What's
new?

Latest Article
Categories
News Blog International News School Ambassador Blogs
Promotional graphic for an article titled “Why ‘micro’ learning is never small” by Liz Barron-Majerik. The design features a dark blue background with a professional portrait on the left. Large white headline text spans the top of the image. A highlighted quote in the centre reads: “Everyone has a term that grates on them. Mine is ‘micro-credentials’. What bothers me is the word ‘micro’. It may be small compared with a full degree, but if you work full time and care for children or parents, no study feels small. It takes real time and real effort.” A pink name banner appears beside the title, and the SCQF 25 years anniversary logo is displayed in the bottom right corner.

Why ‘micro’ learning is never small

As we celebrate European RPL Week 2026, Dr Liz Barron-Majerik explores why micro-credentials matter …

5 Nov 2026
Two people stand in a brightly lit office space in front of a colourful sign reading “AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN HERE.” One person holds a Childline Induction Training certificate while standing beside another person. A noticeboard on the wall displays children’s hand-drawn thank-you posters and festive artwork dedicated to Childline volunteers, with colourful bunting hanging above.

Childline training: Turning compassion into a qualification

Learn more about NSPCC Childline’s induction training, and the benefits of having it on the SCQF.

4 Nov 2026
George Cherrie standing beside a large presentation screen displaying a Youth Scotland slide celebrating the Dynamic Youth Award’s 20th birthday and the Hi5 Award’s 5th birthday. The screen features colourful graphics, award materials and Youth Scotland branding. The person gestures towards the display while holding a folder in a meeting room.

20 years of recognising achievement: George’s journey with Youth Scotland

Join George Cherrie as he recounts his memorable moments supporting youth work.

29 Oct 2026
Promotional graphic titled “Invitation to tender: Project management” on a dark navy background. A purple text box states that the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP) is inviting tenders for the creation of a development plan for a Recognition of Prior Learning initiative. A pink banner at the bottom left reads, “For more information, visit scqf.org.uk”. The lower-right corner features layered purple and pink geometric shapes and the SCQF 25th anniversary logo with the text “25 years of making all learning count.”

Invitation to tender: Project management

The SCQF Partnership is inviting tenders for project management services.

20 Oct 2026

How Forrester High School is rethinking qualifications

Forrester High School has turned its focus onto 'what do your pupils' actually need. Read all about …

8 Oct 2026
Promotional graphic for Challenge Poverty Week 2026. A bright pink background features a large blue circle with the words “CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK” in white capital letters. Three upward-pointing arrows in pink, blue and grey overlap the circle.

How education can open doors to a different future 

As we mark Challenge Poverty Week, find out how the SCQF can help people understand their learning …

7 Oct 2026
Promotional graphic on a purple background titled “Meet the Board: Claire McPherson” in large white text across the top. On the left is a portrait of a person wearing a black high-neck top. In the centre-right is a quotation displayed within a white stylised quotation frame. The quote reads: “The SCQF is one of those rare pieces of national infrastructure that has relevance across schools, colleges, universities, employers and training providers. Being part of conversations that bring those perspectives together, while keeping the learner at the centre, is both rewarding and important.” The bottom-right corner features a commemorative SCQF 25th anniversary logo with the text “25 years of making all learning count” and the SCQF logo. The design uses white text and graphic elements against a solid purple background.

Meet the Board: Claire McPherson

In the latest in our Board blog series, we meet Claire McPherson, who shares why supporting …

2 Oct 2026
Group of approximately 20 secondary school pupils in school uniform standing in the atrium of Inverclyde Academy, framed by gold and white balloon displays. A pupil at the front holds a plaque, while the group stands on the school crest surrounded by the words “Equality,” “Respect,” and “Responsibility.” The bright, modern school interior is visible in the background.

How Inverclyde Academy is making the SCQF part of school life

Discover how Inverclyde Academy is putting young people at the heart of its SCQF journey, helping …

30 Sep 2026

Glossary Term

Authority

Appears at Level 12 only where it is used in the phrase ‘demonstrate substantial authority’, reflecting a recognised high level and depth of expertise/expert knowledge and understanding, along with confidence. It does not mean ‘exercise authority over staff and resources’ etc, as that could clearly apply at earlier levels.

Glossary Term

Exercise

Used in connection with management and/or supervisory responsibility, denotes a requirement of a formal, substantive role.

Glossary Term

Directive

Applied to ‘supervision’, signifies a task or activity that is guided.

Glossary Term

Graphical Data

Encompasses maps, plans, diagrams, tables and graphs.

Glossary Term

Synthesis

Combine discrete elements into a coherent whole.

Glossary Term

Analysis

Examine in detail with a view to explanation and interpretation.

Glossary Term

Present

Set out, put forward, deliver information using a variety of mediums as appropriate.

Glossary Term

Hypothetical

Supposed, assumed for the sake of argument.

Glossary Term

Straightforward

Clear and uncomplicated activity, but not as demanding or systematic and therefore not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Creativity

Often used in combination with ‘originality’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of creativity appears to be imagination.

Glossary Term

Originality

Often used in combination with ‘creativity’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of originality appears to be independence.

Glossary Term

Professional

Used throughout as an adjective and applied to terms including level, skills, techniques, practices, contexts, and issues where it bears broad interpretation as ‘behaving appropriately/doing things properly and well and to notions of accepted, (including externally) prescribed standards’, as well as narrow, relating to a specific occupation designated as a profession. In this latter sense, the term applies in all contexts including academic study, eg footnoting properly.

Glossary Term

Unfamiliar

New territory for an activity.

Glossary Term

Routine

Used as an adjective throughout and applied to terms including skills, tasks, elements, practices, contexts, methods and problems where it describes activity that is standard, usual, unvarying, customary, common.

Glossary Term

Everyday

Slightly more advanced and beyond personal but a known experience/activity encountered/applied regularly - less advanced than ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Familiar

Often encountered or experienced; common; something one has a good knowledge of - more advanced than ‘personal’ and ‘everyday’, not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Personal

An experience relating only or primarily to the person – one would expect to start here then widen out into the rest of the world, so not as advanced as ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Critical

Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment.

Glossary Term

Discerning

Using judgement to recognise differences but not fully equipped/informed to analyse and discuss them in depth, so less advanced than critical.

Glossary Term

Awareness

Consciousness, including a background consciousness. Can be a starting point for further exploration.

Glossary Term

Appreciation

A sense, perception, a hold, fix or grasp of one or more of the various aspects of a subject/discipline/sector.

Glossary Term

Understanding

A thorough and firm grasp of a subject/discipline/sector or an element or elements of it, derived from education/study, experience and reasoning in appropriate combination. Can be defined as ‘know why’, as opposed to ‘know that’. More holistic knowledge of processes and contexts, so more advanced than appreciation and knowledge.

Glossary Term

Simple

Undemanding activity not necessarily part of a formal structure - not as advanced as ‘basic’.

Glossary Term

Knowledge

Facts, ideas, theories and concepts in a subject/discipline/sector acquired through experience and/or education – a surer grasp than appreciation so more advanced.

Glossary Term

Basic

Activity is early stepping stone on a structure or framework that can be built upon – more advanced than ‘simple’.