Vocational qualifications are either work-related qualifications designed to enable students to gain the skills required to perform a particular job, or qualifications that may be taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.
Schools and colleges may offer qualifications that are not included in the DfE performance tables, if approved for teaching to 16-19 year olds by the Secretary of State for Education in England under Section 96, where this is in the best interests of individual students.
City & Guilds is a leader in skills development, providing services to training providers, employers, and trainees across a variety of sectors to meet the needs of today’s workplace. City & Guilds qualifications and apprenticeships are valued by employers across the world, helping individuals develop their talents and abilities for career progression.
Units are graded as Pass/Fail.
Overall qualification grade is Pass/Fail.
Assessments of these qualifications are by a combination of:
- externally set assignments
- internally assessed, externally verified portfolio of evidence
- externally set and marked online exam
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing vocational qualifications that are not listed on the DfE 16-19 performance tables for England:
- Some of these qualifications are occupational, and may not be designed specifically for progression to HE.
- Applicants holding these qualifications may be school or college leavers, however some may be more mature students who are likely to have other relevant experience alongside these qualifications.
- These qualifications may have been taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.
- If they are presented for admission to HE it is likely to be in conjunction with other qualifications.
For more information, visit City & Guilds web page for specifications at: www.cityandguilds.com.