Qualifications and Credit

Framework Requirements
for Approved Centres
JULY
2013
Version 2

Published by
Cskills Awards,
CITB-ConstructionSkills,
Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn,
Norfolk PE31 6RH
First published June 2010,
Revised April 2011, September 2012, July 2013
Version 2
Construction Industry Training Board 2010
CITB, CIC and CITB Northern Ireland are working as ConstructionSkills, the Sector
Skills Council for Construction. (CITB Registered Charity Number 264289)
Cskills Awards has made every effort to ensure that the information contained within
this publication is accurate. This pack has been prepared as a downloadable resource.
It may be freely printed without further permission from Cskills Awards on the condition
that it is used solely within the purchasing organisation and is not used for profit or gain.
2

Contents
Context and Scope 

How to become a Cskills Awards approved centre 

Adding additional qualifications/units 

Equality of opportunity and diversity 

Centres enquiries, appeals, complaints and conflicts of interest statement 

Staff resource for the delivery of qualifications with NVQ in the title 

Staff resource for the delivery of training qualifications 

Data requirements for qualifications with NVQ in the title 

Data requirements for training qualifications 

Registration and certification 

Delivery methodologies for qualifications with NVQ in the title 

Delivery methodologies for training qualifications 

10

Use of language in assessment for all qualifications 

10

Quality assurance for qualifications with NVQ in the title 

11

Quality assurance for training qualifications 

11

External quality assurance 

11

Malpractice 

12

Withdrawal of centre

13

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

Management and systems 
Resource, equipment and staff 
Learners 
Assessment, training and quality assurance 
Records 

14
16
17
18
19

Appendix 2 - Exemptions for trainers and quality assurance staff working with training qualifications 

20

Appendix 3 - Centre status

Centre status methodology 
Persistence 
Reoccurrences 

21
21
21

Appendix 4 - Verb descriptors

Bibliography22
Glossary

23

Context and Scope

Context

As an awarding organisation recognised by Ofqual, Cskills Awards is responsible for the qualifications awarded
under the brand of Cskills Awards. This means Cskills Awards must ensure all qualifications issued are safe and
the assessment, training and internal quality assurance is robust.
This document has been designed by Cskills Awards to explain and amplify the regulatory publications for the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and will form Cskills Awards requirements for approved centres. This
document, through Appendix 1, will form the written enforceable agreement required by the Ofqual General
Conditions of Recognition (November 2012).

Scope

The regulatory and external publications that form the scope of this document are:
Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition (November 2012) (Ofqual/12/5247)
Ofqual Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (2008) (Ofqual/08/3726)
ConstructionSkills Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) Consolidated Assessment Strategy for the QCF
(December 2010)
Ofqual Operating Rules for Using the Term NVQ in a QCF Qualification Title (2008) (Ofqual/08/3760)
JACQA guidelines (October 2009)
QCA Regulatory Principles of E-assessment (2007) (QCA/07/3107)

How to become a Cskills Awards

approved centre
This section describes how you become a Cskills Awards approved centre.
The Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1) details the documents, processes
and staff you will need to meet the requirements of both Cskills Awards and the
regulators. To ensure a consistent approval process, Cskills Awards decisions
will be based on the published Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1).
1. Your centre approval will allow you to operate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you wish to deliver
qualifications outside of these territories a separate approval and centre number will be required. Cskills Awards
will apply the same level of quality assurance requirements to centres operating outside of England, Wales and
Northern Ireland to ensure the integrity of our qualifications is upheld. By applying to become approved by
Cskills Awards, you will accept this document or subsequent documents and agree to operate to the Centre
approval criteria (Appendix 1) and Centre status (Appendix 3). Centre approval is subject to there being sufficient
management experience required to support and manage the delivery of Cskills Awards qualifications. Centres
must take all reasonable steps to comply with the Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition (November 2012).
2. Prior to your application you must ensure that you are registered as a learning provider with the United
Kingdom Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP), and have a Provider Registration Number (PRN) (paragraphs
23 and 26).
3. If your centre has a partnership arrangement with another organisation, the roles, responsibilities and
accountabilities for each organisation must be clearly documented. This needs to include responsibility for
quality assurance, assessments and administration of the qualifications. You must also demonstrate how
communication between the two organisations is maintained.
4. Cskills Awards will provide you with guidance and support to enable you to meet the approval requirements.
Further support is available through the quality advisor team who are based across the United Kingdom. You can
arrange an advisory visit to help you with the approval process by contacting Cskills Awards.
5. Once you have all the documents and processes in place you can complete your approval application online
at www.cskills.org/awards. An approval visit will be agreed and arranged with you. Following the visit you will
be given either an Action plan or Approval.
Cskills Awards will assign your customer co-ordinator who will be available on 0344 994 4020 as your single
point of contact.
You will also receive a unique log-in for the Cskills Awards learner management system Awards Online. This
system is used for learner registration, certification and invoicing.

Action plan

5a. This is issued when the requirements have not been met in full and further work is required before approval
can be given. A written action plan will give clear guidance and advice and realistic timescales for the actions to
be completed. You will not be able to register any learners until the action plan has been completed and full
approval has been given.

Approval

5b. This is given when all the requirements have been met and you have a robust quality system. Learners can
be registered from the day of approval. If all of the requirements are not met but the fundamental principles of
training and assessment are not affected, which are outlined in the Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1), you
may be given approval and actions to complete to meet all of the requirements.

Direct claims for new qualification/unit approvals (competence)

5c. This is given when you have demonstrated an understanding of the assessment and quality processes and
can provide evidence of assessment practice (observation of assessment), as well as at least five completed
portfolios for sampling.

