General principles for OCR’s QCF qualifications

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) New framework for nationally accredited qualifications, replacing the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) All vocational qualifications to be migrated to QCF by end 2010

QCF structure

Structure of QCF qualifications Award, Certificate and Diploma from Entry Level to Level 8 Credit values reflect notional learning time (not guided learning hours) Availability of units reflects QCF intention to provide flexible qualifications Units taken in one qualification may count towards another – progression routes

Unit elements QCF requirements –Title, level, credit, learning aim –Learning outcomes –Assessment criteria OCR will provide additional guidance

Rules of combination, units and qualifications All units that are specific to OCR have been consulted upon Rules of combination govern which units make up a qualification Over 50% of the units have to be completed at the level of the qualification that is to be claimed

General observations The framework has changed, but methods of assessment have not Each unit needs to be able to be assessed separately, but evidence can still be used across a number of units where appropriate Greater flexibility may result in qualifications with more than one assessment model - OCR will consider the assessment burden when developing rules of combination. Full scheme documentation, including entry details, will be available on website Named and unnamed registration routes will be available Full qualification and unit entry will be available

Further information Customer contact centre: Cymru office: