Qualification design and structure

Ward Educational Consulting can offer expertise in the design and structure of qualifications in post-16 education, with an understanding of the issues involved in modularisation and credit rating.

Examples of projects undertaken:

· Contributions to the ‘Six Country Study’ by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, looking at curriculum, assessment and grading issues in level 2 & 3 general and vocational qualifications: field work in Norway and France; writing overall reports on ‘Grading the Diploma’ (findings and issues relevant to the new Diplomas) and ‘Benchmarking Qualifications’ (alignment of qualification levels within and between countries); (QCA, 2007-08)

· Contributions to the ‘Articulation’ project, looking at the relative levels of units in sample qualifications across the UK (QCA, 2008)

· Contribution to analysis of findings from the survey on the revised Maths A Level specifications (QCA, 2006)

· Contribution to study of the use of experiential learning in vocational studies and applications for level 3 general qualifications (as subcontractor to QCA for the Learning and Skills Network, 2006

· Further work on Indicators of VQ Responsiveness, including drafting of leaflet (Vocational Qualifications – changing with the times?) summarising the work of the baseline projects, enhancements to the baseline reports for Indicators 3 and 4 (2006-07), preparatory work for liaison with survey organisations (2006) (QCA for the VQ Remit organisations), liaison with the survey organisations to improve coverage of VQs (SQA for the VQ Remit organisations, 2007), contribution to an international seminar on Indicator 4 (June 2007, QCA for the VQ Remit organisations) and drafting of an Invitation to Tender for two special surveys contributing to Indicator 3 (SQA for the VQ Remit organisations, 2007))

· Pilot study on Evaluating the Responsiveness of VQs (Vocational Qualifications) (QCA for the VQ Remit organisations, 2004), with follow up work on specific data issues (QCA 2005). See report on http://www.qca.org.uk/7428.html

· Follow up project on linkage between VQ Remit projects and Indicators of VQ Responsiveness (As subcontractor to Claire Botcherby for QCA for the VQ Remit organisations, 2004)

· Contribution to further follow up on Indicators of VQ Responsiveness by categorising qualifications as ‘vocational’ or ‘other’ (As subcontractor to RCU Ltd for QCA, 2005)

· Contribution to joint Credit Framework project by City & Guilds and National Open College Network (City & Guilds, 2003)

And (during employment with Guildford Educational Services Ltd)

· Project on the possible rationalisation of NVQs through further development of the Core plus Options approach (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 2001)

· Investigation of a possible mechanism for credit rating of units (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 2000)

· Identifying the potential for common units in NVQs (NCVQ, 1996)

· Mapping the contribution of other qualifications to national targets for core (key) skills (two projects for DfEE/NACETT 1996 and 1996-7)

· Consultancy project on Management and Supervisory Management NVQs as part of the Review of the Top 100 NVQs (NCVQ, 1995)

· Allocation of notional levels to qualifications on FEFC database for use in monitoring contribution to national targets (FEFC on behalf of FEFCW, Employment Department, DFE and NACETT, 1995)

· Quality assurance monitoring projects for NVQs in Accounting and Business Administration (NCVQ)

· Project for the GNVQ awarding bodies to establish the extent and causes of non-completion of GNVQs (1994-5)

· Review of TSIC5 research programme, with recommendations for future research priorities (Employment Department-TEED)

· Project on Facilitating Unit Certification in NVQs (Employment Department-TEED, 1991-2)

· Review of Pitman Examinations Institute schemes in the light of the Review of Vocational Qualifications (PEI, 1986)

· Background reports for the Review of Vocational Qualifications (RVQ, 1985)

Authoring publications on qualifications and certification in the UK for CEDEFOP and the International Labour Office; co-authoring publications comparing UK systems with those elsewhere in Europe.

Speaker on 'systems and procedures of certification of qualifications in the EU' at seminars forming part of the Staff Development Programme for Eastern European countries funded through the European Training Foundation under the EU Phare programme (1996).