Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The Skills for Public Service qualifications are intended to provide learners with a broad introduction to working in the public service sector, including both armed services and non-uniformed services, equipping learners with underpinning knowledge and skills specific to the sector alongside a range of transferable employability skills. They are designed to support progression to further learning and ultimately to work in public service or other related sectors, including apprenticeships.
They form part of a “Suite of Skills” qualifications that cover a number of sectors and are available at, Level 1 and Level 2. The employability skills units are common across the suite, enabling easy transfer of credits between qualifications and supporting opportunities for cross-faculty working.
The qualifications have been developed with the support of the FE sector. They have been designed to be consistent with the principles for study programmes for 16-19 year olds but are also relevant, particularly in the case of the smaller qualifications, for adults including the unemployed. These qualifications are also suitable for pre 16 learners.
These qualifications are designed to enable progression into further learning at the same level (eg from an award to a certificate) or to further learning at a higher level (eg from Level 1 to Level 2). The strong focus on transferable employability skills means that learners could move within or between sectors as they progress. Some learners may be able to progress directly into employment, particularly where work-based training will be offered, but it is expected that most learners will build on the skills and knowledge gained from these qualifications through further learning before entering employment. There are no prior skills, knowledge or understanding requirements for these qualifications, however, learners will benefit from having functional skills, at least at one level below that of the qualification (eg at least Entry 3 for the Level 1 qualifications).
Changes to our “Skills for…” qualifications
The recent review of our Vocational qualifications has resulted in changes to qualifications in the Public Services sector that will come in to effect as of the 1st August 2020. Please refer to the new Skills for Public Services qualification specification or unit spreadsheet for further details.