Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering Access 3 (SCQF level 3)

Contact the Qualifications Manager for this subject area:
Pat Robb GRAPHIC: email icon.

Structure of the Course

This Course is at Access 3 and consists of three 40 hour mandatory Units.

Mandatory Units:

Practical Experiences in Construction (Access 3)

1 Unit credit

Practical Experiences in Engineering (Access 3)

1 Unit credit

Developing Employability Skills in Construction and Engineering (Access 3)

1 Unit credit

There are no optional Units.

Summary of Course content

The purpose of the Course is to ensure that candidates start to understand the range of employment opportunities and job roles within these broad sectors. Candidates will also develop some of the basic generic practical skills and introductory knowledge and understanding necessary to enhance employment opportunities.

The primary target group for this Course is school candidates in S3 and S4. It is anticipated that, in most cases, the Course will rely on and build on existing partnerships between schools and colleges and employers (or other agencies). This may be particularly important for allowing candidates access to a range of different learning environments available for example in Further Education colleges and training providers. Nevertheless, this Course is designed at a level and scope such that it can be delivered in schools, if the school has suitable facilities and teaching expertise.


Summary of content Unit by Unit:

  • Practical Experiences in Construction
    Candidates will select and use the basic construction tools, equipment and materials leading to the manufacture of an artefact, eg a piece of external garden furniture.
  • Practical Experiences in Engineering
    Candidates will select and use the basic engineering tools, equipment and materials leading to the manufacture of an artefact, eg a bicycle rack.
  • Developing Employability Skills in Construction and Engineering
    Candidates will explore the range of employment opportunities, career paths and job roles in the construction and engineering sectors and develop work practices and attitudes that will enhance their employability skills.


Approaches to assessment

Assessment in this Course will be based mainly on a range of practical workshop activities, supported by tutor observation checklist, together with candidate self-evaluation reviews.

Employability skills are integrated within the practical skills Units and candidates can readily gather evidence for assessment during their work in practical activities. Reviewing progress with generic employability skills and attitudes will take place in the practical context of work in the different craft activities. Candidates will complete a minimum of two review sheets in the different trade activities. Interpreting simple drawings should also take place during the work in practical activities.
 
Within the practical Units, the candidate will produce evidence as a natural part of the learning and teaching process. Candidates will first learn and practise the correct techniques and methods for each of the skills they undertake. Assessment of the various practical tasks will take place at appropriate points throughout the Course, allowing time for candidates to make quality checks of their finished products, before submitting for assessment. Each Unit will be supported by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) item which will provide an assessment package and will exemplify the national standard.

Learning and teaching materials

Learning and teaching support packs have been produced by the Scottish Further Education Unit to support this Course. These can be accessed via the SFEU website.

Placements, visits, work experience

Work placements will not be mandatory for candidates taking this Course. However partnership arrangements will enable candidates to carry out the wide range of practical assignments required in the Course, in a workshop environment. This may also have the advantage of bringing candidates into contact with a range of employed students and apprentices.

It may be possible for centres to arrange visits to engineering works/building suppliers as part of the candidates’ learning experience. A visit to a local firm(s) would be useful because work in progress will be at different stages and candidates can see various different trades working at the same time.

Visiting speakers from local firms should be encouraged in order to enhance understanding of employability skills, job roles and career paths for the candidates.

Resource requirements

Centres will require workshop facilities for the practical Units in the Course. Equipment and small tool requirements are not onerous and are no more than would be expected for basic craft work at this level.

Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be essential for all candidates. This may include safety footwear, overalls, gloves, masks and hard hats as required. (This list of PPE is not intended to be exhaustive and centres should carry out risk assessments for all activities as required).

Progression 

This Course may provide candidates with opportunities to progress to:

  • Intermediate 1 Engineering Skills
  • Intermediate 1 Construction Crafts
  • SVQs in Construction and Engineering areas
  • programmes in Further Education colleges
  • suitable training/employment


Conditions and Arrangements


Information for Skills for Work pilot centres 
Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering Access 3

Centres delivering the Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering Access 3 Course as part of the Skills for Work pilot in 2006/7 should note the following:

  • the Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering Access 3 Course will remain unchanged for session 2007/8. If feedback from centres indicates the need for revision, any necessary revisions will be made for session 2008/9


Arrangements documents valid from 2007/8

Subject:

Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
Level: Access 3
Code: C240 09
Edition: Second Edition, April 2007
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