Direct claims for new qualification/unit approvals (training)

5d. This will be given when you have demonstrated an understanding of training delivery and internal quality
assurance, and provided an opportunity to observe invigilation of synoptic and knowledge tests.
6. You must inform us if you cannot continue to meet Cskills Awards Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1).
Notification can be made by contacting your customer co-ordinator.

Adding additional qualifications/units

7. You can apply for additional qualifications/units once you have been approved as a centre. This is an online
process available on the website.
On receipt of your application Cskills Awards will contact you to book a visit or inform you if a desktop approval
can be used to process your application. From time-to-time additional qualification/unit approvals may be
declined. However, your quality advisor will work with you to resolve any issues.

Desktop approval

7a. This process is an option if you have been registered as an approved centre with us for more than 12 months,
do not have any actions open and can demonstrate a robust quality assurance history. This means you have had
no actions identified during the previous 12 months.

Additional approval visits

7b. If you have outstanding actions or your centre is newly approved, a visit will be required to approve the
additional qualifications/units. Your quality assurance history since your centre has been approved will be taken
into account.

Direct claims for additional qualification/unit approvals (competence)

7c. This is given when you have demonstrated an understanding of the assessment and quality processes and
can provide evidence of assessment practice (observation of assessment), as well as at least five completed
portfolios for sampling.

Direct claims for additional qualification/unit approvals (training)

7d. This will be given when you have demonstrated an understanding of training delivery and internal quality
assurance, and provided an opportunity to observe invigilation of synoptic and knowledge tests.

Equality of opportunity and diversity

The Cskills Awards Equality of Opportunity and Diversity and Reasonable
Adjustments and Special Considerations policy, is available on the website.
8. You need to ensure you have an equality of opportunity and diversity policy that clearly details how learners
can access the policy. The policy needs to take account of the most current legislation in relation to access to
fair assessment and equal opportunities.
9. You need to record and evaluate learner data relating to achievement of units, qualifications and early leavers,
identifying and monitoring trends between different groups of learners.

Centres enquiries, appeals, complaints

and conflicts of interest statement
10. You must be able to demonstrate that you have an up to date enquiries, appeals and complaints procedure
for learners to enquire/appeal against assessment and testing decisions.
11. You must demonstrate how this is communicated to all learners registered on qualifications/units. The
procedure must have a formal process with documented timescales and an opportunity for escalation if the
appeal is not resolved. All appeals must be formally acknowledged upon receipt and conclusions formally
communicated at the close of the appeal to all those involved.
12. You must have a documented complaints procedure that is made available for sampling during the quality
advisor visit, including the individual complaints.
13. You are required to maintain an up to date conflicts of interest policy and log, that details the conflict and
mitigation taken to manage conflicts. A conflict or perceived conflict can be defined as a situation in which a
person has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of his or her
official duties as, say, an assessor, an IQA, or an employee.

Staff resource for the delivery of

qualifications with NVQ in the title
14. You are responsible for appointing appropriately qualified staff to carry out assessment and internal quality
assurance and registering them with Cskills Awards before they carry out any assessment or internal quality
assurance duties. To do this you must ensure an appropriate member of staff completes the assessment and
training staff registration form available on the website. The assessor/internal quality assurer/trainer who is being
registered must not complete the form.
15. You are responsible for demonstrating through written evidence how you have made your decision to appoint
and register your assessors, internal quality assurers and trainers. Registration of staff who are not appropriately
qualified will be subject to investigation.

Assessors

16. You must ensure your assessors conducting assessments for qualifications with NVQ in the title are
occupationally competent to perform their role and provide them with opportunities for Continuous Professional
Development (CPD). Cskills Awards can help through a range of events that can be found on the website.
Assessors must also:
hold a Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment or Level 3 Certificate in Assessing
Vocational Achievement, an A1 Award in Assessing Candidates Using a Range of Methods, a D32/33 Assess
Candidate Performance Using Differing Sources of Evidence, or achieve an appropriate learning and
development qualification for assessment within 12 months of registration
be registered on an appropriate learning and development qualification prior to any assessment work
undertaken with learners if the assessor is unqualified
carry out assessments to the agreed learning and development standards
have verifiable knowledge of the occupational standards at or above the level being assessed
keep up to date with industry practice for the duration of their role
meet the SSCs Consolidated Assessment Strategy for each qualification being assessed.
17. Unqualified assessors must have their assessment decisions countersigned by an occupationally competent
and qualified assessor registered at your centre. The countersigning assessor must be occupationally competent
in the relevant qualification/unit being countersigned. There must be a plan in place for the unqualified assessor
to achieve their assessment learning and development qualification within set timescales. It is important to note
the qualified assessor is making the assessment decision, not just signing the evidence.

Internal quality assurers

18. You must ensure your internal quality assurers involved in the internal quality assurance of qualifications with
NVQ in the title have the occupational expertise to perform their role, and you must provide them with
opportunities for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Cskills Awards can help through a range of events
that can be found on the website.
Internal quality assurers must also:
hold a Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice or Level 4
Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, a V1 Award in
Conducting Internal Quality Assurance of the Assessment Process, a D34 Internally Verify the Assessment
Process, or achieve an appropriate learning and development qualification for internal quality assurance within
12 months of registration
carry out internal quality assurance to the agreed learning and development standards
understand the content, structure, assessments and training/testing requirements of the units they are quality
assuring and any Rules of Combination (RoC) and exemptions that apply
have sufficient and relevant technical/occupational expertise in the qualifications/units they are internally
quality assuring
be fully conversant with the standards and assessment criteria in the units to be assessed
meet the SSCs Consolidated Assessment Strategy for internal quality assurance.
19. Unqualified internal quality assurers must have all quality assurance judgements countersigned by a qualified
internal quality assurer with occupational expertise, who is registered at your centre. You must also ensure there
is a plan in place for achieving their internal quality assuring learning and development qualification within set
timescales but no more than 12 months after registration onto their qualification.

