Brooks and Kirk

💬 Verbal vs Written Feedback: Which Is Better?

If you're studying an Assessor, IQA, or Tutor qualification, you'll quickly discover that feedback is one of the most powerful tools available to support learner development.

But have you ever considered the strengths and limitations of verbal and written feedback?

🗣 Verbal feedback is often immediate. It allows you to clarify misunderstandings, answer questions, and help learners take action straight away.

📝 Written feedback provides a permanent record that learners can revisit whenever they need to. It can help track progress over time and provide clear evidence of support and development.

The reality is that effective educators and Assessors use a combination of both.

Regardless of the method, good feedback should always be:

✔️ Constructive and supportive
✔️ Clear and easy to understand
✔️ Specific to the learner's work
✔️ Timely and relevant
✔️ Focused on improvement, not just performance

One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing solely on what a learner has done wrong. Effective feedback should also highlight strengths, recognise achievements, and provide practical next steps.

Whether you're delivering training, assessing competence, or quality assuring decisions, developing your feedback skills can have a huge impact on learner outcomes.

We've explored the differences between verbal and written feedback, along with practical tips for making your feedback more effective, in our latest blog.

🔗 Read more: https://shorturl.at/QQB3i

📢 Maintenance Reminder

This is a reminder that our learning platform is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance.

The platform will be unavailable from today and is expected to return on Wednesday 17th June 2026.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience while these improvements are carried out.

Our team remains available to answer any questions during this time.

📞 01205 805 155
📧 [email protected]

Thank you for your understanding, and we'll see you back on the platform soon. 💙

📢 Planned Maintenance Notice

Just a quick heads-up for all Brooks and Kirk learners.

Our learning platform will be undergoing scheduled maintenance from Monday 15th June 2026.

During this time, you will be unable to access your course materials, submit work, or view feedback.

We expect the platform to be back online on Wednesday 17th June 2026.

If you're planning to study over the next few days, we'd recommend downloading any resources you need and submitting any urgent work before the maintenance begins.

Thank you for your patience while we carry out these essential improvements.

If you have any questions, please contact the team:

📞 01205 805 155
📧 [email protected]

🎓 Thinking About Teaching Adults? Start with the AET Qualification

Whether you're looking to deliver workplace training, teach in further education, support apprentices, or simply share your industry knowledge with others, the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) is often the first step.

Many people assume they need previous teaching experience to get started.

The truth is, most great trainers and tutors begin with something far more valuable — industry experience.

The AET is designed to help you turn that experience into effective teaching practice by covering topics such as:

📚 Planning and delivering learning sessions
🗣 Understanding different teaching approaches
👥 Supporting a range of learner needs
✅ Assessment and feedback techniques
🎯 Creating engaging learning experiences

It's also a qualification that employers regularly look for when recruiting:

• Trainers
• Tutors
• Apprenticeship Coaches
• Assessors
• Learning and Development Professionals

In fact, many Assessors choose to complete the AET alongside their CAVA qualification, giving them a broader skill set and helping them stand out in the job market.

💻 Fully online
👩‍🏫 Expert tutor support (Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 6.30 PM)
🕒 Flexible study around work and life
🎓 Nationally recognised qualification

If you're ready to take your first step into teaching and training, we'd love to help.

🔗 https://shorturl.at/rmyj7
📞 01205 805 155

📚 Just Started Your Assessor Qualification? You May Have Come Across the Term "KSBs"

When you're new to assessment, apprenticeship terminology can feel like a whole new language.

One term you'll hear regularly is KSBs — Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours.

These are the foundations of apprenticeship standards and ultimately what apprentices are graded against during their End-Point Assessment (EPA).

As an Assessor, understanding KSBs is important because they help you:

✔️ Identify what competence looks like in a role
✔️ Gather meaningful evidence from learners
✔️ Support apprentices throughout their programme
✔️ Prepare learners for their End-Point Assessment

One thing that surprises many new Assessors is that an apprentice must demonstrate all of the required KSBs to be deemed occupationally competent.

If you're studying your CAVA, ACWE, or AVRA qualification and want to understand how KSBs fit into the wider assessment process, we've broken everything down in a detailed guide.

