Sector Qualifications Support
If you are an awarding body or an institution who is considering work on a new or redeveloped qualification, this information is vital.
All vocational qualifications falling within the Creative Media Industries must receive support from Skillset before Ofqual accreditation. In most cases, this means the developing or submitting body should inform Skillset as early in the process as possible, giving information on:
- Proposed qualification title and level
- Proposed credit value of constituent units
- Relationship with National Occupational Standards
- Planned accreditation and implementation dates
- Details on Diploma ASL pathways, age ranges etc
If the qualification being produced is new (ie. not a redevelopment of an existing, accredited title) then a rationale, based on industry need, must also be provided. This rationale should make reference to Skillset's most recent Sector Qualifications Strategy.
The Early Dialogue Support Request Form can be accessed below:
Early Dialogue SSC Support Form
This captures all the information needed for submission to Skillset, and contains detailed guidance on how to fill in each field. Once Skillset has received these details we will send out a formal letter of support for the development. This is the end of the approval process for most qualifications.
Although the submitting body will have free rein to develop, submit and accredit the qualification, Skillset can add value by offering guidance in the entirety of the development process to ensure the qualification in question represents the 'best fit' for the Industry.
In some cases, Skillset may assign a new qualification high scrutiny status. This will be used in cases where a qualification represents an industry licence to practise, is defined by legal statute, or if Skillset has not been given adequate notice of a new development. In this case, detailed discussions will take place between Skillset and the developing body and approval must be given to the final content and rules of combination before submission and accreditation.
For information on the new Qualifications and Credit Framework, click here to be taken to the QCDA website.
If you have any questions about qualifications support from Skillset, please contact Liz Bennett at elizabethb@skillset.org.
If your computer has the relevant software, click the document icons or document titles to view the relevant document. Right-click (PC) or hold your mouse-button down (Mac) on the document icon/title, you'll be given the option to save the file to disk. If you don't have the necessary software to view the documents, take the above links to download free reader programs.