Resources for Credit Rating Bodies

We have produced a number of resources for stakeholders. Most of these are available in hard copy and can be requested from info@scqf.org.uk.

General Resources

SCQF Credit Rating Criteria Explained (pdf - 1.17mb)

This publication was produced to support the SCQF Handbook: User Guide and provides further information on learning outcomes, notional learning hours and assessment.

SCQF Handbook

The SCQF Handbook: User Guide describes the key features and technicalities of the Framework along with approaches that should be followed in its implementation. Although mainly used by SCQF Credit Rating Bodies, other organisations/individuals may be interested in this publication.

SCQF Level Descriptors

This A5 booklet contains the SCQF Level Descriptors and might be used when benchmarking learning, or providing advice and guidance.

Credit Rating & Benchmarking: What's the Difference?

This leaflet explains the difference between the formal process of credit rating and the informal process of benchmarking. This resource will be of interest to guidance givers and personnel involved in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).   

Quality Assurance Resources

SCQF: A Guide to Quality Assurance

This publication is for any organisation interested in becoming an SCQF Credit Rating Body.

Overview of Quality Assurance

This short guide provides information on the quality assurance systems used by SCQF Credit Rating Bodies.

Externality Explained

This short guidance document explains the requirement of externality as set out in Guidelines 19 and 20 of the SCQF Guidelines for Credit Rating. This guidance is relevant for organisations submitting learning to a Credit Rating Body for credit rating.

Update to QAM

The SCQF Quality Assurance Model (QAM) for the Extension of Credit Rating Bodies was finalised and agreed by Quality Committee in December 2007. The QAM will be updated later this year to reflect the experience of implementation over the last 5 years. This was therefore seen as an appropriate time to develop more guidance and, in 2011, the SCQF Board requested that guidance be developed in two areas:

1.    Procedures for dealing with any cause for concern relating to credit rating
2.    Procedures for removing credit rating authority status from a credit rating body

As a result, two documents have been developed through the work of the Quality Committee. The first of these is Maintaining a Shared Confidence in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework which describes the method that would be used to deal with any concern that might be raised with regard to credit rating. The expectation of the Board was that this would only occur where due process had not been followed. This document is available below.

Maintaining A Shared Confidence in the SCQF

The second document is Removal of Credit Rating Authority and describes the method that would be used to remove credit rating authority from a Credit Rating Body which failed over time to address serious issues in quality. This document is also available below.

Removal of Credit Rating Authority

Both these documents will be reviewed as part of the broader review of the QAM this year. They will also be included in any future revision of the SCQF Handbook.

Resources for Credit Rating Bodies

Guidelines to Promote and Support the Credit Rating Process in Colleges in Scotland

This document provides advice, guidance and direction on the credit rating process for colleges, to assist in developing a methodology for credit rating to take place.

The Credit Rating Process in Scotland's Colleges

This leaflet provides a flowchart on the implementation of credit rating within a college.

Evaluation Report on the SCQF College Credit Rating Pilot

In 2005/2006 a pilot to extend the function of credit rating to the college sector was held. Eight colleges were involved in the pilot which was overseen by the College Credit Rating Implementation Group (CCRIG), chaired by Scottish Government. The pilot was evaluated by HMIe and the evaluation report details the experience of the pilot colleges and includes some examples of credit rating documentation used by the participating colleges. All colleges are now credit rating bodies and this report is a useful resource for those considering implementing credit rating into the college provision.

RPL Toolkit

This toolkit is a useful resource when undertaking the process of the recognition of prior learning with learners.

Case Studies

The following case studies illustrate how the SCQF is being used within various organisations and settings.

• Aberlour Child Care Trust - Using the SCQF within recruitment processes
• Youth Scotland - Giving youth awards value through giving them an SCQF Level and Credit Points, and highlighting the benefits of this
• Microsoft - Allocating SCQF Level and Credit Points to learning, and highlighting the benefits of this

Other Resources

This report outlines the methodology adopted by Scotland in its referencing to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and shows where the SCQF references to the EQF.