VTCT 'QCF' Qualifications Explained

What is the QCF

This is the new framework for creating and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Background: The government asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Ofqual to implement the QCF in England in 2008 following two years of tests and trials. Then operating as QCA, QCF worked with partner organisations to get the education sector ready to put the QCF in practice. They worked closely with sector skills councils, awarding organisations, learning providers, employers and learners.

The LSC is responsible for implementing funding, planning and performance measures to support QCF qualifications in England. It's also delivering the QCF Service Layer, which stores learners’ achievement data from awarding organisations. Ofqual is responsible for regulating the QCF in England. Visit the Ofqual website to find more about QCF regulation.  

The QCF:  

• recognises smaller steps of learning and enables learners to build up qualifications bit by bit
• helps learners achieve skills and qualifications that meet industry needs
• enables work-based training to be nationally recognised.

What are QCF qualifications

The development of QCF Qualifications are to replace the current National Vocational Qualifications at Levels 3,4 and 5. This is a Government initiative and means that all current NVQs must be replaced by new qualifications and appear in a new framework, the Qualifications and Curriculum Framework (QCF).

Like NVQs, QCF qualifications are made up of Units based on National Occupational Standards (NOS). However, whereas NVQ Units are directly based on the NOS Units, QCF Units look very different, they can be performance units or knowledge units (whereas NVQ Units must contain both knowledge and performance) and they can be combined more flexibly than NVQs.

These qualifications will give a wider range of learners the opportunity to get the qualifications they need, in a way that suits them. QCF qualifications are designed with the help of employers so learners can be assured that they're gaining skills that employers are looking for. 

European Qualifications Framework
QCDA was also involved in referencing the QCF to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The EQF links European countries’ qualifications systems to each other and makes it easier to cross-reference qualifications between countries.

QCDA and Higher Education
QCDA has produced a publication that provides information on how the QCF links with higher education and explores the opportunities and impact the QCF will bring.

For more information about QCF please go to www.qcda.gov.uk/qualifications/60.aspx