The purpose of the Graded Qualifications Alliance

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 much wider applications in business, education, medicine and lifelong learning. Our awards form part of the Regulated 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. Regulated in the same way as GCSE, GCE A levels and NVQ’s these awards are an important part of the Regulated 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.

We are fully accredited by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations: Ofqual. 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 qualifications meet the need for more appropriate ways of assessing what students know, understand and can actually do.