What is the purpose of this qualification?
The primary purpose of this qualification is to support learners to a higher level vocational qualification, specifically progress to an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma relating to education.
This qualification is designed for adult learners who are aspiring to higher education, lack the necessary qualifications to apply for a degree course but are not yet ready to embark on a preparatory Level 3 qualification, such as an Access to HE Diploma.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification includes one mandatory unit:
• Education project
Learners must then select further units from a list of optional units. These include knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to all the possible progression routes from the Diploma, e.g.
• Reflective practice in an education context
• Teaching and learning
• Assessment in education and training
Learners can also choose units which are specific to the particular pathway you are planning, e.g.
• Special educational needs
• Adult learning
• Supporting learning.
Learners can also decide to take a unit, ‘Effective Learning’, which will give learners the opportunity to focus explicitly on developing the study skills they will need to succeed on an Access to HE Diploma and on a degree course.
The minimum vocational content for this qualification is 84% (if learners choose to include the unit ‘Effective Learning’); the maximum is 100%.
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
The Certificate in Further Study in Education is intended to support their progression to an Access to HE Diploma in a related area. The Certificate will provide learner with a firm foundation in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding of education, while at the same time giving learners the opportunity to develop and practise their study skills. Learners will have the chance to practise producing written work in the format expected of them when they progress to an Access to HE Diploma and to experience the same approach to assessment, making them better prepared for further study.
Depending on the combination of optional units that learners choose learner could progress to an Access to HE Diploma in any of the following areas:
• Teaching
• Early Years
• Education Studies
• Primary Teaching
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification is not intended to support progression to employment.
There is a Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Education. The Certificate will be appropriate for most learners preparing to progress to an Access to HE Diploma as it should give them sufficient scope to build up the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding at Level 2 to support learners progression.
What are the progression options?
The Certificate in Further Study in Education is intended to support learners progression to an Access to HE Diploma in a related area. The Certificate will provide learner with a firm foundation in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding of education, while at the same time giving learners the opportunity to develop and practise their study skills. Learners will have the chance to practise producing written work in the format expected of learners when they progress to an Access to HE Diploma and to experience the same approach to assessment, making them better prepared for further study.
The Diploma in Preparing for Further Study in Education is better suited to learners who need a significant period of time working at Level 2 before learners are ready to progress, perhaps because they have been out of learning for a considerable time or are studying in English for the first time.
Progression & entry requirements
There are no specific entry requirements, in the form of prior qualifications or levels of attainment, for this qualification. However, if at the start of their course learners have not already achieved Level 2 English and maths (in the form of functional skills or GCSE), learners can expect to be offered the opportunity to include English and maths in their programme alongside the Certificate in Preparing for Further Study in Education.
Learners must be aged 18 or over to take this qualification.
