This year we have run a successful pilot of the ASDAN Aimhigher award with 12 students at New College Nottingham, High Pavement. 

What is ASDAN?

ASDAN is a charitable social enterprise, providing courses to more than 6,000 schools, colleges, training providers and youth centres across the UK. ASDAN's award programmes offer flexible ways to accredit personal and social education, skills development and enrichment activities. 

ASDAN is approved as an awarding organisation for qualifications within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

ASDAN qualifications were given formal GCSE equivalence and included in league tables from September 2004. 

So what is the ASDAN Aimhigher award?

The ASDAN Aimhigher Award is aimed at increasing awareness of higher education, enabling students to gain an insight into how higher education works, helping them decide if it is for them and providing information on how to apply. This sits very well within the current Aimhigher Nottinghamshire activity framework in addition to offering schools and colleges the chance to actually accredit their Aimhigher activity! 

The award accredits up to 60 hours of Aimhigher activity, providing a flexible, multi-level programme. Students receive a stand alone certificate of achievement as well as progression into nationally recognised awards and qualifications. 

How to achieve the award

To be considered for an Aimhigher ASDAN award, students must present a portfolio of their activities. The portfolio contains:

• evidence of 'challenges' completed
• planning and reviewing documents
• a completed record of progress
• summary of achievement identifying skills development.  

How does the award fit into the UK Qualifications framework?

Credits from the award can count as up to half of the curriculum requirements of the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE), which has GCSE equivalence at levels 1 and 2, and is worth an AS level at level 3. 

How do I find out more?

For more information on the Aimhigher ASDAN award please contact Laura Webb on 0115 848 6125, email laura.webb@ntu.ac.uk.

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