By 2010, all vocational qualifications will have to sit within the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). Alix Dees and Lyndy Pullan explain how employers are shaping vocational training and education through Sector Skills Councils.

The 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) ‘articulate the voice’ of approximately 90% of the UK workforce on skills issues. Government has looked to the SSCs to present an employers' eye view of vocational training needs when planning the UK Vocational Qualification Reform Programme.

Every SSC has produced a Sector Qualification Strategy for each sector. These strategies evaluate how well the current qualifications meet sector needs and provide a vision for the future use of qualifications.

Work is continuing, now, to identify where vocational qualifications need revision and where the gaps require new units of learning or whole qualifications.

At the same time, public funding of vocational qualifications is shifting and will be focussed on qualifications which match Sector Qualification Strategies and thereby meet the needs of employers.

Qualifications will also sit within the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). The framework does exactly what the name suggests - provides a simple and consistent framework that will enable an employer to quickly understand the difficulty and size of the learner's achievement.

There are three sizes of qualification within the QCF (an award, certificate and diploma) and every qualification and unit (small steps of learning) is given a level between entry level and level 8, showing how difficult it is.

To understand the level of difficulty of the units and qualifications in the new framework it might be helpful to know that GCSEs (grade A*- C) are level 2, GCE A levels are level 3 and a PhD is a level 8.

By 2010, all vocational qualifications will have to sit within the QCF.

The QCF aims to make provision more flexible for learners, every unit and qualification in the QCF has a credit value (one credit represents 10 hours, showing how much time it takes to complete) as well as its level. Learners will be able to bank’ credits achieved and gain qualifications at their own pace, along flexible routes.

Employers, through the Sector Skills Councils, can influence the 'rules of combination' for qualifications. In other words, they can specify a mix of units which together form a useable combination of knowledge and skills for their sector.

A further aspect of the reforms, is the opportunity for employers offering high quality in-house training to have the skills their employees gain, nationally accredited. There are four routes by which they can do this:

• Employer's units form part of national qualification in the QCF: An employer develops units to form part of a national qualification in the QCF so that quality outcomes from in-house training can count towards accredited qualifications.


• Employer works with existing awarding body: An employer/provider works with an existing awarding body that designs and awards bespoke qualifications for the employer and provides the quality assurance and accreditation within the national system.


• Employer works with third party: An employer works with a third party (for example a recognised employer, organisation or a sector regulator) who provides the quality assurance to meet the requirements of the national qualification system.

The Qualification & Curriculum Authority (QCA) are currently working with other organisations to recognise and accredit their in-house training.

The Qualification Reform Support Programme (QRSP) exists to inform education and training providers about the reforms and to support their implementation of qualifications from the QCF.

The www.qrsp.org.uk website has information on the vocational training reforms.

Alix Dees and Lyndy Pullan are from the Learning and Skills Network (LSN).