£250 for HE lecturers to support QCDA in reviewing principal learning qualifications

November 24th 2009

QCDA has relied on the input and experience of Higher Education lecturers for the last three years of Diploma development. The desire for involving Higher Education lecturers in our qualification reviews stems from the fact that awarding bodies highly regard feedback from the perspective of those that have experience of delivering qualifications to students who have achieved level 3 qualifications. Involving Higher Education lecturers will mean that the end product qualifications are more robust and more likely to be successful.

What is principal learning?

As part of the 14–19 reform programme, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) and awarding bodies are developing a new qualification – the Diploma. The Diploma is about learning a range of widely applicable skills and knowledge, set within a ‘specialised’ context – a specified group of sectors and subjects. The Diploma offers a unique blend of general and applied learning. Applied learning – acquiring knowledge and skills through tasks or contexts that have many of the characteristics of real work – is at the heart of the Diploma.

Diplomas are offered as 'lines of learning' covering a range of subjects in order to provide the learner with increased depth of understanding.

The Diploma has three components:

  • principal learning
  • generic learning
  • additional and specialist learning

Principal learning is:

  • sector- and subject-related learning
  • mandatory

Principal learning focuses in particular on developing and applying the knowledge and skills that are relevant to the line of learning. At each level a minimum of 50 per cent must be concerned with the application of knowledge and skills through tasks, problems and situations that are related to work in that sector or subject area.

The following principal learning lines of learning are being developed in the 2009/10 year:

  • Science (Foundation and Intermediate levels)
  • Languages and International Communication
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Manufacturing and Product Design
  • Hair and Beauty Studies
  • Public Services

Diploma Development Partners (DDPs) are groups representing industry and Higher Education from these lines of learning. They have been involved in developing the line of learning criteria and will continue to be involved in developing the qualifications.

What do QCDA want school teachers to do?

The qualification development process takes approximately eleven months (July 09 – May 10) and during this time there are set points at which awarding bodies submit materials to QCDA for review. We would like groups of Higher Education lecturers to support the reviewing process for the above lines of learning, as below:

  • 15.02.10 – 25.02.10 – awarding bodies will provide draft versions of their qualifications to QCDA. We would like Higher Education lecturers to review the submissions and respond to questions set by QCDA.
  • 03.03.10 – 05.03.10 – QCDA will run stakeholder focus groups where Higher Education lecturers will be joined by school teachers, AoC representatives, SSAT representatives, QCDA and the DDP to discuss the submissions and provide feedback to awarding bodies. There will be separate focus groups for each line of learning (each focus group will be for one day).

What support will QCDA provide?

We are very keen to ensure that you are sufficiently supported to undertake this role to the best of your ability. We will provide you with:

  • Documentation to provide more context of the Diploma and principal learning, including Overarching Criteria, line of learning criteria
  • Check in calls during the review period to answer any questions and provide support

What will I get for supporting QCDA?

By contributing to principal learning qualification reviews we believe that you will gain an interesting and valuable insight in to this new qualification and also the work of QCDA. We understand that the reviews are time consuming and as a token of our appreciation for your work we offer an honorarium of £250 for each set of line of learning focus groups that you attend. Expenses that you incur, i.e. printing or travel, relating to reviewing will be re-imbursed by QCDA.

What do I need to do now?

We hope that you are interested in taking part in the principal learning qualification reviews, if you are please send your details to Sian Joseph at Diploma.Development@qcda.gov.uk by the 18th of December 2009 and indicate which line of learning group you would like to be a part of.

For more information on this story go to: www.qcda.gov.uk

Created on: November 24th 2009

Updated on: November 24th 2009