FAQs - Vocational and Occupational Qualifications

Yes, the Open Awards Business Development team can assist you with curriculum planning, including qualifications and different types of accreditation to suit your learners’ needs. Please contact the team on enquiries@openawards.org.uk to arrange a meeting.

We have a number of regulated qualifications and accreditation options that are suitable for delivery in schools. These qualifications offer flexible, bite-sized learning and are used successfully to enhance learning programmes, including core curriculum and enrichment activities. The qualifications are available in a range of sectors and offer the broad spread of vocationally related knowledge, skills and personal learning that will enable individuals and groups to achieve and progress. Please contact the team on enquiries@openawards.org.uk to discuss your curriculum needs.

We have an extensive choice of units and qualifications suitable for learners at foundation level.  These allow you to provide individualised training programmes to suit learners needs.

Our Foundation learning qualifications available at Entry Levels and Level One (1)  include:

• Skills for Further Learning and Employment
• Functional Skills
• Essential Digital Skills
• Vocationally-related qualifications
• Other life skills qualifications

Our alternative accreditation options may also be suitable, including to enhance a RARPA based curriculum.

You can use our Qualification Search and our Unit Search to explore our portfolio. Please contact the team on enquiries@openawards.org.uk for support with your curriculum.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a method of assessment that considers whether a learner can demonstrate that they can meet the assessment requirements for a unit through knowledge, understanding or skills they may already possess. Evidence of learning must be sufficient, reliable and valid. It is the responsibility of the provider to inform Open Awards at registration of any exemptions and/or equivalences for which a claim may be made. These claims will be subject to external quality assurance by the Open Awards Quality Assurance Team. For more information, please see our Recognition of Prior Learning Policy found on The Portal.

Most Open Awards qualifications have a set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria that must be met in order for learners to gain the qualification. However, Open Awards qualifications are flexible for you to tailor your delivery to suit your learners needs and your setting.  Specific requirements of each qualification, including accepted assessment methods, are detailed in the relevant Qualification Guide.

All Open Awards qualifications come with a Qualification Guide which will assist you in your delivery and assessment. Each qualification also has a Purpose Statement which is designed for learners to understand the requirements and progression. Dependent on the assessment method of the qualification, there will also be practice assessments and sample materials available. If you require personalised support with planning your curriculum, you can contact our Business Development Team at enquiries@openawards.org.uk