Peer Qualifications FAQs

1. How do the BTEC Peer Qualifications map against other qualifications?
2. How does the Peer Qualifications programme link to the National Qualifications Framework?
3. As a project worker, will I need special qualifications to enable me to run the Peer Qualification programmes?
4. How much time does the Project Worker need to run the Peer Qualifications programme?
5. How long will it take a young person to complete the Award?
6. Do the young people have to do an exam?
7. What evidence can be used to prove competence in any unit?
8. How can I be sure that my course is meeting the required standards?
9. What is the age range of the young people who can take park in the Peer Qualifications Programme?

1. How do the BTEC Peer Qualifications map against other qualifications?

UK Youth’s Peer Programmes are mapped against Basic Skills on the Adult Core Literacy Skills Curriculum and the four Key Skills: “Improving Own Learning,” “Working with Others,” “Problem Solving,” and “Communication.”

2. How does the Peer Qualifications programme link to the National Qualifications Framework?

The Peer Qualifications programmes have been graded level two on the National Qualifications Framework which is equivalent to GCSE grades A-C. The Peer Qualifications programmes have accreditation learning points that can contribute towards a young person’s entry into college/ university.

QCA National Qualifications Framework

3. As a project worker, will I need special qualifications to enable me to run the Peer Qualification programmes?

Project workers working on both programmes will not need any special qualifications to run the BTEC Intermediate Peer Education Award and the BTEC Intermediate Certificate in Peer Mentoring but you will need to have experience of working with young people and running Peer Education or Mentoring projects. You will also need to be able to teach and assess the work of those participating, to pre-determined national standards. However, any organisation registering to run the Awards for the first time will need to ensure that the staff involved in the direct support/ assessment of the Peer Qualifications programme must attend the one-day Accrediting Peer Work training run by UK Youth.

4. How much time does the Project Worker need to run the Peer Qualifications programme?

Experience shows that an average of 3.5 to 5 hours per week (46 week year) of project worker time is needed to train, support and assess 10 young people to obtain the Peer Qualifications. Obviously this may vary according to the individual needs of the young people.

5. How long will it take a young person to complete the Award?

Depending on the nature of the study programme, e.g. residential or weekly learning groups, and the level of commitment of the young person, the Peer Education Award could take about 9–12 months, and the Peer Mentoring Certificate could take about 12-14 months.

6. Do the young people have to do an exam?

Young people participating in the Peer Qualification programmes will not have to take any exams but will need to collect evidence and put together their portfolio to show their competence in each of the above learning outcomes. Edexcel will then verify this evidence against the BTEC Peer Mentoring and Peer Education standards.

7. What evidence can be used to prove competence in any unit?

Each learning outcome must have at least one piece of work for each assessment criteria. There are many different types of evidence that can be used to prove competence. Some examples are shown below but this list is only intended as a guide and is not exhaustive.

• Live observation - observe the young person performing a task and record how they met the assessment criteria.

• Discussion with the young person - discuss with the young person why they took a particular course of action in relation to a peer education activity.
• Written and oral questions - these could be designed to test out a young person's knowledge about a specific issue related to the assessment criteria.
• Discussion with others - talk to somebody else who has seen the young person meet the assessment criteria or get them to write a letter confirming how the assessment criteria was met.
• Peer assessment Another young person might be able to provide evidence about the Peer Educator's practice.
• Product evidence You can look at a project or a piece of work that might have been done by the young person whilst preparing for a peer education activity. For example written work, pictures, and diagrams.
• Role play/drama Where it is not possible to see a young person demonstrate his or her competence for some aspects of the assessment criteria a role-play or drama could be used to demonstrate his or her knowledge and skills.
• Video - Getting a home video made to demonstrate knowledge, skills and ways of delivery is a complementary way of trying to assess candidates against some aspects of the assessment criteria.
• Spoken evidence on tape - Some people find writing difficult or simply do not enjoy doing it. Taped evidence of their knowledge about specific aspects of peer education might be a creative way to get round the writing problems.
• Photographs These can often be used as supplementary or supporting evidence.

8. How can I be sure that my course is meeting the required standards?

Your regional Accredited Learning Development Officer will visit you about mid-way through your project to ensure that the standards are being met and are available via phone and e-mail to offer you appropriate support with the project. All the staff involved in the Peer Qualifications programme will also be expected to attend Network Meetings to ensure commonality of standards are applied. The Education and Training Development Officer may also want to meet some of the young people involved in the programme during the verification visit.

9. What is the age range of the young people who can take park in the Peer Qualifications Programme?

Both BTEC programmes are open to young people aged 16 years old and over