Personal Learning Record and the Qualifications and Credit Framework frequently asked questions and answers
What is the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (
QCF)?
The QCF is a new way of recognising achievement through the award of credit for the achievement of units and qualifications. Every qualification in the QCF is made up of units. The unit sets out the learning outcomes and related assessment criteria. All qualifications and units have a:
- Credit value that provides a measure of achievement.
One credit represents 10 hours of learning time (not the same as Guided Learning Hours). Every qualification in the QCF comes in one of three sizes - Award, Certificate or Diploma.
- Awards are made up of 1-12 credits,
- Certificates 13-36 credits and
- Diplomas 37 credits or more
Level : between Entry level and level 8, to show how difficult it is
Title/content: indicating what the qualification or unit is about QCF achievement data will be collected directly from awarding organisations and held on the Personal Learning Record.
Read further information about the QCF, including a
comprehensive FAQ document (external link) .
What is the Personal Learning Record (PLR)? The Personal Learning Record is a free service that helps providers and advisers support post-16 learners to access and interpret their achievement data via the lifelong PLR, on-line and in one place. The PLR enables the learner and their provider or an adviser to view and review their learning and support them in making the right learning choices.
The PLR is for learners to use during their lifetime. There are controls to make sure consent is given by the learner and to make sure access is given to educational institutions and advisers to view the PLR. Learners must be ID checked and have their own email address plus a Unique Learning Number (ULN) first, before registering and accessing their PLR online.
Awarding Organisations can directly supply the PLR with data about all of the QCF qualifications they offer. Data on the PLR has primarily been built up from September 2008. The PLR contains complete data from schools and FE in England but this will not be timely or reduce the data collection burden on providers until awarding organisations submit achievement data onto the system. Qualification size details in the QCF (Award, Certificate or Diploma) are not currently shown within the PLR. These will be a future PLR enhancement.
How do people access the PLR?
Learners aged 16-19 can login to their PLR once their training provider has set them up with access to their Learner Account. They will need their ULN, password and email address to login for the first time. For those aged 19+, they will be able to access their PLR in the same way or through the National Careers Service when launched in April 2012.
Learners do not have direct access – this is done in collaboration with the Learner Registration Body (LRB) so the learner’s identity can be verified.
Only registered organisations can view the PLR and include awarding organisations, learning providers, advisers, as well as employers (if an LRB). Access is provided unless the learner 'opts-out' – a process notified through the Privacy Notice within the enrolment form. Organisations can register for access to the PLR by contacting the LRS Customer Helpdesk on: 0845 602 2589 or emailing
lrssupport@learningrecordsservice.org.uk .
What qualifications does the PLR record?
The PLR records general and vocational qualifications such as but not limited to QCF, A levels, GCSEs, BTEC, Diplomas and Functional Skills.
Who manages the QCF and PLR? The Skills Funding Agency is responsible for implementing the QCF across the wider post-19 skills system in England, and for delivering the changes made to the PLR to support the additional QCF services which will operate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How long will the Learning Records Service support Internet Explorer 6?
It is recommended that Internet Explorer (IE) 6 users upgrade to a newer version of internet explorer; the
IE 6countdown site (external link) gives you further information on how to take this forward. As some organisations are still using IE 6, new LRS releases will continue to be compatible with IE 6.
