A qualification linking industry with schools by specialist awarding body for industry, EAL has taken the chequered flag for victory at the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) first annual award ceremony.
EAL’s Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Engineering Technology – mapped to F1 in schools activities – picked up the qualification of the year.
EAL’s Head of Governance, Carolyn Barker commented: “Winning the award is fantastic recognition of the team’s hard work in developing the qualification and its innovative links with F1 in Schools.
“It is a new qualification, so to pick up this award is a real boost for us.”
The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge provides an exciting yet challenging educational experience through the magnetic appeal of Formula One.
Teams of learners aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered polyurethane-based F1 cars.
The challenge inspires learners to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy; and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.
FAB’s chief executive, Stephen Wright said: “”The EAL entry had everything we could have wished for.
“Engineering is a key sector for the success of the whole economy, however research from the Royal Academy of Engineering suggests that by 2020 we will need more than a million new engineers and technicians.
“The Level 1 Foundation Certificate is just the sort of qualification that can help close the skills gap, plugging into the F1 in Schools competition to introduce 15 to 18-year olds to the basic principles of engineering in an engaging and inspiring way with a combination of practical workshops and theory sessions.”
The new qualifications are:
- reported in the 2017 Performance Tables and contribute to the ‘schools’ league tables
- future-proofed, meaning no changes need to be made and no added work for EAL Centres, while other awarding organisations may need to rewrite their qualifications in 2016 to match them to the new DfE requirements
- supported by innovative interactive materials
- recognised by employers, providers and professional engineering institutions including the Engineering Council, NICEIC and Society of Operations Engineers
- eligible for SFA funding.
EAL’s Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Engineering Technology has three optional units – Introduction to Computer Aided Drawing (CAD), Introduction to Computer Aided Machining (CAM), and Introduction to Engineering project planning – mapped to F1 in Schools activities, helping learners achieve the qualification through activities that would otherwise not be officially recognised.
It’s part of EAL’s new suite of KS4 & KS5 qualifications, designed by industry experts to provide young people aged 14-19 with a seamless progression path from school to apprenticeships and industry careers.
In addition, all EAL’s KS4 qualifications will count towards the Department for Education’s Progress 8 measure, designed to encourage schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum at KS4, and reward schools for the teaching of all their pupils.
