November 2008

Welcome to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) update. This e-Newsletter is sent out on the first Friday of each month.

This edition includes information on key developments of the QCF, preparing for QCF implementation, country-specific developments and information on events.

You can forward this Newsletter to a friend.

Key developments

Moving towards implementation
The implementation of the QCF will be the culmination of nearly four years' work across England, Wales and Northern Ireland involving many supporters in the awarding body and provider communities, as well as thousands of learners. Its introduction will result in the first regulated credit and qualifications framework in the world.

New version of the QCF support pack
Version 3 of the QCF support pack will be available online to download at the QCA, CCEA and DCELLS websites throughout this month. Hard copies will be available from the QCA orderline in early December.

The QCF support pack will include the:

• Regulatory arrangements for the QCF
• Guidelines for writing credit-based units of assessment for the QCF
• Guidance for using unit level descriptors within the QCF
• Claiming credit - guidance on the recognition of prior learning (RPL) within the QCF
• Guidance for developing rules of combination for the QCF
• Guidance for submitting rules of combination into the web-based accreditation system for the QCF.

All of the documents in the pack have been updated to include references, where appropriate, to:

• The recommendations from the PWC evaluation (gathered from triallists evaluations)
• The regulatory arrangements for the QCF
• Changes to the web-based accreditation system
• Changes in the language used
• Changes in policy
• Recommendations made by the unit sampling panel gathered via the unit sampling project.

General enquiries and FAQs
For frequently asked questions and other general enquiries contact the customer services team or visit the QCF section on our website.

Core QCF presentation and messaging toolkit
A core presentation and messaging toolkit has been made available on the website in order for organisations to communicate easily to partner stakeholders about the QCF.

European Qualifications Framework
The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for lifelong learning is a common European reference framework which enables European countries to link their qualifications systems to one another. It is a translation device making qualifications more readable and understandable across different countries and systems in Europe. UK ministers signed up to European Parliament recommendations in November 2007 to implement the EQF.

The national coordination point for implementation of the EQF in England and Northern Ireland is now consulting with stakeholders on a proposal for cross-referencing the levels of the QCF to the levels of the EQF.

If you would like to offer feedback or submit comments on the proposed cross-referencing you can do so between now and Monday 3 February 2009. Further information about the proposal and how to take part in the consultation can be accessed via the QCA, and CCEA's websites.

Your responses will be used to inform the final, agreed cross-referencing between the QCF and the EQF. The final decision on cross-referencing lies with the steering group who are overseeing this work.

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Implementing the QCF

QCF general awareness events
The QCF general awareness-raising events held in October have been well received. Participants from a wide range of awarding organisations, sector skills councils (SSCs), standards setting bodies and other external organisations have attended. More events are planned for November and December.  To register for these events please follow the online registration process.

Sector Skills Council 'approval' process
Between October 2007 and June 2008, QCA led a pilot on the approaches sector skills councils take when 'approving' qualifications in their sector. The pilot set a consistent, formal and transparent process for 'approving' vocational qualifications, which the SSCs engaged in the pilot agreed to use. QCA also commissioned Stratagia to undertake an independent evaluation of the pilot.

The findings from the pilot have been fed into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, who are taking forward the implementation of any formal 'approval' system. Decisions are due by the end of the year.

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Country-specific, England only

Credit Success Rate
Work is now under way to pilot the new Credit Success Rate (CSR) measure in England. All providers in receipt of LSC funds will be offered the opportunity to use two new fields in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) that record the credits that a learner plans to achieve and the credits they actually achieve during 2008-2009. NIACE is running a pilot project to monitor and evaluate use of the CSR so it can be updated and improved for future years. If you would like to know more about the project, or to be involved as a pilot site, please email Peter Wilson or Martyn Roads.

Employer Recognition Programme
B and Q worked with City and Guilds to become the first retailer in the UK to offer a nationally recognised 'Home Improvement Qualification'. The new qualification has been accredited by awarding organisation City and Guilds and can be obtained by following one of four specialised routes; decorating, gardening, building and room solutions.

We are continuing to work with a variety of organisations to get employers' in-house training nationally recognised on the QCF. There are three main approaches that an employer may take to achieve this. Case studies and other useful materials can be found on our website.

The Employer Recognition Programme has featured in a number of conferences in October, including a workshop at the FAB National Conference and a workshop at the National Employer Service conference.

If you would like to become involved in this initiative, please email the Employer Recognition Programme team at recognition@qca.org.uk.

Foundation Learning Tier brochure
A new joint QCA and LSC FLT brochure is available to download from the FLT webpage. The brochure explains areas such as: what is the FLT, what are the benefits, what is happening when, what are the FLT progression pathways and the QCF and new qualifications that will support FLT progression pathways.

