VQ Reform for learners in England, Wales & Northern Ireland

How the reforms help learners

A key aim of the UK VQ Reform Programme is to give employers greater confidence in the value of vocational qualifications in enhancing their competitiveness, thereby helping to make learners' achievements more highly respected and valued by employers. To help do this, vocational qualifications will be:

More flexible:

VQs are made up of units. Units give learners greater flexibility in what they study because they can choose between optional units. Each unit has a credit value, based on the amount of time it is expected to take to complete the unit, and learners gain credit for the completion of each unit, which can be built up towards a qualification. Learners can take units one at a time allowing them to fit their study around work demands and personal circumstances.

Clear record:

Learners are awarded credits for successful completion of each unit which, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be captured on alearner record, helping learners to demonstrate to anyone - such as an employer or college - what they have already achieved and ensure they do not have to repeat any study. It will also be easier for learners to see the qualifications that can be built up from the units they have already completed.

Easier to understand:

It is easier to find the VQs teaching the learning an individual wants to gain. In the old system, it is difficult to find the right course because qualifications have inconsistent names. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the reformed VQs have clear titles showing qualifications' level, content and size in terms of number of credits (an award is the smallest, then a certificate and the largest is a diploma). After finding the right title(s), it is easy to see the VQ offering the option(s) best suiting the individual learner.

Further opportunities:

The reformed system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland makes it easier for learners to see the further qualifications they can take - right up to PhD level. It will also be much easier than at present for VQs to be accepted by universities and other Higher Education institutions, so learners may go on to study for a degree or other higher qualification. Scotland already has vocational qualifications in the upper levels of the SCQF.

When will the changes happen?

More than 500 reformed VQs can already be found on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications, which contains all accredited qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. To find reformed qualifications users should search for 'QCF'.

The qualification regulators define the requirements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework and the regulatory arrangements for the organisations that design, develop and submit qualifications to it in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ministers in these three nations will make a final decision about whether to accept the QCF in autumn 2008. The number of new VQs will then grow quickly and by the end of 2010 all VQs will be reformed.

Advice for learners

Learners can find reformed qualifications available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications by searching for 'QCF'. However, until the reformed system is confirmed by Ministers and begins to be implemented, it is too early to provide learners with advice on the reformed system.

Prior to the development of specific information for learners about the reformed system, the following sites provide advice and support about existing courses and general information about studying for VQs, including the availability of funding and support such as child-care:

In Northern Ireland learners can get information at: http://www.careersserviceni.com