Staff resource for the delivery of training

qualifications
Trainers

20. You are responsible for appointing appropriately qualified staff to carry out training, and registering them with
Cskills Awards before they are involved with the delivery of training qualifications. Registration of staff who are
not appropriately qualified will be subject to investigation. To do this you must complete the assessment and
training staff registration form available on the website. The trainer who is being registered must not complete
the form. You must ensure trainers are occupationally competent to perform their role and provide them with
opportunities for Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
Trainers must also:
hold or be working towards the learning and development qualification Level 3 Award Assessing Vocationally
Related Achievement, or one of Cskills Awards recognised Exemptions (Appendix 2)
keep up to date with industry best practice
maintain a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) record.

Quality assurance staff

21. You are responsible for appointing appropriately qualified staff to carry out quality assurance, and registering
them with Cskills Awards before they are involved with the quality assurance process for any training
qualifications. To do this you must complete the assessment and training staff registration form available on the
website. The quality assurance staff member who is being registered must not complete the form. Staff
responsible for quality assuring training qualifications must have occupational expertise (construction) in the
subject and hold, as best practice, Level 3 Award Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement, or one of Cskills
Awards recognised Exemptions (Appendix 2).
22. Training qualifications must be quality assured by the centre (see paragraph 40). However, there is no
requirement for training qualifications to be internally verified.

Data requirements for qualifications with

NVQ in the title
23. To operate in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) you will need to be registered with the United
Kingdom Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) and obtain a Provider Registration Number (PRN). You can
register at www.ukrlp.co.uk.
24. You must have and maintain a reliable and auditable system for assessment decisions and keep information on
assessments, internal quality assurance and training for a minimum period of three years. This information could be
used to substantiate any claims for certification or resolve any learners appeals during the three year period.
25. This information must be made available to Cskills Awards and/or the regulatory authorities on request. For
qualifications with NVQ in the title the following information must be included.
Lists of all learners registered for qualifications/units offered, including:
learner name
Cskills Awards learner registration number
Unique Learner Number (ULN) or evidence of ULN opt out
date of birth
contact address
workplace address and contact details
assessor(s) name
internal quality assurer(s) name.
Learner assessment records detailing:
assessment plans
assessment details including who assessed, what, where and when
recorded assessment decisions
records of any exemptions used
the assessment methods used for each unit/component
locations of supporting evidence
assessment reviews.
Records of internal quality assurance activity including:
details of the sample selected and internal quality assurance strategy
internal quality assurance details including who verified, what, where and when
minutes of internal quality assurance standardisation meetings
assessor support meetings
records of certificates claimed, including unit certificates, who claimed them and when.

Data requirements for training

qualifications
26. To operate in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) you will need to be registered with the United
Kingdom Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) and obtain a Provider Registration Number (PRN). You can
register at www.ukrlp.co.uk.
27. You must have and maintain a reliable and auditable system to record learning outcomes, exams, and
Synoptic Practical Assignments and record learning hours, quality assurance activity and staff training for a
minimum period of three years. This information could be used to substantiate any claims for certification or
resolve any learners appeals during the three year period.
28. For training qualifications the following information must be made available to Cskills Awards and/or the
regulatory authorities on request.
Lists of all learners registered for qualifications/units offered, including:
learner name
Cskills Awards learner registration number
Unique Learner Number (ULN) or evidence of ULN opt out
date of birth
contact address
workplace address and contact details
trainer(s) name
internal quality assurance staff name(s).
8

Records of training delivery:

learning outcomes which have been trained and tested, by whom and when
a record of any exemption/Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) used
records of progress/assessment criteria measured in Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Learning Time (LT)
records of the completed unit multiple-choice test papers
records of the online knowledge test
records of the Practical Assignments including any evidence generated
details of the internal quality assurance sampling activity
internal quality assurance sample plan for training qualifications.

Registration and certification

29. You must make arrangements to ensure learners are registered prior to any assessment or test, onto the
Cskills Awards, Awards Online system within 12 weeks of their induction, for both qualifications with NVQ in the
title and training qualifications. This can be an electronic or manual process depending on your centre systems.
30. For qualifications with NVQ in the title assessments must not be carried out prior to the registration date, as
they will be invalid.
31. For all training qualifications, learners must not sit any test prior to registration.
32. You must offer learners the opportunity for unit certification and credit accumulation for all types of
qualifications. This process must be documented and available upon request.

Delivery methodologies for qualifications

with NVQ in the title
33. You must ensure your assessment teams are working to the most up to date learning and development
standards and the appropriate current SSCs Consolidated Assessment Strategy for all qualifications with NVQ in
the title. You will be responsible and accountable for the following:
Manage and retain a suitable qualified and competent workforce to effectively deliver assessment and internal
quality assurance
Managing a documented and auditable assessment system, for assessment planning, assessment decisions,
and review/feedback
Ensure the assessment process is carried out by impartial assessors and internal quality assurers to avoid
conflicts of interest
Where the conflict cannot be avoided Cskills Awards is informed prior to assessment and an independent
assessor signs off the assessment decisions. If the conflict links to the internal quality assurance process an
independent internal quality assurer signs off the internal quality assurance judgement
Ensuring the appropriate resources are in place to support all elements of the delivery of the qualification as
required by the qualification specification
Assessing evidence of learners competence against the qualification specification for qualifications/units to
the agreed learning outcomes and assessment criteria
Ensure that any use of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can demonstrably identify how the assessment
criteria has been met
Ensuring learners evidence is valid, authentic and sufficient
Maintaining accurate and verifiable learner assessment and achievement records as detailed in the Centre
approval criteria (Appendix 1)
Ensure an occupationally competent and qualified assessor countersigns assessment decisions made by an
unqualified assessor
Ensure assessors use and record all opportunities for assessment including Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) and exemptions listed in the Cskills Awards qualification specifications available on the website.
34. For qualifications/units with NVQ in the title, assessors and learners must provide a signed written declaration
that all evidence is authentic and the assessments are based on the conditions or context set out in the
assessment specification. This declaration must be completed at the end of the assessment process and include:
learner name
qualification title and level
endorsement (if applicable)
unit numbers
dates of achievement.
Failure to provide this document will lead to suspension of your registration and certification status.
9

