Information for Potential Work Based Assessors The A1 Award

What is the A1 and why do we need it?
The A1 is an award for people with an appropriate level of industry experience and qualifications, which enables them to assess the skills and competences of others within their respective industries. The award involves:

Direct observation of skills and competence and other wider forms of evidence of skills and competence

• It is a national qualification for assessing vocational awards (NVQ).
• It is a mandatory requirement for everyone assessing NVQs - regardless of professional or academic qualifications.
• The award standards are developed by the training and development Lead Body.

KEITS provides a supported 1:1 programme of A1 training for all KEITS consortium employers and their staff, who are eligible and who want to undertake assessor training. All NVQ assessment is work-based and once qualified to A1 standard you and/or your experienced employees will be able to assess and provide additional support to apprentices. Assessment of the A1 award is work based, however, the candidate must be prepared to go on standard setting days as required and will need to have access to at least 2 learners registered on NVQ programmes in your occupational area.

Most importantly the A1 contributes to continual professional development.

Outline of the A1 Award:
There are four sections relating to: the assessment of candidate performance; observing the skills being undertaken; asking questions to determine the reasons for the task being undertaken; collecting and judging evidence of candidate competence. The skills developed are:

• Developing plans for assessing competence with candidates
• Judging evidence against agreed standards to make assessment decisions
• Giving candidates feedback and support on your assessment decisions
• Contributing to the internal quality assurance process