NVQ Web

March 2010

Welcome to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) update.

Welcome

QCDA is working with partner organisations to get the sector ready for putting the QCF into practice. It's working closely with awarding organisations, sector skills councils, learning providers, employers and learners.

This newsletter provides updates on key implementation activity in England but also provides updates on QCF implementation in Wales and Northern Ireland.

QCDA update

Following the publication of the Skills for Growth White Paper on 11 November 2009, from April 2010 QCDA is no longer remitted to continue its work on QCF readiness or employer engagement.

You can still access legacy materials that explain the fundamental concepts and structure of the QCF at www.qcda.gov.uk/qcfreadiness.

More information and support is available from the following sources:

• For learners - bis.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications.
• For awarding organisations - www.awarding.org.uk and www.jcq.org.uk.
• For learning providers - www.excellencegateway.org.uk/qcf, qfr.lsc.gov.uk, www.aoc.co.uk and www.learningproviders.org.uk
• For employers and sector skills councils - www.businesslink.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications

As a result this will be the final QCF newsletter produced by QCDA. We'd like to thank everyone for their contributions that have helped us keep stakeholders informed of QCF readiness activity. After March, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) will be taking the lead and will continue to produce a bi-monthly VQR (Vocational Qualifications Reform) newsletter which will include QCF contributions. The newsletter is intended to provide information about the changes being made to the vocational qualifications system in England, including updates on key activities and developments. It will also include an update on activities in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Sign up for the BIS VQR e-newsletter

QCF stakeholder reception

We'd like to invite you to express your interest in attending a QCF Readiness Stakeholder Reception, which will take place on Wednesday 24 March 2010 in central London from 4.30pm until 7.30pm.

The reception will provide an opportunity for all those who have been involved with, or interested in, the development of the QCF to meet. You'll be able to network with QCDA, the QCF Readiness and Employer Engagement programme teams and other partners. We'll also be showcasing the materials that have been developed to support stakeholders moving forward, including the latest leaflets, interactive guides and case studies, the new version 4 Support pack and delivery partner materials. There'll also be the opportunity to pick up or order copies of these materials.

We'd be delighted if you could join us for the reception but we're expecting a lot of interest and places are limited. Therefore we'd recommend registering early, and at the latest by close of play Friday 12 March 2010.

Register for the QCF stakeholder reception

Support pack available to order

If you can't attend the event you can order the QCF version 4 Support pack

Interactive guides and digital tools

QCDA has produced a number of step-by-step interactive guides:

The QCF animated guide: an introduction - this interactive animation provides an overview of the key concepts of the QCF. It can be hosted on partner websites and used in presentations as a great introduction to the framework.

Other interactive guides include a guide to writing units of assessment, a guide to developing rules of combination, a guide to recognising prior learning in the QCF, and a guide to help employers engage with the QCF.

You can find these interactive guides at www.qcda.gov.uk/qcfreadiness.

QCF USB sticks

We've received a lot of demand for the free QCF USB sticks that contain the animation and a wealth of other useful guidance materials. We're expecting another delivery before the end of March, so as soon as we have them we'll be able to fulfil all outstanding requests. If you haven't registered for a free QCF memory stick please email the QCF team with your contact details and we'll send you one in due course.

New online resources from BIS

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), in collaboration with Skillsmart Retail, has launched new online resources to help employers and learners explore the changes to vocational qualifications. BIS is leading on communicating these changes to learners, and Skillsmart Retail is leading on communicating these changes to employers.

For employers - information is available at the Business Link website at www.businesslink.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications.

For learners - information and links to relevant pages on Directgov are available at www.bis.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications.

Colleges, training organisations and awarding organisations will be directed to relevant information through both of these links.

In the two weeks following the launch of these new resources, we've registered over 1,500 visitors to both websites and the number is growing.

The Learning and Skills Information Service (LSIS)

Book now to learn from the QCF and Foundation Learning champions

Following the very successful QCF and Foundation Learning champions' training programmes, LSIS is running a series of five one-day training events to share materials and learning from the programme. The 'Learning from the champions' events will take place during March in Newcastle upon Tyne, London, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool. A special feature of the day will be workshops led by either QCF or Foundation Learning champions. There'll also be an opportunity for delegates to discuss the latest policy updates, network with colleagues and share their progress towards QCF readiness or Foundation Learning implementation.

For more details and to register an interest in the 'Learning from the champions' events, visit www.excellencegateway.org.uk/252081 (for QCF) or www.excellencegateway.org.uk/190328 (for Foundation Learning).

Champions share their experience with help from a new fund

LSIS has launched the QCF and Foundation Learning cascading professional development fund, aimed at enabling QCF and Foundation Learning champions to pass on their knowledge and implementation experiences to others. The funding will allow champions to run action planning or professional development training sessions, using LSIS programme resources, in situations where such important activity might not otherwise take place.