🔗 https://brooksandkirk.co.uk/knowledge-skills-behaviours-ksbs/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media

We love receiving feedback from our learners, and this recent review certainly put a smile on our faces. 💙

"You may have heard the phrase that doctors make the worst patients. The same could be said of tutors who are students!"

As experienced professionals, many of our learners come to us with high expectations — which is why we're delighted to hear that this learner found our team supportive, open-minded, and genuinely invested in their success.

They also highlighted:

✔️ An easy-to-use online learning platform
✔️ Excellent communication throughout their course
✔️ Support from Laura and Amber to help keep their studies on track

It's fantastic to know that their first experience of online learning was such a positive one.

A huge thank you for taking the time to leave this review. Feedback like this means a lot to the team and reminds us why we do what we do.

🎓 Already achieved one of the following qualifications?

📘 L3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (UPPA)
📘 L3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (ACWE)
📘 L3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (AVRA)

If so, you could already be part way towards achieving the full L3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA).

Whether you completed your qualification with Brooks and Kirk or another training provider, we offer the option to complete the remaining units needed to gain the full CAVA qualification and become a fully qualified Assessor.

💻 Flexible online learning
👩‍🏫 Tutor support throughout
🎓 Nationally recognised qualification

Contact our team today to learn more about topping up your qualification.

📞 01205 805 155
🔗 https://shorturl.at/vYN8U

💼 Completed your CAVA, IQA, or AET qualification… but not sure where to start looking for work?

We know many of our learners complete their qualifications with the goal of progressing into employment — whether that’s as an Assessor, IQA, Tutor, or Trainer — but taking that next step can sometimes feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve put together some employment resources to help you get started. 👇

📄 CV Support Your CV should highlight both your qualification and your industry experience. These guides can help you structure it professionally:

🔗 https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv
🔗 https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv

✉️ Cover Letter Support A strong cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants:

🔗 https://hbr.org/2022/05/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-that-sounds-like-you-and-gets-noticed
🔗 https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/cvs-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cover-letter

🎤 Interview Preparation Interviews can feel daunting, especially if it’s been a while. These resources can help you prepare:

🔗 https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice
🔗 https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview

🔎 Specialist Education & Assessment Job Sites If you’re looking specifically for assessment, EPA, or vocational education roles, these are great places to start:

🔗 www.eatjobs.co.uk
🔗 www.epahub.co.uk
🔗 www.v-selective.co.uk
🔗 www.dovetailslate.co.uk

y preparing properly and presenting yourself professionally, you can position yourself in the best way possible when applying for roles. 💙

We’ve had a huge influx of CertSelfies recently, so we thought it was only right to put out another celebration post for all the amazing learners completing their qualifications with us. 💙

A massive thank you and congratulations to:

🎓 Gavriella Konstantinou (CAVA)
🎓 Charlotte Newson (CAVA)
🎓 Ann-Marie Yates (CAVA)
🎓 Anna Klos (Lead IQA, CAVA & AET)
🎓 Muhammad Mouckhatri Ibrahim (AET)
🎓 Kumar Sinha (Lead IQA)
🎓 Johnny Hughes (Lead IQA)
🎓 Kirsten Louise Elliot (AET)

…along with everyone else who has recently submitted a to us! 👏

Seeing our learners proudly celebrating their achievements is one of the best parts of what we do.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey and for sharing your success with the Brooks and Kirk community.

If you’ve recently completed your qualification and want to be featured on our socials, send your CertSelfie to: https://shorturl.at/NKK6U

📸 CertSelfie Celebration – Congratulations Vanashree! 🎉

A huge congratulations to Vanashree, who has recently completed her Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)! 🎓

We’re always proud to celebrate our learners reaching this milestone, and it’s fantastic to see Vanashree sharing her success with a brilliant . 💙

Completing a qualification alongside work, family, and everyday responsibilities is no small achievement — and that goes for all our learners who have recently completed their courses with us.

Whether you’ve finished your CAVA, AET, IQA, Lead IQA, or CPD course, congratulations from all of us at Brooks and Kirk. 👏

Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to professional development should be celebrated.

If you’ve recently completed your qualification and want to be featured on our socials, send your CertSelfie to: https://shorturl.at/NKK6U