Recognition of Prior Learning Policy (RPL) 2023/24
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VERSION CONTROL VERSION
AUTHOR
DATE
COMMENTS
1.0
Ibrahim Jogee & Holly Street
09/2023
Proposed New Policy
Version control is to be employed for any amendments to the content which result in substantive changes to the meaning, intent or outcome of the policy or process described within and must be approved by the Executive Committee. Spelling mistakes or other typographical errors are not required to be subject to Version Control.
POLICY OWNER POLICY OWNER
ACCOUNTABLE EXECUTIVE
National Quality Manager / Head of Quality
Group Director of Operations
APPROVAL CONTROL Approval of this Policy and subsequent amendments is by the Board DATE APPROVED APPROVED REQUIRED BY 07/09/2023 Policy Governance Board
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................................4 PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................................................................4 PRIOR TO REGISTRATION .................................................................................................................................................... 5 PROCESS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF RPL............................................................................................................... 5 Other types of evidence.................................................................................................................................................... 6 Cross Referencing ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Assessing Currency .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 QUALITY ASSURANCE............................................................................................................................................................. 7 APPEALS & COMPLAINTS..................................................................................................................................................... 7 RELATED POLICIES & STATEMENTS .............................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
The recognition of prior learning policy is designed to define the process learners need to follow to present performance or accredited knowledge evidence, from a period prior to their registration, that can be mapped against learning outcomes and assessment criteria, to contribute towards a recognised qualification. This policy will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure that recognition of prior learning is managed in accordance with current regulations.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to confirm the arrangements set by SCL Group for recognition of prior learning (RPL), which is to ensure learners are able to request RPL against any recognised qualification. This recognition pertains to knowledge and skills acquired through experience and/or prior formal, non-formal, and informal learning experiences. It encompasses learning achieved in educational institutions like schools, colleges, and universities, as well as training providers and knowledge and skills attained outside the conventional learning environment, including those acquired through life and work encounters.
SCOPE
This policy applies to all learners studying Further Education, Higher Education, Apprenticeships and Skills with SCL Group. It applies to mandatory accredited qualifications which form part of an Apprenticeship and prior learning must inform the Gap Analysis of an Apprenticeship standard. Recognition of Prior Learning can be applied to internally assessed parts of vocational qualifications. This can be full units in vocational qualifications and part of internally assessed elements of vocational qualifications. RPL cannot be applied to the following: - GCSE examinations - A Level Examinations - Performing Arts Awards examinations. - Graded Music examinations. - Parts of externally assessed units in vocational qualifications.
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PRIOR TO REGISTRATION
All prospective learners will have access to information on how to apply for and claim RPL. Learners that have previously completed an accredited programme, whether in full or part, will be required to inform SCL Group during the enrolment and onboarding process. Delivery staff will be responsible for identifying learners with prior learning and alerting the Curriculum Manager/Programme Lead/Head of Performance. Learners will be requested to provide evidence of prior learning in the form of certification. Certificates which can be used as evidence of RPL will be collected and photocopies made, to be kept on file as part of the mapping process. The Curriculum Manager/Programme Lead/Head of Performance will be responsible for relaying this information to the Exams Officer and Quality Manager, who will review the details of the completed units to ensure continuation of the programme, or any subsequent award, is compliant and in line with Awarding Organisation (AO) requirements with regards to top-ups. For apprenticeship standards, the Trainer must consider the content of the prior learning in comparison to the standard to determine any overlap and reduction required to the programme. If work completed was not certificated, details of any claimed units must be provided in the form of a transcript from the AO.
PROCESS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF RPL
SCL Group accepts the following evidence for RPL: - Unit certificates - Certificates for full qualifications When presenting a certificate for RPL, the learner will need to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding to prevent the need to repeat the assessment or course. Learners’ prior certificated learning can be used as evidence for assessment criteria. Copies are only acceptable as evidence where the original certificates have been seen and countersigned. When using certificates for RPL, SCL Group will cross reference the work between the two standards (the qualification/unit certificated, and the qualification registered on).
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Evidence of previous learning or achievement, like other evidence, will be rigorously subjected to the assessment of its: - Validity : does the evidence demonstrate that the demands of the assessment criteria/learning outcome has been met? - Currency : does the evidence demonstrate that demands of the specification have been met and are up to date? (See page 7 for further clarification of currency) - Authenticity : can the evidence be unequivocally attributed to the learner? - Sufficiency : is there enough evidence to fully meet the criteria/outcome? Other types of evidence The evidence gathered needs to meet the standards of the specification that it will be used for. Evidence from a learner’s past experience could include: - Paid work - Community or voluntary work - Home life - Education and training Further evidence may include: - Evidence of workplace practice, confirmed by workplace managers. - Past portfolios of evidence created by the learner which remains current. - Reports created by the learner and confirmed as authentic. - Expert witness testimonies (i.e., workplace managers, specialists, lecturers/teachers) - Professional discussions conducted with the learner to confirm their knowledge/skills. - New assignment briefs or tasks that have been created to fill any gaps in the evidence presented. Whatever evidence is used it must be confirmed as valid, current, sufficient and authentic and subjected to the same rigour as any other type of evidence prior to acceptance. Cross Referencing All RPL will be mapped to individual assessment criteria to the appropriate/ corresponding assessment criteria of the current qualification (where the AO allows). This means that some assessment criteria will be met, others only partially met, and some may not meet the requirements at all. In most cases, it is unlikely that learners will have all the evidence they need to achieve a full unit unless they have previously achieved the unit itself. A full record of the mapping must be kept on record for quality assurance purposes.
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RPL can only be used for those assessment criteria that are fully met. With this type of mapping, the assessment criteria must match, or sufficient evidence must be present to show that the learner has achieved the criteria with the work that they have already completed, and access to the work that has been submitted for the original qualification, if available, may be requested. When mapping, grading criteria cannot be used unless the learner has met all assessment criteria. Evidence for how and why an individual learner has achieved through RPL needs to have a substantial audit trail and is not a shortcut to achieving all or part of the current qualification. Assessing Currency When assessing the currency of knowledge and practice, SCL Group can only accept certificates that are not older than 2 years, as it is deemed that the knowledge and skills of the learner will no longer be current after this time. Certificates older than 2 years may require additional assessment of the learner’s knowledge and skills against the current standard. Significant changes in practice or technology in under 2 years will also be considered to ensure that the assessment of the learner’s practice is current. All AOs require confirmation that currency and validity has been assessed and RPL should be subject to the same assessment processes as other forms of evidence and be subject to formal review and feedback.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
SCL Group will be required to provide access to the audit trail for all units claimed through the individual AO quality processes. The External Quality Assurer may request access to all RPL evidence and therefore a rigorous audit trail must be in place. Certificates can only be claimed when the appropriate quality assurance processes are completed successfully.
APPEALS & COMPLAINTS
Learners are able to appeal the assessment decision for RPL in the same way they can any other assessment decision by following the centre’s Appeals Process and/or Complaints Policy which can be found on the SCL website.
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RELATED POLICIES & STATEMENTS
• Quality Strategy • IQA Strategy • Appeals Process • Complaints Policy
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