Workshop contents• Introduction

• QCF qualifications

• QCF units

• Data and qual info sources

• Funding formula reminder

• LR and ER unit funding

• Non-listed unit funding

• ILR credit fields

• ILR proportion field

• FLT Progression Pathways

• Latest news

Introduction“The QCF: a new framework for recognising and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The framework is at the heart of a major reform of the vocational qualifications system designed to make the whole system simpler to understand and use and more inclusive.

The intention is to make both the system and the qualifications offered far more relevant to theneeds of employers and more flexible and accessible for learners.” QCA, 04/06/09

QCF QualificationsL

evel

1-12 credits

Award

13-36 credits

Cert

37+ credits

Diploma

E

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 Edexcel WorkSkills – L2

L’ Aim Title Credits

50040777 Diploma 37

50040716 Cert 13

50040765 Award 3

Example Qual

Credits are generally a referenceto duration of study, with 1credit being associated with10 guided learning hours

The relationship between credit and hours is less clearin workplace delivery

Qualification Units

Credits

E.g. WorkSkills Award requires3 credits, which could bedelivered as two units (oneworth 1 credit and the other worth 2 credits)

UnitsUnits must be able to be individually assessed

Other things to note

The Rules of Combination (RoC) specify the creditsthat need to be achieved(via units) for the qualification

Credit Accumulation andTransfer (CAT) made possible

Specified number of credits from lower levels cancontribute to higher levels

Credits can only be awardthrough completion of thewhole unit

Data and info sources

The LAD

NDAQ

NDAQ Qual details(that are not in the LAD)

Summary of purpose

Progression suggestions

Potential job occupations

Credits from other levels

Assessment methods

Any extra requirements

Any exemptions

Performance measures

Rules of combination

All these details for all the related units

Funding formula

Standard Learner Numbers (SLN)

X

National Funding Rate (NFR)

Provider Factor (PF)

Additional Learning Support (ALS)

Funding

X

+

=

The learner-responsive fundingformula introduced in 08/09 is applied to QCF qualificationsand units in the normal fashion

Example funding for an QCFAward in WorkSkills

25 SLN GLH / 450 = 0.05555 SLN

X

£2,920 NFR

1.123 PF

£0 ALS

£182

X

+

=

Example for a QCF unit 30 glh in A32 / 450 = 0.06666 SLN

X

£2,920 NFR

1.123 PF

£0 ALS

£219

X

+

=

Adult LR Unit Trials“test whether unit fundingcan incentivise thecompletion of full quals”

“limited to QCF units and to test Credit Success Rate”

“Trial restricted to specificsectors and units”

444 eligible units are onLSC website spreadsheet

All 444 have their own learning aim with listed SLNs

Train to Gain unitsFunding for QCF units/thinqualifications (list of 138)

Train to Gain formula (ER)Standard Learner Numbers (SLN)

X

National Funding Rate

Programme weighting

Area Cost Uplift

Funding

X

x

=

Concurrent unit and non-unit delivery not permitted

Employer-Responsive fundingoperates a little differently

Fifteen providers had used one or more of these units as at 01/02/09 – live from 01/01/09

Nine providers (4%) by 31/03/09

Not listed-units Whilst in theory these codes replaced the ZUNA* NQF unit learning aims, they can only be used for units of quals on the QCF and are not eligible for adult (19+) starts on or after 1st Jan ’09. Only those trial units listed on the LAD are eligible from January 2009 onwards

E.g. Award in WorkSkills unit learning aim:

ZUQA 2 14 A

Unit of QCF qual

Level

Sector Subject Area

Programme Weighting

There are generic learning aims for QCF units not listed on the LAD, as outlined inAnnex H of the ILR Spec

These codes can be used for16-18 year olds via Learner-responsive funding, but it remainsunclear whether long-term theLSC would want to support this

For ZUQA* learning aims the SLN GLH (funding) is based on provider glh (ILR field A32)

ILR Credit Fields

A59 = Planned Credit Value

A60 = Credits achieved

“Together these two fields willform the basis of a future(post 08/09) Credit Success Rate”

Two new fields introduced in 2008/09 for QCF quals and units

“Planned Credit, is completedat the start and cannot beamended”

“Credits achieved should onlybe completed at the end”

Examples:Learner achieves 3 credit Award in Workskills:

A59 = 003

A60 = 003

Learner enrols with 1 credit and the achieves remaining2 credits in Award in WorkSkills:

A59 = 002

A60 = 002

Learner on 15 credit pathwaychanges to 13 credit pathway and achieves:

A59 = 015

A60 = 013

ILR Proportion field

A51a = Proportion of funding remaining

Examples:

Introduced in 08/09 as two digitsand if full funding then = 00

Changed for 09/10 to three digitsand if full funding then = 100

It is vital to use this field whereprior learning, credit transfer or exemption would otherwise lead to double funding.

“value in A51a should be calculated using remainingplanned credit divided by total credit value of qualification”

Learner enrols on a 30 creditcertificate but is exempt from5 credits

25 / 30 = ‘083’ in the A51a

If more than 50% of the credits have been achieved byrecognition of prior learning (RPL) then these credits shoulddiscounted by 50%

So if a learner did a 30 creditqualification with 20 creditsvia RPL the A51a would be:

(20 / 2) + 10

30‘067’=

FLT Progressionpathways

ILR nightmare?:Programme aimand learning aims:

A04 = 35 or 30A09 = ZPROG001 or learning aimA15 = Pathway (11, 12, 13 or 14)A26 = Framework code from LADA34 & A35 for bothA59 and A60 = for learning aim

Foundation Learning Tier isall below level 2 (excl. SfL)

1. Skilled work or apprentice2. First full level 2 in QCF3. Independent living4. Foundation diploma or GCSE

There are four FLT pathways

Progression Pathway Cataloguedetermines the qualificationframework (strict criteria)

www.qca.org.uk/qca_20536.aspx

Entry to Employment

The plan is to replace E2Ewith Progression Pathwaysfor 2010/11 – so weekly fundingwill become listed rates……

Latest newshttp://qfr.lsc.gov.uk/ukvqrp/support

When a replacement QCF qualis created – the NQF one will beswitched off.

Final list of ineligible NQF qualifications for 09/10 shortly

Interim (until 31st August 2010) definitions of ‘fullness’:

Level 2 (13+ credits…ish)

Level 3 (25 – 70 credits…ish)

Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), Standard Setting Bodies (SSBs)and Sector Bodies (SBs) will actually identify and confirm what is and what is not full

And finally…. Oh, and the unofficial funding guide is proving popular with a wide range of FE staff

This presentation and otherresources are available online

Complete and leave your card for access

www.fundingguide.co.uk

Any questions?