In the slightly quieter summer period, we are planning a system update on our web sites in the week beginning 29 July. 

The CLD Standards Council website may be unavailable for about a day at most. You should not initially notice any change to the site, though we are looking to make some revisions to the site in the coming months. 

The i-develop service with the member registration will be unavailable for around 3 days, and when it is available again it will look rather different.   Everything currently on the site will still be available, and your saved links and logins will still work, but the appearance may not be quite the same as it was.  This change will allow us to make the site more usable on phones.  However, it may take us a little while to smooth out any rough edges, so please bear with us.    

Once this upgrade is done, we will be able to address some improvements to the site.  A working group of volunteers from our committees is being drawn together to make a plan of recommendations and actions to go forward, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to get in touch at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk. 

Learning: For All. For Life. A report from the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development

On 17 July 2024, Mr Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Further and Higher Education and Veterans announced that a report on improving Community Learning and Development had been published.  Ms Kate Still was appointed in December 2023 to undertake the Independent Review of CLD and Ministers will now consider and formally respond to the recommendations in due course. 

View the Report on the Scottish Government website: Learning: For All. For Life. A report from the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD)

Members had a clear contribution to the review and you will note that the report is comprehensive, making reference to almost every aspect of CLD and offers 20 recommendations under 6 headings:

• Leadership and Structures – establishing a strategic leadership group.

• Overarching Policy Narrative – developing a clearer and more cohesive policy narrative.

• Focus on Delivery – publish a Delivery Plan by end of 2024

• Budgets and Funding – undertake an assessment of funding

• Developing workforce standards – consideration of HMIs inspection reports to be a standing item on Strategic leadership group

• Demonstrating Impact – annual celebration of CLD successes

 
There are 15 references to the CLD Standards Council in the report with clear recognition that “The CLD Standards Council, given the limited resources supporting its work, does a good job in raising standards across CLD, raising its profile and supporting those working in the sector”.  There is an ask for an enhanced role for the CLD Standards Council and a recommendation that “The CLD Standards Council should be supported to transition towards an independent status more akin to the General Teaching Council Scotland.”.
 
Over the coming weeks we will work with Committee Members, Members and stakeholders to consider and respond to all recommendations within the report and hope that you and your colleagues are able to attend as many events as possible.

 Sincere thanks to every single Member for raising their voices and being a part of this process.

CLD Standards Council

Related articles:

Further information on the CLD Review 2024

CLD Standards Council Response to the Independent review consultation March 2024

As the professional body for adult, community and youth workers in Scotland, the Community Learning and Development Standards Council grants professional endorsement for relevant adult learning, youth and community work degree programmes. We can confirm that after extensive engagement with the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) and the University of Glasgow that the University of Glasgow is again fully compliant with the set standards for professional approval, in respect of the BA/BA Hons in Community Development for the class of 2023.
We can confirm that the University has ensured that all those who graduated did so in compliance with the Professional Approval Standards.

The CLD Standards Council further confirm that the University of Glasgow continues to hold professional approval for the BA/BA(HONS) in Community Development, as a suitable course of study for employment within the distinct profession of Community Learning and Development.

As part of our function as the approving body, We will continue to engage with all University partners to ensure that the Professional Standards for Community Learning and Development are upheld across Scotland.

The Community Learning and Development Standards Council welcomes the appointment of Kate Still to lead the Independent Review of the CLD Sector.  The CLD Standards Council is of the view that this is an appropriate time for such a review within the context of the major reforms proposed for the Scottish Education system.

CLD Standards Council members will look forward to engage actively with the Independent Review  in order to provide evidence on the key role which the CLD family, Adult Learning, Community Development and Youth Work, has to play in the further development of an effective  21st Century Lifelong Learning system which meets the needs of individuals, communities and society.

UPDATE: View our updated information on the CLD Review 2024

See updated statement February 2024

The University of Glasgow and the CLD Standards Council Scotland recognise that this is a particularly stressful time for students and staff.

The University is doing everything it can to mitigate against the impact of this period of industrial action and has written to all affected students with the latest information, advice and support.

The University has committed that no student will be prevented from graduating or onwards progression if they are eligible to do so. Graduating students who have not received grades can attend graduation ceremonies and will receive a parchment, pending final confirmation of their degree classification. Continuing students can also enrol in the next stage of their degree programmes.

The CLD Standards Council confirmed that the University of Glasgow currently holds professional approval for the BA/BA(HONS) in Community Development, as a suitable course of study for employment within the distinct profession of Community Learning and Development. They continue to ensure that all professional standards are upheld and are working directly with the University on this basis. As a professional standards body the CLD Standards Council have no involvement in the industrial dispute.

Students and employers should raise any associated queries directly with the University.

See updated Statement February 2024

As the professional body for adult, community and youth workers in Scotland, the Community Learning and Development Standards Council grants professional endorsement for relevant youth and community work degree programmes. At this time, we understand that the University of Glasgow is not fully compliant with the set standards in respect of the BA/BA Hons in Community Development. We are continuing to engage with the University to explore solutions that will meet the needs of all parties.

