Skills for Work: Engineering Skills National 4 (SCQF level 4)

Qualification Information

This Course develops the generic and practical skills, knowledge and understanding and employability skills needed in an engineering sector.

It focuses on the four broad areas of Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic, Fabrication, and Manufacture. This allows the candidates to gain basic transferable skills that can be applied to any of the above engineering areas.

The Manufacture and Assembly Unit allows candidates the opportunity to apply their mechanical, electrical/electronic and fabrication skills to making and assembling an artefact.

Generic employability skills are integrated into each mandatory Unit and should be developed in conjunction with the practical activities of each of these Units. This will help candidates to understand that the generic skills (eg time-keeping, following instructions and carrying out quality checks of their own work) are just as important as the practical skills which they will learn.

It is anticipated that the Course will rely on and build on existing partnerships between schools and colleges and employers (or other agencies). It is designed so that it can be delivered in schools, if the school has suitable facilities and teaching expertise, but a partnership approach would still be necessary to provide the contact with the workplace that is an essential part of the experience for candidates.

At SCQF level 4, learners work alone or with others on straightforward tasks with support. 

Qualification structure

Group Award code C243 74 (24 SCQF credit points)

The Skills for Work Course in Engineering Skills at SCQF level 4 consists of four mandatory Units.

For further information on the structure and units of this qualification please refer to the Course Specification document (312 KB).

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How to assess

All the Units focus on the development of specific engineering skills. Assessment involves practical activities which will produce evidence for all the Outcomes. Assessment of the evidence will cover:

  • interpretation of a drawing or specification
  • the appropriate use of tools, materials and equipment
  • successful involvement in the completion of a task, product or assembly
  • quality checking of their work by the candidate
  • attention to health and safety aspects of working in a workshop type of environment

Assessment of employability skills is integrated in all the Units, and is based on assessor checklists and candidates completing a review sheet on four different occasions throughout the Course. This review allows the candidate to record their development of employability skills in the context of different skills areas.

Each Unit is supported by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) item which provides an assessment package and exemplifies the national standard.

There is no external assessment for this Course. Learners must successfully complete each Unit to achieve the Course.

Unit specifications provide detailed information on the Evidence Requirements for each Unit. The Unit Support Notes provide information on approaches to assessment for each Unit.

The Units are internally assessed by centres and externally verified by SQA.

Qualification Verification Summary Report

Deliver this qualification

Why study this qualification

This qualification is suitable for a wide range of learners including:

  • pupils from mainstream schools or other education establishments
  • school leavers
  • adult returners to education
  • learners in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects
  • learners participating in 16+ programmes
  • college students wishing to develop their skills and knowledge in relation to Engineering
  • trainees participating in preparation for entering employment
  • individuals involved in voluntary activities

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

Employment and progression

Successful learners may progress to:

  • SVQs and Modern Apprenticeships in Engineering areas 
  • relevant programmes in Further Education colleges suitable training/employment 
  • vocational training
  • employment

Qualification structure

Group Award code C243 74 (24 SCQF credit points)

The Skills for Work Course in Engineering Skills at SCQF level 4 consists of four mandatory Units.

For further information on the structure and units of this qualification please refer to the Course Specification document (312 KB).

Unit search