1. Entry Level
Occupational Studies
Agreement Trial

2. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
The world of work is constantly changing. Today it is uncommon for a person to have only one occupation throughout their working life, so it’s vital that we are able to transfer and adapt our knowledge and skills throughout our careers.
To foster these abilities, Occupational Studies allows learners to learn for work, through work and about work, and it provides the potential for this learning to take place in out-of-school contexts. This hands-on approach is ideal for those who prefer to develop their skills in a more practical, occupational environment.
Occupational Studies is both coherent and flexible and provides a good foundation from which to advance to competence-based post-16 courses.

3. Aims and Learning Outcomes
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Aims and Learning Outcomes
To develop a suite of qualifications for accreditation on the NQF for first teaching in September 2015 to:
Facilitate learning in a practical situation
Motivate learners
Develop employability skills
Prepare learners for working and adult life
Provide progression to higher learning
Co-teachable alongside occupational studies level 1/2

4. Special Schools/Post-Primary/FE
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Target Audience
Key Stage 4
SEN
Low ability
Special Schools/Post-Primary/FE

5. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Entry Level Standards
Entry level qualifications recognise basic knowledge, understanding and skills and the ability to apply learning in everyday situations under direct guidance or supervision. Learning at this level involves building basic knowledge, understanding and skills.
This is an opportunity to provide further guidance on the revised specification and to discuss exemplar
support materials provided and for us to also to listen and take feedback and where necessary make adjustments.
Coursework: 20% & 40% 5

6. 17 occupational areas 51 unit titles
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Draft Specifications
17 occupational areas
51 unit titles

7. Subject areas are as follows:
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Subject areas are as follows:

8. Entry Level Descriptors
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Entry Level Descriptors
Entry 1: recognises progress along a continuum that ranges from the most elementary of achievements to beginning to make use of skills, knowledge or understanding that relate to the immediate environment.
Entry 2: achievement at Entry 2 reflects the ability to make use of skills, knowledge and understanding to carry out simple, familiar tasks and activities with guidance.
Entry 3: achievement at Entry 3 reflects the ability to make use of skills, knowledge and understanding to carry out structured tasks and activities in familiar contexts, with appropriate guidance where needed.

9. Availability of Assessment
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Availability of Assessment
Moderation will take place in May of the academic year. Entries should be made for the Spring series (March series).
Methods of Assessment
Learners must complete a portfolio of work to show how they have met the assessment criteria for each unit. Teachers can choose any assessment method or combination of methods that clearly demonstrates the learner has met the assessment criteria and achieved the learning outcomes. These methods may include, for example:
Photographs – Written Evidence – Posters – Mind Maps – Presentations
Storyboards – Screenshots – Videos – Witness Statements – Models – Leaflets

10. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Structure
Bank of units covering wide range of occupational areas. Some new areas introduced, e.g. Drama, Music, T&D and ICT.
Each unit available at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3 (highest outcome).
Co-teachable with Occupational Studies Level 1/2.
Differentiation by outcome.

11. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Structure contd.
120 GLH (20 hrs/unit).
6 units for Occupational Studies qualification. ‘Spikey’ profile. Overall award based on level they are mostly working at.
12 units (i.e. 6 additional units) for Extended Occupational Studies qualification.
Availability of 3 similar units which can be delivered by tutor/teacher with specific skill set.
A basis to progress either horizontally or vertically to other relevant qualifications at Entry level and beyond.

12. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Overview of Unit
TEACHING TIME
CONTENT
AO1
10%
CAREERS
HEALTH AND SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
MATERIALS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
AO2
80%
PRACTICAL ASSESSMENTS:
A need to meet all assessment criteria for unit award
AO3
TASK REVIEW(S)
END OF UNIT REVIEW

13. Reporting and Awarding
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Reporting and Awarding
Learners will be awarded Entry Level 1, 2 or 3 in each unit. Learners whose work does not meet Entry level 1 requirements will not be awarded a level.
Where performance is below the requirements for Entry level 1, the CCEA report the results as unclassified (U).

14. The Portfolio of Evidence
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
The Portfolio of Evidence
The portfolio of evidence for each unit must contain the following:
Evidence of knowledge and understanding (AO1)
This may take the form of written answers to questions or, where appropriate, a record of oral responses to questions. It must cover the range of knowledge and understanding set out in the unit content.
Evidence of application of knowledge, understanding and skills (AO2)
Teachers must assess all activities to occupational standards by observing learners’ performance in practical tasks.
Evidence of evaluation of their work (AO3)
Learners should carry out a review for each assessment task within each unit. It should summarise their performance and indicate how they could make improvements. They should also present an end-of-unit review.
A record of all the assessment evidence
The record indicates where each piece of assessment can be found.
Evidence in learners’ portfolios may be written, photographic, audio or video recorded.

15. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Internal Assessment
Assessors must have the appropriate skills and knowledge to assess learners’ work for a unit.
They must also:
Be able to authenticate the work as the learners’ own;
Ensure that learners have met all the assessment criteria in order to achieve a unit;
Keep accurate records of all assessment decisions.
Teachers assess learners as having achieved or not achieved each unit.

16. Assessment Arrangements
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Assessment Arrangements
Portfolio based
Internal assessment – no examination
Externally moderated
Achieved/Not Achieved. Need to achieve all assessment objectives to achieve award
Flexible assessment evidence, e.g. poster, discussion, photographs, voice recordings, web screen shots

17. Instructions to Teachers
Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial
Instructions to Teachers
Teachers must carry out Internal Standardisation – Declaration of Internal Standardisation form (TAC2) must be submitted for each unit.
Sample sizes:
Number of Candidates Entered
Sample sent for Moderation
Up to 10 candidates
All candidates
11 or more candidates
10 candidates

18. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
Internal Assessment
Please ensure when submitting portfolio evidence for moderation that the following are adhered to:
Individual portfolios of evidence must be submitted by each candidate for EACH unit taken;
There is no need for a diary;
Each unit must have a separate AO1. The evidence should not be identical across units;
Outcomes should be awarded by level and not by mark;
All sections of the specification must be covered for a unit award;
For an overall EL3 unit award, candidates must meet the specification criteria for El3 in ALL areas of the specification. This also applies to EL2 and EL1 unit awards;
Photographic evidence should be for individual candidates and must be annotated relating directly to the specification requirements;
Portfolio structure must be in order of AO1, AO2 and AO3;
Individual Learner Tracking Grids should be completed and attached to the front of candidate portfolios.

19. Entry Level Occupational Studies Agreement Trial 2016-17
External Moderation
Centres must submit assessment outcomes and samples to CCEA according to the calendar of events set out in the Qualifications Administration Handbook, which can be accessed at