Education and Skills Act 2008

9 Assignment of numbers of hours of guided learning to external qualifications

In section 24 of the Education Act 1997 (functions of Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in relation to external vocational and academic qualifications), after subsection (2A) insert—

“(2B) Any accreditation of a qualification under paragraph (g) of subsection (2) must assign to the qualification a number of notional hours (to be known as “the number of hours of guided learning”) representing an estimate of the amount of actual guided learning which could reasonably be expected to be required in order for persons to achieve the standard required to attain the qualification.

(2C) Accordingly, criteria published under paragraph (f) of that subsection must include criteria for the assignment of numbers of hours of guided learning to qualifications mentioned in that paragraph.

(2D) In subsection (2B), “actual guided learning” means time a person spends—

(a) being taught or given instruction by a lecturer, tutor, supervisor or other appropriate provider of training or education, or

(b) otherwise participating in education or training under the immediate guidance or supervision of such a person,

but does not include time spent on unsupervised preparation or study, whether at home or otherwise.”