35. If you have an e-portfolio system you must be able to demonstrate how it meets the QCA Regulatory Principles
of E-assessment (2007), and include any necessary safeguards in place to ensure that evidence is authentic.
Cskills Awards e-portfolio system Skillsfile meets the regulatory requirements for e-assessment and works with
the learner management system Awards Online. More information can be found on the website www.skillsfile.org
or telephone on 0344 944 4020.
Your assessment strategies must detail how you use e-portfolio systems with learners for assessment.

Delivery methodologies for training

qualifications
36. You must ensure your trainers are working to the occupational standards for learning and development or the
Cskills Awards recognised Exemptions (Appendix 2). You will also be responsible for ensuring the following:
Manage and retain a suitable qualified and competent workforce to deliver training and internal quality
assurance
The appropriate amount of space is available for each learner as detailed for each qualification for practical
training, demonstration and measurement of learning outcomes
There are appropriate facilities including water supplies, drainage, washing down areas, waste disposal and
mixing areas, as well as specific equipment required by the qualification
Classroom areas are appropriate for theory training including a desk for each learner with a view of the trainer,
lecture boards, stationery and appropriate classroom equipment during each session
Recording of progress against learning outcomes and assessment criteria, including the number of Guided
Learning Hours and Learning Time for each learner
Ensure that any use of recognition of prior learning (RPL) can demonstrably identify how the assessment
criteria has been met
All examinations are invigilated as required by Cskills Awards Invigilation policy for Training Qualifications available
on the website
Practical assignments are delivered under examination conditions outlined in the Cskills Awards Invigilation
policy for Training Qualifications
Ensure that training process is carried out by an impartial trainer and internal quality assurer to avoid a conflict
of interest
Where the conflict cannot be avoided Cskills Awards is informed prior to training delivery and an independent
trainer signs off the training process.

Use of language in assessment for

all qualifications
37. All qualifications (competence and training) must be delivered in English, Welsh or Irish (Gaeilge), learners
must therefore have an appropriate level of understanding of these languages before their qualification
commences. Interpreters and translators are not acceptable for any part of the qualification or examination.
38. If a learner is assessed in Welsh (in Wales) or Gaeilge (in Northern Ireland) Cskills Awards must be notified
prior to commencement to ensure certificates are endorsed with the assessment language.

10

Quality assurance for qualifications with

NVQ in the title
39. Qualifications that use NVQ in the title must be internally quality assured. You must ensure your internal
quality assurance teams are working to the most current learning and development standards and the
appropriate SSCs Consolidated Assessment Strategy for all qualifications with NVQ in the title.
You will be responsible and accountable for:
ensuring you have a documented internal quality assurance strategy that assists the risk management of the
delivery team and demonstrates how you will ensure a safe and robust delivery and claims for certification
ensuring you have a documented sample plan that covers all aspects of the assessment process as well as all
learner types, all assessors, all units, and all qualifications over a measured time period detailed in your internal
quality assurance strategy
ensuring internal quality assurance is planned, documented and occurs throughout the assessment process
and provide support to the assessor following all internal quality assurance activity
ensuring standardisation activities are planned and documented for all assessors by internal quality
assurance staff
ensuring an occupationally expert and qualified internal quality assurer who is registered with the centre and
Cskills Awards countersigns all unqualified internal quality assurers
ensuring all unqualified internal quality assurers achieve the appropriate internal quality assurance qualification
within 12 months of commencement of their qualification registration
providing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for the assessment team
ensuring all claims for certification are authenticated by a learning and development qualified, or equivalent,
occupationally expert internal quality assurer prior to the claim being made
providing information to, and facilitating visits from, the quality advisor as required
agreeing and implementing any actions and timescales identified during your quality advisor visits.

Quality assurance for training

qualifications
40. You are responsible for:
having systems in place to manage the delivery of the programme. This must include delivery and quality
assurance strategies that document the processes for delivery and quality assurance arrangements
developing a sampling plan that quality assures all aspects of the qualification
ensuring that training qualifications are being delivered by following documented lesson plans that meet all
learning outcomes and assessment criteria
ensuring all examination and test papers, both electronic and hard copy, are kept in a secure environment until
they are required for a unit test, as detailed in Cskills Awards Invigilation policy for Training Qualifications
ensuring all tests and exams follow the Cskills Awards Invigilation policy for Training Qualifications requirements,
available on the website
ensuring an appointed occupational expert quality assures and authenticates all claims for certification prior to
any claim being made
providing information to, and facilitating visits from, the quality advisor as required
agreeing and implementing any actions and timescales identified during your quality advisor visits.

External quality assurance

41. All centres approved to deliver Cskills Awards qualifications will receive external quality assurance visits from
Cskills Awards quality advisors. Quality advisors will quality assure qualifications with NVQ in the title as well as
training qualifications.
42. The frequency of these visits will be determined by the Cskills Awards visit planning tool and strategy, but will
be no less than one visit per annum.
43. The visit planning is an inclusive process that will start with a telephone call from your quality advisor to
discuss the forthcoming visit not more than 21 days prior to the visit. This has been designed to give you the
opportunity to discuss your centres activities and final arrangements for the visit. Following this discussion you
will receive not less than 14 days prior to the visit an electronic visit planning e-card. If your quality advisor is
unable to contact you by telephone, a confirmation of the telephone call attempt will be detailed in the e-card.

