NVQ Dictionary

Advance Apprenticeships

The most advanced form of Apprenticeships, the Candidate completes NVQ Level Three plus certain other aspects, for example Key Skills

Apprenticeship Programme

In England and Wales, an initiative aimed at encouraging employers and young people to adopt a broader base to their training. Apprenticeships in hairdressing incorporate NVQ Level Two and Key Skills. Advanced Apprenticeships include NVQ Level Two, NVQ Level Three and Key Skills

Apprenticeships

The introductory form of Apprenticeships, the Candidate completes NVQ Level Two plus other aspects, for example Key Skills

Approved Training Organisation

An organisation that has been vetted by the appropriate Government agency prior to being given a contract to receive financial assistance in order to operate as a training provider

Assessment

The process of collecting evidence and making judgements on whether national standards of competence are being met by a Candidate

Assessor

Any person who is qualified, or working towards the role of measuring and recording the Competence of Candidates on the programme

Awarding Body

An organisation such as City and Guilds empowered to award certificates to Candidates who achieve NVQs

Basic and Key Skills Builder

The main, formal initial assessment system used on the programme

BKSB

See Basic and Key Skills Builder

Candidate

The name given to those who are undertaking work and learning on the programme, an alternative name is Learner

Candidate Explanation

A type of assessment sheet found in the Logbook

Candidate Logbook

See Logbook

Certification

The process of awarding a certificate that details the achievement of a Candidate

City and Guilds

The body that awards the National Vocational Qualifications in hairdressing

Competence

The ability to perform a range of work activities to nationally recognised standards

Core Skills

The Scottish equivalent of Key Skills

CPD

See Continuing Professional Development

Documentary Evidence

Evidence that is presented in written form

ENR

See Enrolment Number

Enrolment Number

Unique lifetime identification number for each Candidate enrolled on a City and Guilds programme

Equal Opportunities

All applicants to NVQ programmes must be treated equally and without prejudice within very strict guidelines provided by the Law. All salons taking part in the programme must agree to abide by our Equal Opportunities Policy

EV

See External verifier

Evidence

Candidates must provide evidence the prove they are competent in order to be assessed for NVQs. Evidence is in two main forms, Performance Evidence and Documentary Evidence

Exemptions

Certain types of qualifications, especially GCSE qualifications that exempt a Candidate from doing Key Skills

External Verifier

Appointed by City and Guilds, external verifiers have responsibility for checking that Assessment is being carried out to the national standards

Framework

The name given to the entire Apprenticeship structure, includes, for example Key Skills

Global On-Line Assessment

A system of assessing certain written tests via the internet, most commonly used with NVQs and Key Skills

GOLA

See Global On-Line Assessment

HABIA

The industry lead body for hairdressing, made up from representatives of all the major organisations within the hairdressing and beauty industry.

ILP

See Individual Learning Plan

Individual Learning Plan

A document that sets out the training a Candidate will receive during the time they spend in training and that maps the progress of a Candidate on the programme. A copy of the ILP is kept in the Candidate Logbook

Induction

The process of introducing a new employee to a company or training programme. Induction forms an important part of the programme and should be undertaken within the first four weeks of a Candidate starting

Initial Assessment

The process by which the existing skills of a new Candidate are assessed and recorded

Internal Verifier

The Regional Training Advisor also acts as an internal verifier, sampling assessments to ensure that they meet national standards of competency

IV

See Internal Verifier

Key Skills

A set of skills which form part of the framework for Apprenticeships and which have been identified as being crucial to all jobs

Key Skills external tests

Certain written tests that confirm the Key Skills abilities of a Candidate, usually completed using GOLA

Learner

The name favoured by Government agencies to those who are undertaking training and education on the programme, an alternative name is Candidate

Learning and Skills Council.

The key UK Government agency responsible for the funding of work-based training

LEC

See Local Enterprise Company

Local Enterprise Company

In Scotland, a private company charged with the funding of training within a geographical area

Logbook

The folder held by each Candidate that contains all of the assessment material for the NVQ plus other important information

LSC

See Learning and Skills Council

Monitoring

The act of measuring the progress of Candidates and salons as they move towards gaining NVQ awards and qualifications

National Standards

An abbreviated version of the expression ‘National Standards of competence’. This is the minimum attainment Candidates are expected to achieve and provide Evidence of

National Vocational Qualification

A qualification approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and based on standards specified by the Industry Training Organisation

NVQ

See National Vocational Qualification

NVQ Level One

The pre-entry level of the programme. Level One is mainly aimed at young people who are still at school

NVQ Level Three

The highest level of the programme. Level Three is aimed at helping young hairdressers build a Clientele and become totally effective members of the salon team

NVQ Level Two

The standard entry level of the programme. Level Two is aimed at allowing young people to become excellent hairdressers in the shortest possible time

Off-the-Job Training

Training which is undertaken away from the normal commercial activity of the host organisation

On-line Assessment

See Global On-line Assessment

On-the-Job Training

Training which is undertaken along side the normal commercial activity of the salon

Oral Assessment

The action of questioning a Candidate to ensure that they can demonstrate knowledge of the task in which they are being assessed

Performance Criteria

A list of criteria that a Candidate’s performance is judged against during the assessment process

Performance Evidence

During Assessment, information gathered in order to satisfy the assessor that a Candidate can satisfactorily perform any given part or element. Performance Evidence takes the form of Practical Assessment

Personal Effectiveness

A key factor in the progress of young people on the programme. Personal effectiveness occurs when a Candidate accepts responsibility for their development and starts to make things happen for themselves. Personal effectiveness is measured using special documentation contained in the Candidate Individual Learning Plan

Portfolio

A portfolio that contains the City and Guilds Logbook and E3 evidence

Practical Observation

The act of observing a Candidate carry out practical work in order to judge their competence with a task

Programme Director

The person with overall responsibility for all aspects of the programme

Programme Manual

The manual given to all salons on the programme that contains full details of every aspect of the programme

Proxy Qualifications

Certain types of qualifications, especially GCSE qualifications that exempt a Candidate from doing the Key Skills External Tests

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

The body responsible for maintaining standards in all qualifications in England, often referred to as QCA

Range Checklist

A summary of the range of situations that must be covered by a Candidate in order to prove that they are competent in a particular element of the programme

Regional Training Advisor

Key personnel in the system. RTAs act as the link between each salon in a Compact and the Programme Director

RTA

See Regional Training Advisor

Scottish Vocational Qualification

The Scottish equivalent of an NVQ and often referred to as an SVQ. SVQs use the same standards as NVQs but have a different Awarding Body

Standardisation Meeting

Regional meetings that are designed to ‘standardise’ good practice amongst salons in a Compact

Supplementary Evidence

Supporting Evidence, not the primary proof of Competence.

SVQ

See Scottish Vocational Qualification

Unit

Shortened version of Unit of Competence, all NVQs are made up of a series of Units or Units of Competence

Verification

The process of monitoring and approving assessments made by centres offering NVQs. Verification is under-taken by Internal Verifiers (normally an RTA) and by External Verifiers appointed by City and Guilds

Wall Chart

A chart that is used to record element completed by a Candidate during the time they spend on the programme. Also called a graphic monitor

Written Assessment

Gathering of hand written evidence in order to establish that a Candidate has a wide range of knowledge about a task in which they have been assessed. Written assessment can take the form of exam and/or portfolio work