Our FLT team hosted a meeting for the 14-16 test and trial progression pathway on the 6 November in Birmingham. The meeting presented the opportunity for pilot centres to network with each other on progress, and challenges faced in the pilot to date.

Functional skills bi-monthly e-Newsletter
A new functional skills bi-monthly e-Newsletter will soon be available. The e-Newsletter will include information on progress across the whole environment of the programme of learning including progress on the pilots and engagement with employers. To subscribe please register on line.

Qualification Reform Support Programme (QRSP)
The Qualification Support Programme understands how providers may need support to see the wider context as a result of the changes happening through the introduction of the QCF, and the move to a demand-led system. As a result it has developed a series of free events that are designed to help exploit these changes more effectively.

Entitled QCF - the bigger picture: helping you become demand-led, these events will be taking place on the following dates:

• 25 November: London
• 9 December:   Birmingham
• 10 December: Leeds.

These events will highlight the interdependencies between the QCF and the other reforms, explore the potential impact on providers, present the opportunity to share other provider perspectives on the reforms and outline what other support is available. They are targeted at staff who have begun to consider the implications of the reforms to vocational qualifications and now require more detailed information on how the QCF can contribute to other organisational priorities. You can book a place on one of these events by visiting the QRSP website .

The programme is also providing a series of customised in-house road shows to provider networks or groups of providers and can be customised in a number of ways: to provide an overview of VQ Reform, to focus on particular aspects of the reforms, to look at the QCF in the context of other reforms or to begin to develop practical skills to help providers to implement the reforms.

For more information on other support available from the QRSP you can visit the website.

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Country-specific, Wales only

Implementation of a credit-based curriculum
The first meeting of the fforwm group has taken place.  This group is supporting the implementation of a credit-based curriculum within the further education and work-based training sector in Wales. The group is charged with identifying the sector's state of readiness across the core functions - MIS, curriculum development, policy development, quality assurance, careers advice and capacity building for staff. A similar approach will be put in place for work-based learning providers.

Ministerial advice
It is anticipated that advice on the next phase of the QCF will be put to Welsh Ministers later this month.

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QCF in the news

Early Years, People Management and Management Today
A by-lined article, on behalf of Samina Khan, appeared in Early Years Educator magazine and explained how the QCF will benefit those working in the early years sector.

The news that the Victoria and Albert Museum has had its in-house assistant curator training scheme accredited by QCA was featured in a piece in People Management. The piece sets out the advantages for an organisation of gaining official recognition for in-house training.

An Employer leaflet setting out the benefits for employers of gaining official recognition for their training appeared in Management Today on Thursday 9 October.

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Events

Admissions to Higher Education Conference
Nick Juba was invited to present a key note speech at the Admissions to Higher Education Conference on the 6 November in London. This was an excellent opportunity to engage with HE and to begin to explore what the QCF will mean to universities and admissions processes.

QCA welcomes colleges week
"QCA recognises the vital role colleges play in providing young people with education, training and skills. New QCA initiatives such as the Qualification and Credit Framework provides learners with greater flexibility in their learning pathways, and the new Diplomas, Foundational Learning Tier and Functional Skills are the cornerstones of the 14-19 education reform programme. Working in partnership with colleges we are ensuring that the high quality teaching and learning they provide is recognised. Colleges Week is important in raising public awareness of the role colleges play in raising skills and enriching opportunities for all learners."
Ken Boston, Chief Executive, QCA 
More information about Colleges Week

Foundation Learning Tier national conference
The second joint FLT conference, hosted by QCA and the LSC, will take place on the 11 November in London. Sion Simon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Further Education, will address the conference and there will be keynote speeches from directors of QCA and LSC.

QCF at the Association of Colleges conference
The QCF team will be hosting a workshop titled Changing the vocational landscape for the Further Educations (FE) sector - a focus on the QCF on the 18 November at the AoC annual conference. The QCF is a significant reform in the FE sector and key issues will be addressed in order to provide support for those engaging with this initiative.

December QCF general awareness events
For those who are new to the QCF there will be a repeat of the general awareness events in December. You can register for these events now.

VQ day 2009
The inaugural VQ day took place earlier this year. The next VQ day will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2009. The aim of the day is to raise the profile of vocational qualifications and celebrate the millions of people who gain VQs every year.

BETT 2009
Nick Juba, will be hosting a seminar at the BETT show in January 2009 called The QCF - using technology to record lifelong achievement. This seminar will focus on how learners and learning providers will stand to benefit from the new system. For more information please visit the website.

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