Content for Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (Condition EDSQ1)
Rules about the content of Essential Digital Skills Qualifications, including how the qualifications should reflect relevant national standards
- EDSQ1.1 In respect of each EDS Qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must 鈥�
- (a) comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, contained in the EDS National Standards, and
- (b) interpret the EDS National Standards in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
- EDSQ1.2 In particular, in designing such a qualification an awarding organisation must ensure that the qualification covers all of the skills areas set out in the EDS National Standards.
Reviewing approach
As part of the evidence to inform its own review of an EDS Qualification under Condition D3.1, an awarding organisation should have regard to the outcomes of any review of the EDS National Standards. An awarding organisation should then make any required adjustments to the qualification to ensure that it complies with the revised EDS National Standards as required by Condition EDS1.1.
Skills statements
Condition EDSQ1.1(b) allows us to specify guidance in relation to how an awarding organisation must interpret the EDS National Standards.
An awarding organisation is required to design a qualification so that it covers each of the skills areas set out in the EDS National Standards. However, an awarding organisation is not required to ensure that the qualification covers each of the skills statements in the EDS National Standards. This is to allow for greater flexibility in the design of the qualification so that its coverage depends on its purpose, e.g. whether the qualification is intended to develop the essential digital skills for life or work or study. The reasons why particular skills statements have been covered should be explained in the assessment strategy.