Qualifications and Credit Framework
Encyclopedia
The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the national credit transfer system for education qualification in England
, Education in Northern Ireland
and Wales
. The QCF replaces the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which closed for accreditations at the end of 2010. Students who started qualifications under the NQF will complete them, any student starting a qualification from September 2011 will complete it under the QCF. Scotland has its own system - the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
.
Every unit and qualification in the new framework has a credit
value (where one credit represents 10 hours of learning time). There are three different sizes of qualification:
In addition, each qualification has a level of difficulty from Entry level at the bottom to Level 8 at the top.
The title of every qualification within the new framework contains details of the size (award/certificate/diploma), level of difficulty (Entry to Level 8) and general content of the qualification.
The QCF is a national framework referenced to the European Qualifications Framework
(EQF). The EQF is a meta framework intended as a reference so that qualifications in nation frameworks such as the QCF are understood across member states.
Education in England
Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policy for public education and state schools at a regional level....
, Education in Northern Ireland
Education in Northern Ireland
Education in Northern Ireland differs slightly from systems used elsewhere in the United Kingdom, though it is more similar to that used in England and Wales than it is to Scotland. A child's age on 1 July determines the point of entry into the relevant stage of education unlike England and Wales...
and Wales
Education in Wales
Education in Wales differs in certain respects from education elsewhere in the United Kingdom. For example, a significant number of students all over Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of Welsh: in 2008/09, 22 per cent of classes in maintained primary schools used Welsh...
. The QCF replaces the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which closed for accreditations at the end of 2010. Students who started qualifications under the NQF will complete them, any student starting a qualification from September 2011 will complete it under the QCF. Scotland has its own system - the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland...
.
Every unit and qualification in the new framework has a credit
Credit (education)
A course credit is a unit that gives weighting to the value, level or time requirements of an academic course taken at a school or other educational institution.- United States :...
value (where one credit represents 10 hours of learning time). There are three different sizes of qualification:
- awards (1 to 12 credits)
- certificates (13 to 36 credits)
- diplomas (37 credits or more).
In addition, each qualification has a level of difficulty from Entry level at the bottom to Level 8 at the top.
- QCF levels for common English and Welsh qualifications (secondary/tertiary)
The title of every qualification within the new framework contains details of the size (award/certificate/diploma), level of difficulty (Entry to Level 8) and general content of the qualification.
The QCF is a national framework referenced to the European Qualifications Framework
European Qualifications Framework
European Qualifications Framework is a European Union initiative to create a translating facility for referencing academic degrees and other learning qualifications among EU member states...
(EQF). The EQF is a meta framework intended as a reference so that qualifications in nation frameworks such as the QCF are understood across member states.
See also
- Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)
- Qualifications and Curriculum AuthorityQualifications and Curriculum AuthorityThe Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...