were Rowena Chamberlain, Account Manager from the AAT Business Development Team and Tania Hayes, Head of Conduct and Compliance at AAT.
October 10, 2010 – 11:47 am
This September was all change at Anglia Accountancy training with the introduction of the new AAT courses – that means new course names, new syllabuses and new online computer exams! To meet these changes, AAt has fully refurbished their training centre – new smart boards and a dedicated computer suite are among their many improvements.
As for the new courses the changes have addressed many of the weaknesses of the old NVQ process and consolidated on the challenges of accounting in today’s working environment. Foundation has become Certificate Level 2, Intermediate Level 3 becomes Diploma Level 3 and Technician become Diploma Level 4. A brief introduction to what these changes actually mean follows.
October 10, 2010 – 11:38 am
The final unit of the AAT Technician can seem daunting. But is it as bad as it seems? Apparently not says Irene Stevens pictured below with Mark Jackson, partner in charge of training at Rawlinsons, one of the area’s leading firms of Accountants.
Now is the best time you’ll ever have to finish off that final project! The new AAT courses replaced the previous NVQ structure in September 2010 and time is running out before your previous units may be affected meaning you won’t qualify to complete. Now is your chance to slay that dragon and complete your final unit. Don’t lose your chance to get your MAAT! It is just £299 to complete your AAT course with an average commitment of 4 hours per week. You can even work from home to complete this unit. Transition from other providers is easy and remember that the ‘Project’ is a prerequisite to further study. Irene’s story is a great example of how simple it could be to complete the ‘Project’ with AAt’s help.
October 10, 2010 – 11:22 am
With results that have never dropped lower than the exceptionally high standards achieved in 2007, AAt continues to lead the way in regional accountancy training.
This is of course down to the commitment of the students together with the contribution of teaching staff in classes and exam preparation. AAt students consistently perform higher than the national average, a true credit to AAt staff and students.
October 10, 2010 – 11:08 am
Interrupting class work and exams with the sound of hammering, drills and workmen would not have gone down too well. So, this summer holiday, after Anglia Accountancy training had waved goodbye to the last student for the summer, the workmen descended.
By the time the students returned in September AAt had moved house. Well, sort of! Same old building but with a brand new layout which houses classrooms, dedicated IT suites for computer based learning and exams, new interactive smart boards, shiny new entrance and new office.
“AAt moved to a new part of the building just in time for the return of the students. Having agreed a new design, layout and dedicated AAt entrance we’ve been given a face lift! We are pleased to report that our students will benefit from new classrooms and up-to-the-minute teaching equipment,” says Victor Gidney of AAt.
October 6, 2010 – 3:59 pm
AAt took part in their first online Computer Based Assessments (CBAs) in February of this year. At AAt, we recognised the change as positive. “To turn your back on ICT will only hinder your students. Today students of all ages are driven by image and sound. You must take technology to higher levels to provide the skills that students need in business, higher education and life in general.” (Walker et al 1992)
However, very often when change occurs there can be resistance and we carried out action research to assess the impact on AAt and its students. Before the students had experienced the CBA, just 16% believed that computers were easier to use but after they had performed a practice CBA this increased to 83%. But 100% of the students who took part believed that paper based assessment demonstrates competency better. This was partly down to being able to show workings on paper. The AAT states that by using realistic ledgers and tables, it reflects the workplace due to more companies using computerised accounting packages as opposed to manual accounting systems. AAt students did not agree with this. The research highlighted that there were negatives but these were considerably outweighed by positives.
October 6, 2010 – 3:47 pm
Anglia Accountancy training is sad to have to say goodbye to Gill Myskow who is now retiring after working with us for 12 years. This is the story of Gill’s journey with AAt!
Gill first joined AAt as a student in 1998.
“I’d worked in various accounting roles since I was 16. When my daughter Anna moved back to England from Germany, we thought we’d go and do the course together as a way of supporting each other. It was a wise career move for Anna and being older, I wanted to prove that I could do it!”
And Gill did just that, completing all levels of the AAT course as soon as she could. Gill proved to be a shining example of what can be achieved when you put your mind to it. Her daughter Anna also completed the course.
2010 sees the introduction of the QCF. This stands for Qualifications and Credit Framework, and is the new structure being introduced to replace the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or what is currently known as NVQ’s and Diplomas. The roll out of this has already begun across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The aim is to have all vocational qualifications accredited to the QCF by the end of the year.
So, you might ask, why is this happening? Well vocational qualifications are becoming an increasingly popular route to learning and developing. In order to maximise on this and respond to what both employers and learners want out of a qualification the QCF pathway is being introduced. The purpose of this change is to provide a more flexible approach and choice to gaining a full qualification with a credit award system. It will still recognise and reward individual’s skills and achievements, but will ultimately support and benefit both the learner and employer in the delivery of relevant learning.