11

44. Throughout each visit the quality advisor will discuss their findings and give you an opportunity to resolve any
prevailing issues as the day progresses. At the conclusion of the visit the quality advisor will feedback to you and
the management team and if required provide further clarity. You will also be given sight of the full report at the
end of the visit, as well as receiving an electronic report by email within 48 hours of the visit (the report will not be
changed at any point after the quality advisor has left the centre). The report will detail the visit findings including
any action plans referenced to the Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1). If your quality advisor is unable to
provide you with an electronic copy, you will receive a paper copy of the report at the end of the visit.
45. As part of your approval to offer Cskills Awards qualifications you are obliged to comply with any requests for
access to premises, people and records for the purpose of quality assurance. Failure to comply will result in
registration and certification being withheld until access is granted.
46. If you wish to cancel a pre-arranged quality advisor visit, you must be able to demonstrate the cancellation
request is reasonable. Any cancellations made within 14 days of the planned visit will be charged at the standard
daily rate detailed in Cskills Awards Fees listing which is available on the website. Direct claims for certification
will be withheld until another quality advisor visit takes place.
47. Cskills Awards reserves the right to request visits at short or no notice to minimise the risk of unsubstantiated
claims for certification.
48. The quality advisor is responsible for monitoring the centre against the Centre approval criteria (Appendix 1)
and providing you with support, advice, guidance and actions if required.
49. Cskills Awards reserves the right to moderate the quality advisor visit reports and reduce or escalate their
decisions. Any changes to the visit report or actions required will be communicated in writing following the
moderation of the visit reports.

Malpractice
50. Malpractice is a deliberate or reckless act of an individual or business to dishonestly claim learning outcomes
and/or certificates for learners. Furthermore, malpractice is an act that does not comply with Cskills Awards or
regulatory authorities conditions and brings the authenticity, reliability and integrity of a Cskills Awards
qualification into question.
51. You must have in place, and review at least annually, arrangements for preventing and investigating
malpratice/maladministration, which include how you will deal with and report all occurrences.
52. You are required as an approved centre to report all cases of alleged and proven malpractice that you identify
in your centre to Cskills Awards by emailing your customer co-ordinator. All staff including assessors, trainers,
internal quality assurers, quality assurance staff and administrators must have detailed knowledge of your
centres malpractice policy.
53. You must have in place a documented whistle blowing policy that has been communicated to all centre staff
to enable them to safely report malpractice.
54. Upon receipt of any alleged malpractice complaints, Cskills Awards will withdraw registration and certification
from the centre to protect any future investigation and prevent learners being disadvantaged.
55. Cskills Awards will notify the appropriate regulator and any other awarding organisation that may be affected
by the alleged malpractice, and appoint an independent quality advisor to carry out the compliance investigation.
This may include centre visits, staff interviews, learner interviews and investigation of all relevant paperwork
(paragraphs 25 and 28).
56. A letter of the investigation will be sent to the centre manager, Cskills Awards quality assurance manager and
the appropriate regulatory authority. This will include any conclusions, evidence presented and recommendations
of action required to resolve the matter.
57. In the event of any withdrawal of approval (voluntary or not) you must make all reasonable efforts to ensure
learners are not disadvantaged. You must make provisions for all paperwork to be stored and accessible for a
period of three years, and Cskills Awards can help you with this. You must make provisions for learners that are
still active and who have not achieved their qualification, and ensure that they have given permission for their
personal details to be passed to a new provider, prior to the withdrawal.
58. If you fail to co-operate with Cskills Awards at any stage of the investigation process this will result in a
centre suspension.
59. If you are implicated in a case of malpractice that is upheld by Cskills Awards; your Cskills Awards approval
will be removed for all centres.

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Withdrawal of centre
60. If you wish to withdraw from qualification delivery or centre approval, you must ensure:
Cskills Awards have been notified in writing prior to taking any action
you claim all completed units
all learners agree to be transferred to a new provider and keep a record of their permission to share
personal data
you make provision to store all records for a period of three years
you allow a closure visit with Cskills Awards.

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Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

This table details Cskills Awards requirements for approved centres. It has
been designed for you to use as a referencing sheet for your quality manual and
shows how the quality advisor will apply corrective actions if there are any areas
of non-compliance.

Examples

The management understands and

communicates policies to the
assessment, quality assurance and
training teams and reviews all policies
appropriately.

Policies
Conflicts of interest
Invigilation
Equal opportunities
Malpractice
Appeals
Training strategy
Assessment strategy
Quality assurance strategy
Fair access to assessment
Meeting minutes

1.2

Evaluation of the equality and

opportunity data gathered by the centre
takes place periodically and changes
are made based on the findings.

Evaluation of equal opportunities data

Changes made

1.3

The roles and responsibilities are

understood by all staff involved in
assessment and training.

Organisational chart
CVs
Job descriptions

1.4

Assessors/trainers/quality assurers
have sufficient time, resources and
authority to perform their roles.

Job descriptions
Case loads

1.5

Centre communication with the

assessment/training/verification/
internal quality assurance teams and
Cskills Awards is effective.

Meeting minutes
Communication evidence with
Cskills Awards

Question and resolution process

Records of questions and resolutions

1.6

Technical and general queries from

assessment/training/quality assurance
teams and learners to the centre quality
assurance team are resolved, recorded
or reported to Cskills Awards.

1.7

Changes to personnel involved

in assessment, training and
internal quality assurance are notified
to Cskills Awards.

