GovWire

Over the past few years, Ofqual has invested in a programme of research into what we now refer to as the CASLO approach to qualification design.

This report captures the views of a sample of awarding organisations concerning the features and processes that they build into their qualifications to help secure their validity and value. These insights provide a useful resource for reflecting on the sorts of problems that can affect CASLO qualifications, as well as the sorts of mitigations that can be put in place to confront them.

Authors

Milja Curcin, Paul Newton, Asteria Brylka and Latoya Clarke, from Ofquals Standards, Research and Analysis Directorate.

With thanks to

All the awarding organisations and their staff for their willingness and enthusiasm to participate in this research.

The CASLO Research Programme

This report is part of a series that arose from Ofquals 2020 to 2024 programme of research into the CASLO approach:

1. The CASLO Research Programme: Overview of research projects conducted between 2020 and 2024.
2. The CASLO Approach: A design template for vocational and technical qualifications.
3. How CASLO Qualifications Work. (This was published in February 2022.)
4. Origins and Evolution of the CASLO Approach in England: The importance of outcomes and mastery when designing vocational and technical qualifications.
5. Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report A): A taxonomy of potential problems.
6. Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report B): Views from awarding organisations.
7. Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report C): Views from qualification stakeholders.
8. Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report D): Properties of qualifications from the CASLO research programme.
9. Understanding Qualification Design: Insights from the 2020 to 2024 CASLO qualification research programme.