QCF transition nearing completion

The government's nationwide roll out of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), which will replace all existing vocational qualifications including NVQs and apprenticeship,  is nearing completion.

The QCF was introduced last year as part of a national strategy to raise education and skills levels by improving and building on the existing National Qualifications Framework.

According to a timetable for change published by the government earlier this year 75 per cent of vocational qualifications are anticipated to be on the QCF by the end of the month with all applicable qualifications on the framework by the end of the year.

The government says the main aim of the new framework is to introduce qualifications that are flexible and accessible to learners and enable them to raise their skills levels by learning in their own time and at their own pace.

Every full qualification in the QCF is made up of units, with each unit holding a credit value related to how long the unit takes to complete.

A credit is approximately ten hours work and the total value of a qualification is based on its size and therefore the amount of work involved in achieving it.

Training provider Alliance Learning, which offers more than 20 new accredited QCF qualifications, says there are considerable benefits to local learners and employers who take advantage of the scheme.

It says the QCF allows learners to build the same qualification from different combinations of units to suit individual interests and skills.

Paul Cocker, Alliance Learning's operations executive, said: "The QCF transitional period is not as daunting as it first appears. In fact they have been introduced to better suit the needs and circumstances of learners and employers, making this an opportune time to start a course."

The QCF will be regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual).

For more information on the QCF you can view an interactive government guide here: http://www.qcda.gov.uk/resources/qcf_intro_animation/QCF_main.html