What is Wider Achievement?
SQA Awards are designed to recognise wider achievement and the development of skills which will help learners to succeed in today’s world. Wider Achievement recognises the life and work skills that come from a wide range of activities which can include sport, mentoring, voluntary work or fundraising activities — whether they take place at school, college or elsewhere.
There are a number of SQA Awards and other qualifications from SCQF levels 1 to 6 which are suitable for a wide range of learners. Some Awards can be delivered alongside Youth Awards to give a nationally recognised SQA qualification, while others can be offered as part of Skills Development Scotland (SDS) employability fund contracts (subject to meeting SDS criteria). Check with your local SDS contact for more information.
The table below shows how an Award is differentiated across SCQF levels 2 - 6:
| SCQF level descriptor | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The learner will work with... | frequent and direct support: the teacher/lecturer will issue explicit instructions/provide assistance | directive support: the teacher/lecturer will issue explicit instructions | support: the teacher/lecturer will offer advice | minimum support: the teacher/lecturer will respond to specific questions from the learner | non-directive supervision: learners will take responsibility for their own learning but the teacher/lecturer may explain and interpret it. |
| The learner will... | respond and participate: agree to ideas, suggestions and plans | participate: agree to ideas, suggestion and plans | contibute: offer some ideas and/or suggestions | negotiate: put forward suggesions and ideas and agree a way forward | take some supervisory responsibility: take the lead in some aspects of the work. |
| Tasks and activities will be... | very simple: routine and familar and supported/supervised | basic: routine and familiar | straightforward: consisting of routine elements | detailed: consisting of some routine and non-routine elements | complex: consisting of some non-routine elements |
These Awards and other qualifications can be delivered and assessed flexibly over a period of time most appropriate for your centre and learners.
For more information, read the Awards from SQA leaflet (569 KB).
Further information
Our Business Development Team are here to support and provide advice on all aspects of the qualifications. Contact SQA today to find out more about what we can do for you.
Telephone: 0303 333 0330
E-mail: mycentre@sqa.org.uk