My organisation needs to ensure that all its instructors are qualified at level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy. Many have other qualifications degrees, NVQs, O levels etc. Does anyone knmow of a chart or table that lists the equivilent qualifications to Level 2 in Lit and Num? maybe you have used it to short list candidates for recruitment to drill into their qualificatins or maybe an education organisation has produced something similiar?
Thanks,
Chris Allsopp
4 Responses
National qualifications framework
Level 2 literacy and numeracy are equivalent in level to NVQ level 2 and BTEC First Diplomas and Certificates, BTEC Diplomas, Certificates and Awards, and GCSEs grades A to C.
For explanations see:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_literacy/intro/nqf/
http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/nqf-grid/ (table/grid available here)
Literacy and Numeracy
Just to clarify – Maths or English GCSEs at Grade C or above are a good indicator but I work with apprentices and still get them to do diagnostic tests. Experience has taught me that good GCSE results do not necessarily mean that they are working at level 2 Numeracy and Literacy. QCA website will give you a list of the proxy qualifications for level 2 numeracy and literacy
No Real Equivalence
It should be noted that the “level 2” qualifications are actually not really equivalent to their respective GCSEs despite the GCSE also being a level 2 qualification.
The level 2 literacy and numeracy are both practical tests of everyday reading, writing and arithmetic and do not contain the level of study or interpretation of data that a GCSE does (and I know that’s a lot less than those of you with an O-Level in the respective subjects).
If you are looking to hire trainee engineers you may well be better off with someone who has the GCSE than the Numeracy qualification.
Likewise if you are training a reviewer then English GCSE is likely to bring the better candidate.
But if they just need to be able to do the everyday basics then literacy and numeracy will do fine – they are free but so are the GCSEs for those without through your local college.
Sorry didn’t answer the question
For all qualifications and their level you can look at the QCA website – http://www.qca.org.uk/493_15772.html
and there’s a full list of qualifications and levels.
But be careful for all that NVQ has “equivalence” of an academic subject the two are not always equivalent in terms of the skills an individual has…