City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement

This qualification is aimed at assessors who have been employed or contracted to assess learners in a variety of situations. The role involves both assessing learners in the workplace and in alternative environments such as workshops and classrooms. The qualification includes a unit that covers all the essential knowledge and understanding that an assessor needs.

To become a qualified assessor of vocational qualifications. Units include: · Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment. · Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment. · Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding. You will become an assessor and therefore able to assess any subject where you have occupational competence.

We will provide you with an induction and several 1:1 meeting at the start of the programme, this will aid your knowledge and understanding to complete the first unit of the qualification, which is a knowledge unit. You will then have meetings and be assessed on a 1:1 basis whilst you build your portfolio of evidence; this will include at least four observations from your assessor, whilst you are assessing your learners – these will be planned beforehand. The Centre you are working or volunteering for will need to provide you with sufficient guidance and support in the use of qualification standards; planning records; assessment records and any other documentation that they expect you to complete. They will allocate at least two candidates per qualification to you. You will assess complete assessment decisions using a range of assessment methods, dependent upon the assessment strategy of the qualification. They will allocate you with a countersigning assessor who will countersign your assessment decisions until you are qualified; an Internal Quality Assurer, who will induct you into the Centre's processes. You will be part of the quality assurance systems within the Centre, including attending standardisation meetings. You will need to demonstrate that you have taken part in appropriate CPD activities for your own development.

You will complete a knowledge unit and build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your competence as an assessor. Your portfolio will also include at least four observations of your performance.

You will be a qualified assessor able to assess both competence based and vocationally related qualifications.

A ring binder, dividers and plastic wallets (if you want to use them) will be required to build your portfolio. A course reference book will be beneficial for the knowledge unit. Either: ‘Achieving your TAQA Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer Award’ – Anne Gravells. (Approx. £20) OR ‘The Best Assessors Guide’ – Hilary Read. (Approx. £30)

City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

There is the possibility that you may progress onto the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Process and Practice Award.

You must be working as an assessor before you can enrol on this course. This could be in paid employment or working voluntarily for a college or training provider (referred to as the ‘Centre’). It is your responsibility to find your own work placement before enrolling. The Centre must be able to provide you with an occupationally competent and qualified counter-signing assessor and Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) to oversee and check your assessment decisions. You will need to be occupationally competent and may need to hold a qualification in the subject area that you want to assess in. In some subjects there are strict guidelines for the occupational competence and qualifications that an assessor must hold. The Centre you are working for will need to provide you with the opportunity to assess both work-based qualifications and vocationally related qualifications. Some qualifications may contain both work-based assessments and vocationally related assessments. This will be discussed on interview. You will also need access to a minimum of 2 learners to assess.

Funding may be available to support your learning as an adult (aged 19+) studying at Dudley College. Check out the Financial Support guidance for more information.