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What credibility will qualifications have if they are made up of units from lots of different sectors/qualifications or if built up over many years?
Rules of Combination (RoC) for a qualification will be set by the appropriate Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) or Sector Body in discussion with the awarding organisation(s). This should ensure that the qualifications achieved have credibility with the sector, with employers and with other learning providers. All units on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) will have an end date for assessment and for certification. However, sectors may decide, for example where a qualification acts as a license to practice, that there may be other limits on how long a candidate's achievement will remain current and, therefore, appropriate to the sector needs.
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What is the Foundation Learning Tier (FLT)?
Entry and Level 1 of the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) is described as the Foundation Learning Tier. To improve the experience of learners at this level and raise participation, achievement and progression, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have been remitted by the government to develop a more focused and strategic approach to Entry Level and Level 1 provision. This reform is aimed at all learners over the age of 14 working below Level 2, including for example: 14 to 19 year-olds adults with skills gaps adults or young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. By 2010 a suite of Progression Pathways made up of credit-based qualifications and units from the QCF will be in place with clear progression routes through Entry and Level 1 to Level 2. For further information http://qfr.lsc.gov.uk/flt/ and http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_8153.aspx

What is the Learner's Record of Achievement?
The Learner's Record of Achievement is an electronic record of units, credits and qualifications achieved by a learner. The awarding organisations will enter the achievements of units onto the record of achievement. The data on te record is maintained by QCA and QCA will share the Record only with learning providers and awarding organisations involved in a learner's qualification. Learnerswill be able to selectively share this data with additional third parties (such as prospective employers) only if they so choose. The record of achievement can only be accessed through entering the Unique Learner Number (ULN) that is allocated to each individual undertaking education and training. The Learner Registration Service (LRS) is responsible for issuing and holding the ULN for each eligible learner. The registration service is an internet based facility that allows the storage of all details pertaining to a learner’s identity in a single place, indexed by the ULN. Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) is a programme led by LSC and supported by Government and 40 partner organisations. MIAP is responsible for the creation of the ULN through the LRS. For more information see http://www.miap.gov.uk/

Will the QCF identify the Standard Learner Number (SLN) rate for a unit/qualification?
All qualifications funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will be assigned a Standard Learner Number (SLN) as a part of the introduction of the new demand-led funding system. There will be three funding models adopted by the LSC based on the characteristics of the learner cohort. They are the 16-18, Adult Learner-Responsive and Employer-Responsive Models. The LSC will adopt the same approach for assigning SLN values across all provision funded by the LSC, depending on the learner cohort. The SLN value will be calculated on the basis of guided-learning hours for provision funded through the 16-18 and Adult Learner-Responsive Models. For the Employer-Responsive Model the SLN value will be based on activity analysis. The SLN value is generated to allow the calculation of each provider’s allocation as part of the new ‘demand-led funding formula’ (Standard Learner Numbers x Provider Factor x National Rate) + Additional Learning Support. More information and detail can be found on the LSC’s website: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/strategic-overview/.

Will there be limits on currency of past credits/units being brought forward for new qualifications?
Awarding organisations and appropriate Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) will determine the currency of a past qualification and any exemption that can be offered for the new QCF qualification. The Federation of Awarding Bodies has a Code of Practice for reviewing vocational qualifications for currency and relevance. For more information http://www.awarding.org.uk/public/currentwork/vqrp

Will qualifications in the QCF be graded?
Qualifications in the QCF may be graded. All grading scales must include a ‘pass’ grade based exclusively on the assessment criteria in the unit or units on which the component or qualification is based and for which credit must be awarded.