Records of updates to Cskills Awards

Assessment and training staff
Registration applications

1.1

14

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Management and systems

Action
Plan

Action
Plan

Action
Plan
Cskills
Awards
Steer

Action
Plan

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Action
Plan

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

(continued)

Examples

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Management and systems (continued)

Unit certification is made available

to learners.

Policy for early leavers

Evidence of communication for
unit certification

There is regular standardisation

of assessment and training between
centre staff.

Minutes of standardisation meetings

1.9

1.10

Claims for exemption identified by

learners are considered and recorded
by the centre.

Evidence of exemptions made

Evidence of communication with
Cskills Awards for exemptions

Cskills
Awards
Steer

A ULN is obtained for each learner

unless the learner opts out.

Each learner has a ULN

Evidence of opt out

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Service level agreements are

adequate to demonstrate partner
organisation responsibilities.

Copies of agreements

1.12

1.13

Conflicts of interest within a centre

are dealt with appropriately

Conflict report

1.14

Centre has the facilities to pass

information on credit accumulation
and credit transfers to LRS.

UKPRN
LRS contract
3rd party agreement

1.15

The centre complies with requests

for access to records, information,
staff and premises for the purpose
of external quality assurance and
quality assurance.

1.16

Cskills Awards quality advisor visit

reports are disseminated to all the
assessment and training teams and
corrective actions completed.

1.8

1.11

Cskills
Awards
Steer
Action
Plan

Action
Plan
Action
Plan
Action
Plan

Suspension

Meeting minutes

15

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

(continued)

Job descriptions
Case loads
Quality assurance and quality
assurance strategy
Contract/service level agreements

2.1

For qualifications with NVQ in

the title there are sufficient
assessors and internal quality
assurers to ensure the assessment
process is supported and the
qualification delivery is robust.
For training qualifications there are
sufficient qualified training and
internal quality assurance staff (at
least one per occupation) registered
with Cskills Awards.
Staff training and development needs
are identified and recorded, to meet
the requirements of assessment,
quality assurance and training.

Staff induction
Minutes of meetings and briefings or
training courses
CPD records
Action plans for development

Manage and retain a suitably qualified

workforce for the management,
assessment, training and quality
assurance of the centre.

Evidence of the staff resource being

available
Records of staff availability

2.4

The resources available for

assessment and training meet the
requirements as set out in the relevant
health and safety acts.

Public liability insurance

Maintenance schedules and records
Health and safety policy

2.5

Centre resources i.e. schemes of

work, lesson plans and handouts are
in place and produced to acceptable
quality standards.

Lesson plans
Handouts

There are the appropriate insurances

to protect learners, staff and visitors as
deemed by law.

Insurance certificates
Employers liability insurance
Public liability insurance
Indemnity insurance

2.2

2.3

2.6

Examples

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Resource, equipment and staff

Suspension

* Subject to the risk caused by non-compliance

16

Action
Plan

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Action
Plan to
Suspension

Action
Plan

Action
Plan

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

(continued)

Examples

3.1

Learners are fully inducted on to

the qualification prior to any
assessment or training. Learners
and potential learners are given
appropriate guidance and advice to
support the qualification.

Induction materials
Confirmation verbally by learner
Appeals procedure

3.2

Initial assessment process identifies

support and development for the
learner and is recorded in the
assessment plan.

Initial assessment document (profiling)

Assessment plans

Review documentation
Updated assessment plans

3.3

For qualifications with NVQ in the title

the assessment process must involve
the learner and allow two-way written
feedback on progress between the
assessor and learner.

3.4

Assessment and training is managed

and the most appropriate method of
assessment or training is used to
prevent any barriers to entry.

Assessment and training plans

Policy for learners with particular
assessment requirements

The qualification requirements are

used to ensure valid assessment and
training methods are used.

Meeting minutes
Communication evidence with
Cskills Awards

Learners are aware of their rights,

e.g. appeals, equal opportunities
policies, registration, induction and
health and safety.

Induction paperwork
Registration number
Appeals procedure
Equal opportunities policy
Health and safety policy

3.5

3.6

17

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Learners

Action
Plan

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Cskills
Awards
Steer
Action
Plan to
Cskills
Awards
Steer
Cskills
Awards
Steer to
Suspension

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

(continued)

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

Examples

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Assessment, training and quality assurance

Internal quality assurance procedures

and activities are clearly documented
and assessment decisions are
sampled to ensure consistency and
compliance.

Internal Quality Assurance strategies

Written sample plan
Quality assurance risk assessment
Minutes of quality assurance
team meetings

Action
Plan

Assessment/testing decisions are

consistent and sampled for all
assessors and trainers working and
registered at the centre. Records of
standardisation activity are identified
and acted upon appropriately.

Evidence from portfolios

Records of standardisation activity
Minutes of assessor team meetings
Internal quality assurance plans
and records of all internal quality
assurance activity
Records of assessment sampling
strategies

Cskills
Awards
Steer to
Suspension

Internal quality assurance processes

ensure assessments/training cover all
learning outcomes and assessment
criteria prior to any claims for
certification.

Learners assessment documents

portfolio/data requirements
(paragraphs 23 and 26)

There is sufficient assessment/training

planning with learners.

Centre assessment strategy

Internal quality assurance reports
Assessment plans and reviews

Assessors for qualifications

with NVQ in the title are occupationally
competent and meet the SSC strategy
for conducting assessment activity.

Cskills
Awards
Steer to
Suspension

Action
Plan

Suspension
or removal
of assessor

Trainers are occupationally competent

and hold the appropriate qualifications.

Suspension
or removal
of trainer

Internal quality assurers for

qualifications with NVQ in the title
meet the SSC strategy for conducting
internal verification.

