Lantra is participating in a pilot between March and July 2008 which will change the way qualifications are approved in England. Under the trial, Sector Skills Councils will be approving qualifications and not just supporting them as we do now.
In establishing the qualifications approval process Lantra has developed sector requirements that qualifications will need to meet. These requirements are based on the Sector Qualifications Strategy for the environmental and land-based sector.
Once a qualification has been developed the awarding body will put it through to Lantra for formal approval. The time we will have to carry out the approval of qualifications will be 15 working days. Therefore we will be asking awarding bodies to submit their qualifications during set ‘windows for approval’. An approvals steering group will make the approval decision.
Three approval meetings will be held during the pilot in:
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April 2008
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May 2008
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June 2008
Discussions have already taken place with awarding bodies to establish what qualifications are to go through this pilot process.
This revised process will mean that awarding bodies will need to have early discussions with Lantra. Please complete the gualification rationale form to inform us of the forthcoming qualifications developments and consultation opportunities. This information will then be relayed to the industry groups so they have the opportunity to feed into the process and get involved at the early stages.
Although this is a pilot Lantra want this process to continue regardless of the outcome. Quarterly meetings have been planned for the next 12 months for September 2008, January, March, and June 2009.
In Scotland, Lantra will continue to work closely with the providers to develop qualifications from the National Occupational Standards but at this point there are not plans to have a formal SSC approval process. However, Lantra are keen to establish an internal qualification support process to ensure that qualifications meet the Sector Qualifications Strategy
Please email connect@lantra.co.uk for further information.
Approvals Steering Group
The Approvals Steering Group carrying out the final approval will be:
- The chair of the Standards and Qualifications Advisory Board
- The Standards and Qualifications Manager and one other from the Standards and Qualifications Team
- A member of Lantra’s Sector Learning Partnership
- The relevant Industry Partnership Manager
- and one or two members of the relevant industry group
Associated documents
