Access to HEConferenceMonday 2nd July 2015

Preparing for Further Study: a new suite of pre-Access qualifications

Ruth PerryQualification Consultant

Aims

• Introduce the new set of pre-Access qualifications

• Consider possible delivery models

• Answer queries

Why develop new pre-Access qualifications?

• Access to HE Diplomas have changed• Skills Funding Agency rules have changed• Providers have been requesting changes• Existing pre-Access qualifications were due an update

The Skills Funding Agency guidanceQualifications

• must have a clear, specific vocational focus, which is reflected in the title

• cannot include units relating to diverse vocational areas• cannot focus solely on study skills • must support vocational skills development in their own right

(even if key aim is to support progression to an Access to HE Diploma and onto HE).

Our pre-Access qualificationsCertificates (25 credits) and Diplomas (39 credits) in

Preparing for Further Study in:

• Health, social care and social work• Law• Business• Science• Education

Key features• 1 mandatory unit: graded project unit• Wide range of optional units (ungraded)• Certificates and Diplomas for each title drawn from the

same unit bank• Qualification graded: Pass, Merit, Distinction• Assessed through a portfolio of evidence

Links between the pre-Access qualifications

All titles include units in the following:• Project in… (mandatory)• Communication Skills in…• Preparing for a Career…

(each very similar in content but contextualised to the sector)• Effective Learning

Links between the pre-Access qualifications

Many units are included in the optional units for two or more titles, e.g.:• Introduction to psychology (all)• Introduction to sociology (all but Science)• Professional relationships with children and young people

(HSC/W, E)• Human reproduction (S, HSC/W)• Legal requirements for Business (L and B)

Links between the pre-Access qualifications

Some qualifications share similarly-titled units with near-identical content which has been contextualised to the sector, e.g.:

• Reflective practice in health, social care and social work• Reflective practice in an education context

Delivery and assessment: models/considerations

• Certificate or Diploma• Additional course content alongside pre-Access qualifications• Long and thin or shorter, fatter courses• Co-teaching across titles• One shared programme, several progression routes• Specific route(s)/course(s) - leading to the same qualification• Unit by unit assessment or combinations of units covered by a

single assignment or group of assessment tasks

Co-teaching across titlesProject in.. (6)

Preparing for a Career in.. (3)

Communication Skills in.. (3)

Effective Learning.. (4)

Introduction to Psychology.. (4)

Sector-specific unit

Sector-specific unit

Totalling minimum

of 5 credits

Co-teaching across titlesScience Nursing

Project in.. (6)

Preparing for a Career in.. (3)

The Living Body (6)

Science in Medicine (4)

Chemistry and our Earth (6) Person-centred approaches in health..(2)

Health promotion (4)

Co-teaching across titlesBusiness Law

Project in.. (6)

Preparing for a Career in.. (3)

Rights and responsibilities in the workplace (3)

Equal Opportunities, Prejudice and Discrimination (3)

Law in Action - Criminal Law (3)

Introduction to English law (3)Understanding Business Organisations (3)

Effective Learning (4)

Supporting different progression routes with one qualification

Project in Health, Social Care and Social Work.. (6)

Preparing for a Career in Health, Social Care and Social Work (3)

Communication Skills in Health, Social Care and Social Work (3)

Person-centred Approaches in Health, Social Care and Social Work (2)

Protection and safeguarding in Health, Social Care and Social Work (3)

Introduction to Psychology (4)

Effective Learning (4)Effective Learning (4)

Two courses/one qualificationNursing/midwifery Social care/social work

Project in.. (6)

Preparing for a Career in.. (3)

The Living Body (6)

Science in Medicine (4)

Human Reproduction (4)

Social care provision in England and Wales (3)

Introduction to social work (3)

Sociology of health and illness (3) Sociology of the family (3)

Understanding counselling skills (6)

Reflective practice in health, social care and social work (2)

Approval and Funding• Certificates and Diplomas approved by Ofqual as

regulated qualifications

• Funding confirmed from the Skills Funding Agency for 2015/16

To offer one of our pre-Access qualifications…

• If you are already a Gateway Qualifications recognised centre, contact your named development officer or manager

• If you are not currently a Gateway Qualifications recognised centre, contact enquiries@gatewayqualifications.org.uk

There is more information, including a specification, at www.gatewayqualifications.org.uk

Any questions?

Thank-you

Access to HEConferenceMonday 2nd July 2015