Student Zone FAQ's
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
Q 1. What is a National Progression Award (NPA)?
A. A National Progression Award (NPA) is a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) vocational (work related) qualification designed to
- prepare you for employment,
- for getting on in your job, or
- for going on to further study
In an NPA you learn by doing. So when you take part in a project, or go on a work experience placement, for example, the skills you learn and the knowledge you gain all count as part of the qualification you get.
An NPA is made up of SQA units in a range of related subjects. You can do individual units and get credit for them without doing the full NPA. Each unit is worth a certain number of SCQF credits.
Q 2. What is the SQA National Progression Award (NPA) in Enterprise and Employability?
A. It’s a flexible NPA offered at 2 levels. It’s made up of related SQA units designed to:
- Equip you to achieve your personal goals and ambitions
- Encourage you to think about enterprise and working for yourself
- Enable you to make choices and get into the kind of work that will suit you
Q 3. What do you have to do to get the SQA National Progression Award (NPA)?
A. Each unit has a number of learning outcomes (things you are expected to know, understand or be able to do). And for each unit you have to give evidence (show what you have learned or achieved) by completing assessments which your tutor approves.
Your tutor/teacher will explain what you have to do for each unit you are taking.
Q 4. What is the Skills Express blog?
A. You always have to keep up a record of your progress, sometimes called a folio of evidence. This shows what you have learned, and how you have learned it.
In Skills Express you can store all this evidence for the NPA in your Skills Express Blog. This makes it easy for you. Your tutor/teacher can check your progress and leave you comments and advice.
Your learning has to meet performance criteria (standards) which your tutor will explain as you go through.