Suspension
or removal
of Internal
Quality
Assurer
Evidence from assessment records

4.8

Qualified assessors/internal quality

assurers as appropriate, countersign
decisions of unqualified assessors/
internal quality assurers.

4.9

The range of assessment/training

methods is sufficient to progress
learner including RPL.

Centre assessment strategy

Achievement rates
RPL process used

4.10

A review of the internal quality assurance

process to ensure it is appropriate
must be carried out and reviewed
against the quality advisor reports.

Cskills
Awards
Steer
Cskills
Awards
Steer
Action Plan
to Cskills
Awards
Steer

18

Appendix 1 - Centre approval criteria

(continued)

Examples

Centre status

Criteria

Reference

Cskills
Awards
approved
criteria

For centre use

Records

5.1

Formal feedback is sought from

learners and employers to evaluate the
delivery of the assessment or training.

Feedback documentation
Evaluation of feedback
Reports
Actions taken from feedback

Action
Plan

5.2

Records are sufficient to allow audit of

assessment/training.

Learners assessment documents

portfolio/data requirements
(paragraphs 22 and 25)

Cskills
Awards
Steer

For qualifications with NVQ in the title

the records of assessment meet the
requirements listed in the Cskills
Awards qualification specification and
the SSC assessment strategy.

Evidence of the assessment process

Planning, assessment, review
and feedback

Records of training and testing

meet the requirements set out by
Cskills Awards.

Lesson plans
Invigilation policy
Space norms
Examination security

5.3

5.4

19

Suspension

Cskills
Awards
Steer

Appendix 2 - Exemptions for trainers

and quality assurance staff working with
training qualifications
Qualifications

Full Titles

PTLLS Level 3

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

CTLLS Level 3

Certificate to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

DTLLS Level 5

Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector

PGCE

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

C&G 7302

Certificate in Delivering Learning

C&G 7303

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

C&G 7307

Certificate in Delivering Learning/Teaching Adults

C&G 7407

Certificate in Further Education Teaching

PCET

Post Compulsory Education and Training

Construction Plant Competence Scheme Instructor card

Construction Plant Competence Scheme Instructor card

Certificate of Training Achievement Instructor card

Certificate of Training Achievement Instructor card

L Unit 9 (L9)

Create climate that promotes learning

L Unit 10 (L10)

Enable learning through presentations

L Unit 11 (L11)

Enable learning through demonstrations and instruction

L Unit 12 (L12)

Enable learning through coaching/mentoring

20

Appendix 3 - Centre status

Centre status methodology

Cskills Awards is required by Ofqual to have a methodology that ensures the delivery of qualifications is robust
and claims made for certification are safe. In the interest of maintaining consistency Cskills Awards has
developed a process that will ensure centres are compliant with its requirements.
Appendix 1 contains all of the requirements your centre must meet as part of your ongoing approval. If your
centre fails to meet these requirements, the quality advisor will agree an action plan and sufficient number of
days to address the issue(s).
Appendix 1 also highlights a number of key requirements essential to the robust delivery and safe claiming of
certificates. Centres failing to meet these key requirements will be suspended from registration and certification
activities. Your quality advisor will help guide and support you in meeting these key requirements.
This methodology has been developed to ensure that you receive a fully supported, timely and efficient approach
to maintaining or returning to full approval status.

Persistence

If you fail to implement an agreed action plan, your quality advisor will recommend the next level of action is
applied to your centre.

Reoccurrences

If you fail to rectify and maintain an agreed level of action your quality advisor will recommend a higher level of
action for the reoccurrence.
Action Plan

Non compliance of awarding organisation requirements. However, assessment decisions and quality assurance is
robust and has a minimal impact on the learner

Cskills Awards Steer

An Action Plan that requires urgent attention within agreed timescales which will not normally be more than 28 days.

Suspension

Failure to address a Cskills Awards steer or fundamental requirement not met as detailed in Appendix 1.

21

Appendix 4
Verb descriptors

Cskills Awards reserves the right to withdraw scheme or centre approval for persistent failure to meet the
requirements detailed in this document, or proven malpractice.
The table shown below identifies the differences between each of the verbs that describe how each assessment
criterion should be covered.
Descriptor

Performance or Knowledge

Definition

Describe

Knowledge

Give an account of something or someone in words

Explain

Knowledge

Make a clear and intelligible account, (More detail than would be expected for describe)

State

Knowledge

Express in words (normally less detail than describe)

Identify

Performance

Prove or recognise a person or a thing

Use

Performance

Put in to service or action

Interpret

Performance

Explain the meaning of; e.g. understand and act on a drawing

Assess

Performance

Judge the worth or importance of

Collect

Performance

Gather information together

Examine

Performance

Look at closely, test the knowledge of, ask the question of

Confirm

Performance

Prove to be true, re-affirm, strengthen

Communicate

Performance

Discuss face-to face, in writing or with body language

Select

Performance

Choose a method, tool

Protect

Performance

Carry out an action to make safe or eliminate the risk

Bibliography
Extracts in this document have been taken from:
Ofqual Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (2008) (Ofqual/08/3726)
QCA NVQ Code of Practice (2006) (QCA/06/2888)
ConstructionSkills Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) Consolidated Assessment Strategy for the QCF (December
2010)
Ofqual Operating Rules for Using the Term NVQ in a QCF Qualification Title (2008) (Ofqual/08/3760)
JACQA guidelines (October 2009)
QCA Regulatory Principles of E-assessment (2007) (QCA/07/3107)
Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition (November 2012) (Ofqual/12/5247)

22

Glossary
Term

Definition

A1 qualification

Assessor qualification

Accreditation

The process through which regulators of a qualification confirm that a qualification conforms to the requirements of the
QCF regulatory arrangements