Dr Marion Allison
Director
CLD Standards Council

The CLD Standards Council are delighted to announce that the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in Youth Work has now been approved and is ready for use. The MA in CLD: Youth Work provides a practical work based route for learners to gain employment experience and an SCQF level 6 or 7 qualification. It is just one of a range of qualifications in the suite of Community Learning and Development programmes.

Dr Marion Allison, Director of the CLD Standards Council said,

“We were delighted to extend our reach to deliver the review of this learning programme. The Modern Apprenticeship in CLD: Youth Work provides trainees and employers with a tried and tested qualification that ensures young people and communities have access to well-trained CLD: Youth Workers. The ambition for all of Scotland’s young people, learners and communities to be served by highly trained CLD practitioners is central to the CLD Standards Council’s mission”.

Further information can be found as follows:

Apprenticeships Scotland – Modern Apprenticeship Youth Work

Skills Development Scotland – Youth Work Framework SCQF Level 6 (PDF)

Skills Development Scotland – Youth Work Framework SCQF Level 7 (PDF)

Youth Work Modern Apprenticeships Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Why has there been an “uprating of SCQF level from 5/6 to 6/7 in the MA”?

Answer: The MA level has been uprated as the SVQ was uprated from SCQF Level 5/6 to SCQF Level 6/7.

Question: Why are Core Skills now at SCQF Level 5/6 rather than the previous SCQF Level 4/5?

Answer: Workplace Core Skills must be applied at a minimum required level according to the level of the Modern Apprenticeship. Different levels may be acceptable, higher or lower, but developers would need to provide evidence to justify this. In the Steering groups opinion there was no compelling justification that would meet this criteria.

The following information aligns MA levels with minimum Core Skills levels; this should be used as a guide when considering a Framework submission.

MA Level – Minimum Core Skill level

SCQF level 5 – SCQF level 4

SCQF level 6 – SCQF level 5

SCQF level 7 – SCQF level 6

Question: Why are some Core Skills embedded and others are not?

Answer:

The core skills of “Communication, Working with Others & Problem Solving” have been judged to be embedded through the performance criteria for the mandatory modules.

ICT & Numeracy is not embedded in the CLD Youth Work MA mandatory modules. There is evidence for ICT in the optional unit CLD YW 08 but this can not be used for evidence.

Where the developer believes that the Workplace Core Skills do not require separate certification then a detailed mapping exercise must be carried out and included within the framework submission. Each element (or performance criteria) for each of the SVQ mandatory units must be mapped against each Core Skill task. SQA Accreditation guidance on signposting and mapping work-based core skills highlights the following distinction:

“The main difference between signposting and mapping Workplace Core Skills is depth. Signposting is indicative, and normally involves reviewing the SVQ competences against the Workplace Core Skills titles. Mapping involves a more in-depth review in which the job role is compared to individual Outcomes or Performance Criteria (PC) of SVQ and Workplace Core Skills Units.”

For clarity, even where core skills can be shown to be embedded, employers in the sector still have the option of requesting that separate certification is mandatory in the Framework.

Question: Why is there a mandatory enhancement requirement to the MA CLD Youth Work?

Answer: This maintains the position of the previous Youth Work Modern Apprenticeship and parity of esteem with the Community Development Modern Apprenticeship. The number and scope of the mandatory enhancements have been increased to allow as wide a choice as possible for the learners and providers, whilst meeting the feedback provided by the Apprentice Approvals Group that there should be “clear and concise differentiation” between the Youth Work Modern Apprenticeship frameworks at level 6 and at level 7. For this reason some mandatory enhancements only appear at the relevant level and not in both frameworks.

As part of volunteer’s weeks celebrations, the Community Learning and Development (CLD) Standards Council Scotland and Volunteer Scotland are excited to announce its new partnership. Through this partnership we will encourage groups and organisations within the adult learning, community development and youth work sectors to offer appropriate volunteering opportunities and give volunteers a positive experience through good volunteer practice.

Both organisations have a long standing history of setting and supporting national standards including , the Competent CLD Practitioner Framework, CLD Standards and the Volunteering Quality Pipeline. All with the aim of improving practice, encouraging learning, and supporting service delivery.

Adrian Murtagh, Head of Volunteer Practice, Volunteer Scotland said “With our commitment to volunteering and life-long learning, I believe that through this partnership we have an opportunity to formally recognise the amazing skill set that many volunteer engagers and practitioners have and display when managing and supporting their CLD volunteers.

The partnership will also support appropriate policy development through its commitment to learn together and share information. Other areas the partnership will support are; the recently developed Adult Learning Strategy, recognition of both quality standards, development of new learning opportunities and inclusive volunteering.

Dr Marion Allison, Director of CLD Standards Council Scotland said…”With more and more volunteers joining the CLD Standards Council and setting their sights on studying or gaining work in the adult learning, youth and community work sectors; our partnership with Volunteer Scotland will provide volunteers and their host organisations quality information and advice for learning and training. This partnership acknowledges the key role that volunteers have in the delivery of CLD services and compliments a range of work and learning policies at national and local levels”.

Both parties look forward to continuing to work together to build a strong partnership for the benefit of volunteering, good practice development and enhancing local communities.