Sector Qualifications Strategy

The SQS is viewed as the vehicle to engineer change in the delivery system for qualifications and training that are appropriate to the sector. The SQS is also acknowledged to be one of the solutions to the issues and challenges raised in the Sector Skills Agreement (SSA).

The SQS is an opportunity for the Active Leisure and Learning sector to establish a coherent framework of education and training to meet the skills requirements of the Active Leisure and Learning sector.

Objectives

The following are proposed as headline objectives to focus the strategy and its implementation:

1. To establish a range of qualifications (and training) that are relevant to the skills needs of the sector (Qualification Reform)
2. To enhance the quality of provision of qualifications and training that are relevant to the sector (Delivery Reform)
3. To confirm appropriate public investment into the development and delivery of qualifications and training (Funding Reform).

The SQS for Active Leisure and Learning, a vision, was independently assessed as ‘exemplary’ by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) in March 2007. A further phase of development was to submit an Action Plan (in March 2007) to the SSDA to demonstrate how SkillsActive was to coordinate the implementation of the SQS across the UK; one of the key actions was to produce four Home Country and sector specific strategies.

SkillsActive’s Sector Qualifications Strategy Documents

• SkillsActive Sector Qualifications Strategy - approved SQS March 2008
• SkillsActive SQS Submission – this was submitted against the SQS Quality Standard in March 2007
• SkillsActive SQS Action Plan – submitted document March 2007
• SkillsActive SQS Implementation template – for use with each home country and sub-sector
• SQS for Awarding Bodies – presentation delivered to awarding bodies by SkillsActive on 15 October 2007
• QCA QCF Presentation – presentation delivered to awarding bodies by QCA on 15 October 2007
• QCF Specification – Presentation to Awarding Bodies January 08 from Carole Stott of Credit Works on the QCF specification
• Unit submission – Presentation to Awarding Bodies January 08 from Ben Gittus on SkillsActive as a QCF unit submitting body
• AB Forum – Presentation to Awarding Bodies January 08 from John Thorpe introducing the day
• SQS Consultation Paper – Consultation paper on the principles of the SQS for submission to SSDA end of February 2008
• Updated: SQS Action Plan for England - Annual Action Plan for England (July 2009 - 2011).
• Updated: SQS Action Plan for Northern Ireland - Annual Action Plan for Northern Ireland (July 2009 - 2011).
• Updated: SQS Action Plan for Scotland - Annual Action Plan for Scotland (July 2009 - 2011).
• Updated: SQS Action Plan for Wales - Annual Action Plan for Wales (July 2009 - 2011).
  Diweddaraf: Cynllun Gweithred SCS i Gymru trwy’r Gymraeg - Cynllun Gweithred Flynyddol i Gymru (Mehefin 2009-2011)
• Playwork SQS FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions relating to Playwork and the SQS.

Please check back to this section of the website in the next few months for sub sector action plans

For further information on the SkillsActive SQS contact Vida Stewart – Vida.Stewart@skillsactive.com