Additional qualification approval

The process required to add additional qualifications to the centres approval status

Appeal

A process through which a decision may be challenged on the outcome of an enquiry about results or, where
appropriate, other procedural decisions affecting a centre or individual learner

Approved centre

A company that is accountable to an awarding organisation for the assessment arrangements leading to the issue of
qualifications or units

Assessment

A process of making decisions about the extent to which a learners work meets the assessment criteria for a unit
or qualification

Assessor

A person who is qualified to assess learners work and make decisions about competence

Assessor qualifications

Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment and Level 3 Certificate in Assessing
Vocational Achievement

Authentication

The process that confirms the work being put forward for assessment is the learners and has been produced under
the conditions set out in the qualification

Award

A qualification with a credit value between 1 and 12

Award of credits or qualifications

A certificate issued to an individual that recognises achievement

Awarding organisation

An organisation recognised by Ofqual to award qualifications and units

Awards Online

Cskills Awards registration and certification management information system

CCEA

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment regulator for qualifications in Northern Ireland

Centre approval

The process required for companies wishing to deliver Cskills Awards qualifications or units that has committed
itself to hold and maintain the required quality and consistency of assessments and comply with other expectations of
Cskills Awards

Centre contact

A named individual in the centre responsible for the overall quality assurance, management and administration of awards

Certificate (1)

A record of attainment of qualifications/units issued by an awarding organisation

Certificate (2)

A qualification with a credit value between 13 and 36 credits

Competence

The ability to carry out activities to the standard required

Corrective action

A methodology to ensure the quality of assessment and training delivery is upheld and meets Cskills Awards Centre
approval criteria

CPD

Continuous Professional Development

Credit

An award made to a learner in recognition of the achievement of the designated learning outcomes of a unit

Customer co-ordinator

A member of Cskills Awards staff assigned to centres to give a single point of contact

D32, D33 qualifications

Assessor qualifications prior to A1

D34 qualification

Internal verifier qualification prior to V1

DCELLS

Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills - regulator for qualifications in Wales

Diploma

A qualification with a credit value of 37 and above

E-portfolio

An electronic evidence storage system

Exemption

The process for a learner to claim an exemption from some of the achievement requirements of a QCF qualification,
using evidence of a certificated, non QCF achievement deemed to be an equivalent value

Guided Learning Hours (GLH)

The number of direct contact hours required to teach a qualification or unit of a qualification

Internal verifier/Internal quality assurer

An individual appointed by the centre to ensure accurate and consistent standards of assessments, both between
assessors operating in the centre and between differing awards offered by the centre

23

Glossary (continued)
Term

Definition

JACQA

Joint Awarding Council for Qualification Approval

L9, L11, L12, L13

Qualification units for trainer qualifications

Learner

A person who is registered with Cskills Awards to complete a qualification or unit

Learner record

An authoritative record of all credit and qualification achievements made by an individual

Learning time

The amount of time a learner at the level of the unit is expected to take, on average, to complete the learning outcomes
of the unit to the standard determined by the assessment criteria

Level

An indication of the relative demand, complexity and/or depth of achievement and/or the autonomy of the learner in
demonstrating that achievement

LRS

Learner Registration Service

Malpractice

The deliberate or reckless act of an individual or business to dishonestly claim learning outcomes and/or certificates for
learners

National Occupational
Standards (NOS)

Statements that describe the outcomes of competence work in an occupational field

NQF

National Qualification Framework

Ofqual

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation - regulator for qualifications in England

PRN

Provider Registration Number

QCF

Qualifications and Credit Framework

Qualification specification

A pack containing the assessment requirements for the delivery of a unit or qualification

Quality advisor

A member of Cskills Awards staff who advises and guides centres on how they meet Cskills Awards Centre approval
criteria. To recommend appropriate corrective actions when required. Quality advisors will work to current internal
quality assurance standards

Recognition

The process for awarding organisations to be recognised by the regulator to operate in the QCF

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

A method of assessment that considers whether a learner can demonstrate that they can meet the assessment
requirements for a unit through knowledge, or skills they already possess and do not need to develop through a course
of learning

Regulatory authorities

Government bodies required to establish national standards for qualifications and ensure consistent compliance. The
regulatory authorities listed in this document are Ofqual, DCELLS and CCEA

Rule of Combination (RoC)

A description of the credit accumulation requirements for the achievement of a named qualification

Sector Skills Council (SSC)

A body approved by the regulatory authorities as responsible for formulating and reviewing standard occupational
competence for an employment sector

Senior quality advisor

A member of Cskills Awards staff who manages the quality advisor team

Skillsfile

Cskills Awards learner and assessment management e-portfolio system

Standardisation

A process to ensure assessment decisions for qualification units or components are applied consistently between
assessors and internal quality assurers

UKRLP

United Kingdom Register of Learning Providers

Unique Learner Number (ULN)

The unique number that is used to identify an individual learner

Unit

The smallest part of the qualification that is capable of certification in its own right

Unqualified

An assessor/internal verifier who is working towards achieving an assessment/internal quality assurance qualification

V1 qualification

Internal quality assurers qualification

Verifier qualification

Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice

Whistle blowing

A process for reporting inappropriate practice in the assessment process

24

Cskills Awards
contacts
There are various ways to keep up-to-date
which what is happening within the industry
and here at Cskills Awards.
We have:
The monthly technical electronic newsletter, E-news,
provides the latest qualification information
The quarterly magazine, Customer News, features
industry articles as well as an overview of the latest
developments at Cskills Awards
If you would like to give us any feedback on any of
the above or any of our services, please contact
your customer co-ordinator on 0344 994 4020
or email us at cskillsawards@cskills.org

www.cskills.org/awards