Regulating post-16 VTQs at L2 and L3
F Certs and Occ Certs Qualification design (Qualification size)
Qualification size
Ofqual requires an awarding organisation to determine the size of a qualification by estimating the amount of time it might typically take for a student to achieve. This includes supervised time spent on activities such as teaching, learning or taking assessments, described as guided learning hours (GLH), and time spent on unsupervised activities, such as self-directed study. Together, these two aspects are described as Total Qualification Time.
DfE intends that the sizes of Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates should be as follows:
- Foundation Certificates – 240 to 300 GLH
- Occupational Certificates – 540 to 720 GLH
Proposal
To ensure this, we propose to require awarding organisations to design their qualifications to meet the size specified by DfE. We will do this by disapplying Ofqual’s existing General Condition relating to qualification size (E7 – Total Qualification Time) and replacing it with a bespoke Condition which reflects DfE’s requirements.
Our proposed Conditions FC5 and OC5 are set out in Annexes B and C.