This is the Scottish Qualifications Authority who set the standards for tests and exams for courses in Scotland. The SQA will award certificates to successful students at the end of a course.
This stands for Scottish Vocational Qualification which is an award given given for successfully learning about a job whilst in employment. There are five levels of SVQ. Level 3 is about the same as a Higher Grade pass, while level 5 is about degree level.
This stands for the Construction Industry Training Board, which in March 2007 became known as Construction Skills. They test young people wishing to go into many of the building trades, organise training, and help to place them in modern apprenticeships. See www.citb.org.uk.
These are the skills, other than job specific practical skills, that people need to be good employees. They are tested as part of all Skills for Work courses. These skills include turning up on time, making sure you have the correct equipment, and making sure you use good sense in your day to day job.
FE stands for Further Education. This is the level that pupils with Standard Grades and intermediate awards from school move into at the 16+ stage of their education. Further education courses are run in colleges.
This is the level that pupils with Standard Grades and intermediate awards from school move into at the 16+ stage of their education. Further education courses are run in colleges.
This is the level that students study at to gain degrees at a university. Students need Higher Grades, Advanced Higher grades, or a college diploma to get a place on a Higher Education course.
HE stands for Higher Education. This is the level that students study at to gain degrees at a university. Students need Higher Grades, Advanced Higher grades, or a college diploma to get a place on a Higher Education course.
HNC stands for Higher National Certificate. HNCs are awards which can be gained at a college, taking one year of study.
HND stands for Higher National Diploma. HNDs are awards which can be gained at a college, taking two years of study.
MA stands for Modern Apprenticeship. On a Modern Apprenticeship a young employee works for a company, but goes to a further education college for courses that may last several weeks over three or four years.
On a Modern Apprenticeship a young employee works for a company, but goes to a further education college for courses that may last several weeks over three or four years.
NC stands for National Certificate. These courses are run in further education colleges in a variety of subjects such as construction, engineering, hospitality, and hairdressing.
This term is used to describe the courses, training, or jobs which you can progress to once you have completed a Skills For Work course.
This stands for the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust. The SECTT test young people wishing to go into many of the building trades, organise training, and help place people on modern apprenticeships. Visit www.sectt.org.uk for more information.
SPA stands for Scottish Progression Award. An SPA is a certificate which you can work towards before moving on to SVQs (see the description of SVQs in the glossary). An SPA is roughly the same as a Standard Grade, but it does not require a lot of paperwork to complete. Study for SPAs is designed to fit in with a job and is generally assessed in the workplace rather than going to college.
Work experience is where a pupil or student goes to a work place - sometimes for a week or two, or sometimes for an ongoing one day a week. During this time the student will receive basic safety training, and then carry out a series of different tasks which let them gain experience of what the job is all about. If pupils complete a diary and have an interview they may gain a work experience award on their SQA certificate.
Work shadowing is where a student visits a place of work for a day or more and follows an employee around as he or she carries out their daily duties. This is a good way to find out what the work is about and which duties are involved.