Update on RQF Higher Nationals in Computing (2017)

Sample assessment materials and schemes of work are available to:

• Help with planning and delivery of the new RQF HN programmes;
• Provide suggestions and helpful content which can be versioned for use in your centre;
• In editable and downloadable templates available to simplify adaptation for centre use.

To access these resources, view the specification page.

Preparing to transition from QCF to RQF programmes

It is strongly recommended that from September 2017 prospective HN students are only registered on the new RQF Higher National programmes at this point. The new programmes represent the best in professional higher education, with features including refreshed content; professional body recognition and mapping to vendor standards; an updated assessment approach; and quality assurance measures. These ensure that all stakeholders can feel confident in the integrity and value of the qualification.

Late transition to the new RQF Higher Nationals may cause issues when attempting to infill QCF HND cohorts with RQF HNC students. Differences in unit content between the old and new specifications will make such infill difficult.

UK centres are also encouraged to be aware that QCF HN programmes are likely to be replaced by new RQF HN programmes as of 1st September 2017 in any remaining Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) Higher Apprenticeship frameworks.

For students who are registered on the QCF Higher Nationals, centres will have until the end certification date to top up from the QCF HNC to the QCF HND or to transfer between the two.

The QCF Higher Nationals that these qualifications will replace are as follows (all of which have end dates of 31st December 2017):

500/8254/1 Pearson BTEC Level 4 HNC Diploma in Computing and Systems Development (QCF)

500/8253/X Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Computing and Systems Development (QCF)

For further information or queries please contact highernationals@pearson.com