Qualifications off the list

Even if your AO is not regulated by Qualifications Wales or part of the health, social care and childcare sector DO READ ON – and my thoughts on whether this a model for the future of reducing down AOs and qualifications? 

Last week Qualifications Wales (QW) identified more than 150 + qualifications in health, social care and childcare that are likely to be affected by their ‘Restricted Priority Qualifications’ policy. Under the policy it means QW will choose to work with a ‘select one or two awarding bodies’ commissioning ‘lots for development of specific qualifications’ for teaching from September 2019. It means that all other AO qualifications will become defunct in Wales, in-eligible for public funding.

For me this QW communication and message is clouded by inaccessible language and complex descriptions. QW sets out its policy is based on its wish to:

• avoid inconsistency between different forms of the same qualification; and

• to allow QW to exercise a choice between different awarding bodies or different forms of qualification.

QW consulted on proposals for the health, social care and childcare sector to which less than 50 organisations responded, of which this included 6 AOs. The consultation summary gives some quite woolly findings, like ‘1/2 of the respondents agreed with the proposal to restrict but with reservations’ – so they didn’t fully support it?

QW specify that AOs offering qualifications on the existing designated qualifications list can make representations to them if they believe their qualifications should not be affected by the Restricted Priority Qualification policy. So, what does this mean? – reading deeper for me it’s about making representation that those qualifications listed do support QW strategy to: 

• ‘provide a requirement specific to Welsh Learners, or develop skills needed to gain employment’;

• avoid inconsistencies with different forms of the same qualification (where AOs provide similar qualifications); and

• provide evidence of sector stakeholder involvement, also feedback and market research that proves the fitness for purpose of the qualifications for the sector and Welsh marketplace (my paraphrase interpretation).  

Where is all this taking us?

The Government’s Post 16 Skills Plan signals restricting AOs and the number of qualifications. So, can we expect similar models or approaches on restriction from the yet to be established Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA)?

Will the IfA want even more evidence than ever of engagement not only from employers in selected sectors, but geographic spread (nations?) and AO governance and stakeholders drawn from industry experts and professionals? We know end point assessment applications already seek strong employer engagement. 

Engagement with the Regulators and Government will be important as the Post 16 plans are fleshed out, this means responding to all those consultations and invitations. Get your point across.  

Thinking about ‘lots’ suggests groups of co-existing and complimentary qualifications on offer from an AO. Is this going to make the smaller sector specific AOs more viable? Or will larger multi-sector AOs be more important in this new world?

These are some possible questions for AO strategy thinking.

Heather Venis

Principal, Awarding First

See my next blog on 2nd December 

If you would like a general chat about what to do with your provision in Wales, or strategy on qualifications generally, call me on 01588 650 152 or 0789 479 6262.