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GRADED QUALIFICATIONS
ALLIANCE
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The Graded Qualifications Alliance has been established
to award qualifications to learners (young people and adults, including professionals)
who successfully complete courses of study incorporating mastery learning and its
associated assessment. The forms of learning assessed are neither academically-based
(e.g. GCSE, university degree) nor competency-driven (e.g. NVQ, which is based on
occupational mapping). Although our awards will resemble the graded qualifications
familiar in the performing arts they have a much wider applications in business,
education, medicine and lifelong learning. Our awards form part of National Qualifications
Framework.
We are the first examinations board to offer awards based on graded examinations
designed to recognise achievement in the ‘middle ground’ between academic and competency-based
qualifications. This will provide a much needed alternative for people who need
recognition for mastery of skills and successful performance. Building on the success
of graded examinations in subjects like music and dance, these awards will pioneer
new ways of accrediting achievement both in schools and in business.
For over one hundred years Graded Examinations have been used for music, drama and
dance. Accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the same way
as GCE A levels and NVQ’s these awards are an important part of the National Qualifications
Framework. We also use other forms of assessment and examination where these
are appropriate to ensure the knowledge, skills and ability of learners receives
due recognition.
The founding partners of the Graded Qualifications Alliance are: The University
of Exeter, (Higher Education and Research) the British Theatre Dance Association
(Performing Arts); and the Manchester College of Arts and Technology (Further and
Vocational Education). We are a unique partnership between Higher Education, Further
Education and the Performing Arts sector.
We are fully accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Our qualifications
will provide a genuine alternative for people who need recognition for mastery of
skills and successful performance. Designed to complement existing qualifications
such as GCSE’s, A Levels and NVQ’s, these new national awards meet the need for
more appropriate ways of assessing what students know, understand and can actually
do. Building on the success of graded examinations in subjects like music and dance,
our awards will pioneer new ways of accrediting achievement both in schools and
in business.
The founding partners of the Graded Qualifications Alliance will shortly be joined
by other organisations who will further widen the portfolio of qualifications that
we offer.
Information about each of the founding partners can be found on the following links:
University Of Exeter
Manchester College of Arts and Technology
British Theatre Dance Association
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