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SCQF Partnership appoints Marissa Lippiatt as interim CEO

John Evans, chair of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership Board, has …

20 Feb 2026
Group shot of Brechin HIgh School pupils

From fear to fearless: Brechin High pupils thrive with Outward Bound

Discover how Outward Bound Trust’s SCQF level 5 and 6 courses transform pupils’ confidence, …

19 Feb 2026
A promotional graphic with a dark blue background titled “Top 12 subject choices questions.” Three people — an adult man, an adult woman and a teenage boy — sit together looking at a laptop or workbook. A magenta box on the left reads, “Find out the answers to questions parents & carers are asking most.” A purple box at the bottom shows the website “scqf.org.uk.” The SCQF logo and the text “Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework” appear in the bottom right corner.

Subject choices: Top 12 questions from parents & carers

Subject choice time can feel exciting – and sometimes a little daunting – for young …

6 Feb 2026

Meet the Quality Committee: Steven Maclennan

Meet Steven Maclennan, Development Officer at the CLD Standards Council, as he shares insights into …

23 Jan 2026
A group of secondary school pupils in school uniform stand and sit behind a table displaying “SCQF Ambassadors” posters and information boards, promoting the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework at Douglas Academy.

Douglas Academy: Our journey to SCQF School Ambassador silver

Discover how Douglas Academy is using the SCQF to expand learner pathways, empower pupil …

20 Jan 2026
Graphic of certificate appearing out of laptop, with a man grasping at the certificate

Moving to digital: E-Certificates for SCQF credit rated programmes and units

Find out if you can issue E-Certificates for programmes on the SCQF.

7 Jan 2026
Graphic announcing the departure of Pauline Radcliffe as CEO of the SCQF Partnership. The design features a dark blue and purple background with pink accents. Large headline text reads “Departure of Pauline Radcliffe as CEO of the SCQF Partnership.” On the right is a SCQFP Board Chair John Evans in a jacket and shirt, and the SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) logo appears in the bottom right corner.

Departure of Pauline Radcliffe as CEO of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership

Pauline Radcliffe has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Credit and …

2 Jan 2026
A group of teens taking part in a learning activity outdoors to highlight the credit rating funding that's available

Organisations invited to apply for credit rating funding

Organisations can apply for funding to have their interdisciplinary learning programmes or awards …

3 Dec 2025

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’.