Ensuring SVQs Meet Demand

Policy Aim

SQA Accreditation will remove the accreditation of any Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) demonstrating very low or zero take-up where there is no clear, justifiable evidence for this to be the case after a specific period of time.

The policy will cover all accredited SVQs and will specifically target those qualifications having accrued a demonstrably low or zero take-up.

Periods of time which will lead to the investigation of possible withdrawal

SQA Accreditation will review on a quarterly basis, information collated on registrations and certifications and identify those SVQs that are considered to have very low or zero take-up. From this analysis, those SVQs at level 1 and level 2, which have been accredited for two years or longer, will be targeted for investigation into possible withdrawal from the framework. Similarly, those SVQs at levels 3, 4 or 5, which have been accredited for three years or longer, will also be targeted for investigation.

Research

Once an SVQ has been identified for investigation, SQA Accreditation will then research whether or not there are justifiable reasons for the take-up figures. The research will take into consideration existing knowledge of the qualification which will include:

Information supplied at the point of accreditation, eg:
- original estimates for qualification take-up
- whether or not the qualification is part of an identified progression route
- whether or not there is a political, spiritual, moral, ethical, social or cultural reason for the qualification retaining accreditation
Specific sector, economic or employment reasons which may have had a bearing on the figure for take-up, eg specialist qualifications in a small sector where demand is nationally low.
Whether or not there is adequate provision elsewhere within the SVQ framework in the given area.
Evidence of sufficient Unit demand rather than demand for the full qualification?

If the results of the research indicate that low or zero take-up is justified for the given SVQ(s), then SQA Accreditation would not proceed with the removal of the accreditation. However, if there was deemed no discernable reason for low or zero take-up, SQA Accreditation will inform the relevant awarding body(ies) (in writing) of the decision to remove accreditation giving a notice period of three months and, where possible, indicating alternative arrangements for existing candidates.

Awarding body response to the decision to remove accreditation

The awarding body(ies) will be invited to respond to the letter from SQA Accreditation, indicating whether it accepts the decision to remove accreditation, or whether it wishes to contest the decision. If the awarding body wishes to contest the decision, its Chief Executive should respond, displaying clear evidence of why accreditation should remain in place. The reasons for such a request may include:

Provision of clear evidence of future demand
Argument that the qualification in question is part of a progression route
Provision of clear evidence that the qualification in question is the focus of an emerging sectoral requirement.

SQA Accreditation's Co-ordination Group (ACG) will review the awarding body(ies) response and will make one of the following three decisions:

Decide not to remove accreditation. The awarding body will then be notified in writing in 15 working days of receipt of their letter.
Decide that the evidence cited does not support accreditation being retained. In this case, the awarding body will be informed, with clear reasoning, in 15 days of receipt of their letter. The awarding body will be invited to respond to SQA Accreditation's letter, indicating its acceptance of the decision or its wish to further contest the decision. Where the awarding body agrees with the decision, a submission will made to the Accreditation Committee requesting that the relevant SVQ(s) be withdrawn.

Where the awarding body disagrees with the decision, it must submit a response stating the reasons why the SVQ(s) should not be withdrawn. The awarding body response will be submitted to the Accreditation Committee (AC) along with the findings of SQA Accreditation's research and the Accreditation Committee will consider whether or not the SVQ(s) should be withdrawn.

In addition to writing to the awarding body, SQA Accreditation will also write to the relevant sector body, which developed the national occupational standards upon which the SVQ(s) is based, and it will be asked to submit a response either agreeing to the withdrawal or providing a rationale as to why the SVQ(s) should not be withdrawn. This will also be presented to the Accreditation Committee.
Decide that accreditation should not be immediately removed. The awarding body will be notified in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of their letter, that the SQA’s Accreditation Unit will review the situation after six months to ensure that candidates have either registered for or are working towards the award or have gained certification. SQA Accreditation will then decide on the strength of the case for retention of accreditation. If, after reviewing the situation, SQA Accreditation decides that accreditation should be removed, the awarding body will be provided in writing with clear reasoning for this and will be required to indicate its acceptance or otherwise of this decision.

Where the awarding body agrees with the decision, a submission will made to the Accreditation Committee requesting that the relevant SVQ(s) be withdrawn. Where the awarding body disagrees with the decision, it must submit a response stating the reasons why the SVQ(s) should not be withdrawn. The awarding body response will be submitted to the Accreditation Committee (AC) along with the findings of the SQA Accreditation research and the Accreditation Committee will consider whether or not the SVQ(s) should be withdrawn.

In addition to writing to the awarding body, SQA Accreditation will also write to the relevant sector body, which developed the national occupational standards upon which the SVQ(s) is based, and it will be asked to submit a response either agreeing to the withdrawal or providing a rationale as to why the SVQ(s) should not be withdrawn. This will also be presented to the Accreditation Committee.

SQA Accreditation - Policies