Teachers and co-ordinators from schools, pupil referral units, colleges, community providers and London boroughs gathered at our office in Angel Gate on 16th January to learn how the new NOCN Qualification Step-UP (Skills Towards Enabling Progression) is supporting the provision of an alternative curriculum for 14-19 learners.

Matt Allman, Deputy Head at Longford Community School in Feltham explained how teachers had used the bite-sized, credit based units to build a curriculum for “the most challenging cohort of students”.

The facility to claim Award, Certificate and Diploma Qualifications throughout the year led to the Step-UP cohort being “the most qualified in Year 9” resulting in a distinct improvement in motivation and engagement in activities across the School including an unusual interest in options for Year 10.

Longford welcomed the mix and range of skills based and vocational units that enabled teachers to build a flexible curriculum that can be delivered in a range of contexts. ‘Developing Personalised Learning Skills’, for example, was delivered through a ‘Blitz Veterans’ project that also involved members of the local community and contributed evidence for two further units ‘Understanding Active Citizenship’ and ‘Operate a Computer’.

Matt said of the Step-UP course at Longford “…it has been a source of inspiration, motivation and aspiration”.

Click here to read Matt’s full presentation

To find out more about the Step-UP Qualifications click here or contact Karen Hedger by email, or by phone on: 0207 689 5879