Your guide to understanding qualifications
Whether you still work in the “old money” of O Grades or are up to speed with Nat 4s and Nat 5s, most employers would find a simple way to understand Scottish qualifications helpful.
And it’s not just about satisfying your curiosity. When recruiting staff, how you specify the level of skill or competence that you need applicants to have is important.
Ensuring you are asking for the right level of qualifications or skills, and understanding the wide range of qualifications now available, are both essential to maximising the range and diversity of potential applicants.
Find the info at SCQF
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is Scotland's national qualifications framework.
Using SCQF levels in your recruitment processes instead of specific qualifications can significantly widen your pool of applicants who may have a wealth of skills, experience or qualifications at that level, ensuring you get the best range of suitable candidates for your job roles.
In addition to mainstream qualifications which many employers will recognise - Nationals, Highers, SVQs and Degrees - the SCQF also acknowledges Apprenticeships and learning programmes developed and delivered by companies or other organisations for their staff.
The framework
SCQF 'Levels' help you to understand the difficulty of the qualification.
Click on the image to download.
'Credit Points' indicate the amount of learning involved (that is, how long it would take on average for an employee to complete). This information can help employers and employees contextualise their learning in relation to job roles in the workplace.
Old vs New
In addition, you can compare the changing qualifications from the 1960s through to today using their Old v New resource.
Click on the image to download.
Inclusive Recruiter
To make it even easier, you can access the SCQF Inclusive Recruiter scheme’s free training and support.
Inclusive Recruiter
The aim of SCQF Inclusive Recruiter is to help employers understand that many different qualifications have the same worth and to encourage the use of SCQF Levels in the recruitment process to offer clarity around skills and experience.
There is also a helpful set of step-by-step instructions here.
The interactive framework here gives you a handy explanation of each of the qualifications. And if you click on the SCQF level related to the qualification you’re most familiar with, it then translates into the skills and abilities an employee would typically possess if they are working at that particular level.
So a National 5 sits at SCQF Level 5, and a Higher at SCQF Level 6, an equivalent description of which would be:
Job roles at SCQF Level 5 may involve responsibility for providing a range of routine services for customers or other employees under minimum supervision but normally under guidance.
Job roles at SCQF Level 6 may involve responsibility for providing support or services in a range of areas, where overall objectives are clear but elements of the work may not be routine.
If you want to know more, you can book a 1:1 session with SCQF’s Employer Engagement Lead, Nicola Smith. She will talk you through the range of free materials and support on offer, and let you know how you can become an SCQF Inclusive Recruiter.
Get in touch with Nicola directly at n.smith@scqf.org.uk or contact the main office at info@scqf.org.uk.
SCQF Partnership
The SCQF Partnership is the independent, charitable company set up to maintain and develop Scotland’s National Qualifications Framework. It helps employers understand and compare Scottish qualifications.