Creating Qualifications, rewarding achievement

14-19 Learning Pathways Case Study

Individual Learning Pathways

A number of learning providers across Wales have introduced the NOCN Skills Towards Enabling Progression (Step Up) Qualifications to enable them to meet individual learner needs and provide individual learning pathways. Units and qualifications are available at Entry level 3 and level 1. The suite of qualifications is a flexible and responsive range of general and pre-vocational qualifications that have been devised with the aim to progress learners into further learning and/or employment.

The NOCN Step-UP Qualifications (QCF) comprising of:

  • a range of core units in curriculum areas that provide opportunities for learners to develop skills in the following: literacy and numeracy, ICT, employability, learning to learn and personal development.
  • a range of vocational ‘taster’ units in different sector specific areas that provide opportunities for learners to test out their abilities and personal preferences before selecting a chosen career or employment route.

Each qualification can be made up of a combination of core units and optional units, or core units alone. Optional units are available in a range of sector areas and may be used as vocational tasters including:

  • Administration
  • Building and Construction
  • Child Development and Well-Being
  • Crafts, Creative Arts and Design
  • Foundations for Learning and Life
  • History
  • Horticulture and Forestry
  • ICT for Users
  • Media and Communication
  • Performing Arts
  • Preparation for Work
  • Retailing and Wholesaling
  • Service Enterprises
  • Sport, Leisure and Recreation
  • Transportation Operations and Maintenance

At Pontarddulais Comprehensive School in Swansea the Step Up programme has been offered to learners in years 10 and 11 as part of their local curriculum option choice. Many of the students undertaking the programme have selected to follow this programme alongside a single science option rather than follow double science.  The level 1 Award and Certificate in Skills Towards Enabling Progression have been delivered incorporating Communication and Team Work units alongside others that address the Personal Social and Health Education agenda e.g. Healthy Living and Sport. Optional units have been selected to meet individual needs such as construction (bricklaying) and work is ongoing to enable learners to achieve units via evidence gathered from other programmes of study such as IT. The school has developed a range of workbooks that clearly structure the learning for young people and enable them to see the learning outcomes required. The flexibility of the programme which allows units to be achieved at different levels has been seen as a valuable means of engaging learners and supporting them to gain skills that underpin and support a whole range of other learning activities.

If you would like to find out more about working with Agored Cymru please complete a new business enquiry form - available on the website here. If you would prefer to ask about Step Up units and qualifications available, or have an informal chat before completing the form please ring 02920 747866 or 01248 670011 and ask for a member of the Business Development team