Applications for funding are now being considered and further information is available via the appropriate funding portal at: www.excellencegateway.org.uk/273575 (for QCF) and at www.excellencegateway.org.uk/273572 (for Foundation Learning).

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland (NI) VQRP board

Implementation of VQR in NI is overseen by the NI vocational qualifications reform programme (VQRP) board, which provides a programme management and advisory function to the Department for Employment and Learning. The focus of the implementation activity is now on awareness-raising and capacity-building among key partners who will be delivering the programme in NI.

NI VQRP e-newsletter

The first Northern Ireland e-newsletter has been published. This covers the implementation of the reforms and provides details of news and events.

NI VQR capacity-building programme

The NI Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) are bringing a coordinated programme of support to providers (colleges and training organisations) in Northern Ireland to ensure that these key delivery partners are prepared to operate within the QCF and to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides.

CCEA and LSDA have delivered 12 interactive QCF introductory workshops. Evaluation of this programme will inform further capacity building requirements for colleges.

Following a large-scale event held with independent training providers on 11 March, further regional engagement activities will follow over the next few months. Further details about this programme will be made available through the e-newsletter and through www.nivqrp.org.uk.

Engagement with the higher education sector

The higher education sector in Northern Ireland was identified in the NI VQRP communications strategy as a key end-user of QCF qualifications. An information and discussion event is being held with the sector on 16 April. The nature of the engagement programme with this important group will take shape during and after that event, and further details will be published as they are agreed.

NI VQRP conference, June 2010 (date tbc)

Following the success of last year's event, a second NI VQRP conference will be held in June, aimed at learning providers, sector skills councils, awarding organisations, and providers of information, advice and guidance. Plans are also being made for a series of employer-focussed events later in June. Please contact Linda Berg at linda.berg@delni.gov.uk or on 028 9025 7506 for more details.

Recognition of Training in Employment Programme (RTEP)

Work is continuing with key stakeholders to raise awareness of this programme. A range of meetings have been undertaken with employers, SSCs/SSBs and others on the benefits of using NOS and scoping/mapping these to QCF units and qualifications. A number of organisations are actively involved in having their in-house training programme accredited. Organisations interested in this activity should contact C Heathwood at cheathwood@ccea.org.uk in the first instance. The pilot programme is now nearing its conclusion and a report will be published that will set out recommendations on how best to take this area of work forward.

QCF leaflets

QCF leaflets specific to Northern Ireland are currently being developed and will be issued to all key programme stakeholders in March. Additional copies can be obtained by contacting Linda Berg at linda.berg@delni.gov.uk or on 028 9025 7506.

QCF readiness baseline survey

Surveys were issued in September to gain a more detailed understanding of key stakeholders' needs. The survey measured the effectiveness to date of the VQRP in terms of disseminating information about the QCF, and raising knowledge and building capacity among learning providers, awarding organisations and SSCs/SSBs. The results of the survey are on the NI VQRP website www.nivqrp.org.uk. The second round of QCF surveys in Northern Ireland will be issued in March and will provide a further opportunity for stakeholders to shape the programme as it unfolds.

For further information on any of these activities in NI, please contact Nick Gibson at nicholas.gibson@delni.gov.uk or on 028 9025 7973.

Wales

Technical events for frontline staff

In March, officials from the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) are meeting with colleagues from Colegau Cymru /Colleges Wales and the National Training Federation for Wales, to explore a combined approach to delivering further awareness-raising and technical training for frontline staff. They are looking at staff who deal with the QCF in provider settings, including those with responsibility for IMS and those who deliver information, advice and guidance. This follows on from the four stakeholder events held in Wales during November 2009.

It is envisaged that a series of events will take place across Wales during spring 2010, with a second wave in the autumn.

Review of arrangements for QCF implementation in Wales

DCELLS is currently undertaking an in-house review and evaluation of the current arrangements for QCF implementation in Wales. This review includes an analysis of the impact of the DCELLS QCF sub-groups, to ensure alignment between different policy areas and cross-fertilisation of activities. The review findings will be presented at the next meeting of the DCELLS QCF Strategic Implementation Board in May 2010.

QCF qualification size - understanding the impact on funding

DCELLS is currently working to ensure the transfer to QCF qualifications runs smoothly and effectively. In some cases the new QCF qualifications are a different size to their predecessor qualifications. Providers have expressed concerns to DCELLS officials that new qualifications which are smaller than previous ones may create a potential funding shortfall and impact upon quality of provision. DCELLS officials will be reviewing qualification size by mapping all the new QCF qualifications to their predecessor NQF qualifications, in order to identify both additional elements and elements no longer included in the new QCF qualifications. This will provide a firm evidence base for addressing emerging concerns. To date, approximately 10 per cent of qualifications have been mapped.

Website information

Information on the QCF appears on the Welsh Assembly Government website, where the QCF is set within the context of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW).

The QCF sits within the regulated pillar of the CQFW. View a visual representation of the CQFW overarching framework.