The National Open College Network
NOCN is a national awarding body, subject to regulation by QCA (in England), ACCAC (in Wales) and CCEA (in Northern Ireland). Some NOCN qualifications and services are also available in Scotland.
However NOCN is much more than just an awarding body. Through its national qualifications, and through the complementary range of national and local services, NOCN seeks to widen access to lifelong learning and develop modern and innovative solutions to exclusion and underachievement.
Qualifications
NOCN offers qualifications from Entry to Advanced Level in a wide range of subjects and areas. All are designed to be particularly suitable for adults and for anyone for whom more traditional qualifications are unsuitable. NOCN qualifications allow learners to receive credits for their achievements and to accumulate or transfer credits according to individual needs in order to provide flexible routes to gaining full qualifications. Above all NOCN qualifications are designed to be accessible and to support the development of skills and knowledge that will enable people to participate in work, in their communities or in further learning.
Quality
NOCN quality assures the accreditation services of its 24 licensed Open College Networks (OCNs) operating across the UK as well as awarding approved national qualifications. NOCN's quality systems focus on standards and fitness for purpose. They bring a wide range of learning activities, including non-formal and previously unaccredited learning, into a coherent national framework with clear national standards. All learners' achievements are externally verified and quality assured.
A Modern Network Organisation
As a network organisation NOCN promotes partnership working between organisations in the development of new learning opportunities and the sharing of best practice. Any organisation or business that provides learning can apply to have its programmes accredited and, in doing so, become a member of one of the country's fastest growing awarding bodies with access to a network of expertise and advice.
Click here to go to the NOCN site