The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the Level 2 ECDL Certificate in IT Application Skills (QCF) from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT will be eligible for performance points in 2016. The qualification features in the published list of qualifications that will count in the Key Stage 4 Performance Tables in 2016.
For pupils finishing key stage 4 in 2016 it means that they will gain full recognition for their efforts, with up to 58 performance points awarded for the highest-achieving students (Distinction* 58 points, Distinction 52 points, Merit 46 points, and Pass 40 points).
David Clarke, Group Chief Executive Officer for the Institute says: “We’re delighted that our qualification continues to be included in the Department for Education’s performance points listing.
“Gaining digital skills is vital today for employment and living in our digital society – something recognised by the new Computing curriculum, which requires every child to leave school digitally literate. Today almost every role has some reliance on technology with most jobs requiring the ability to navigate around a PC or tablet as a minimum. The allocation of performance points reinforces the message that these qualifications are not only rigorous but they also provide the majority of students with access to a range of future study and employment opportunities.”
In recent years, there has been a sharp growth in the number of people taking digital literacy qualifications. In 2012, the Institute reported a 71% increase in the number of people taking ECDL Essentials (Level 1 ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills) and a 43% growth in those taking ECDL Extra (Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills)*. To date over 2.5 million people in the UK have learned IT skills and demonstrated them via ECDL.
Further information can be found at: http://www.bcs.org/ecdl
