Highfield Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET)
Qualification Specification and Structure
The Highfield Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (RQF) is designed to prepare trainee teachers to teach in a wide range of contexts. This qualification requires observation and assessment of practice and offers a variety of optional units to tailor the qualification to different learning environments.
Qualification Structure
To achieve the Highfield Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, learners must complete a minimum of 36 credits as outlined below:
- Mandatory Group A: 21 credits must be achieved from this group.
- Optional Group B: A minimum of 15 credits must be achieved from this group.
Mandatory Group A:
- Unit 1: Understanding roles, responsibilities, and relationships in education and training (3 credits, 12 GLH)
- Unit 2: Planning to meet the needs of learners in education and training (3 credits, 15 GLH)
- Unit 3: Delivering education and training (6 credits, 24 GLH)
- Unit 4: Assessing learners in education and training (6 credits, 24 GLH)
- Unit 5: Using resources for education and training (3 credits, 15 GLH)
Optional Group B:
Learners must achieve at least 15 credits from the following units, with examples including:
- Unit 6: Action learning to support development of subject-specific pedagogy (15 credits, 50 GLH)
- Unit 7: Action research (15 credits, 50 GLH)
- Unit 8: Assess occupational competence in the work environment (6 credits, 30 GLH)
- Unit 9: Equality and diversity (6 credits, 25 GLH)
- Unit 10: Teaching in a specialist area (15 credits, 50 GLH)
- Unit 11: Developing, using, and organising resources within a specialist area (15 credits, 50 GLH)
Assessed Observation Guidance:
Assessed observations of practice are a vital component of this qualification. Learners are required to complete a minimum of three observations, totalling at least three hours, with no single observation being less than half an hour.
HABC recommends a holistic approach, where observations enable learners to provide evidence across multiple units. Observations demonstrating inadequate practice should not count towards the required hours but must be recorded and detailed feedback provided.
Grading Criteria:
Grading for assessed observations is as follows:
- Outstanding (Grade 1)
- Good (Grade 2)
- Requires Improvement (Grade 3)
- Inadequate (Grade 4)
Entry Requirements
To enrol in this qualification, learners must:
- Be a minimum of 19 years of age
- Be qualified, proficient, or experienced in the subject they intend to teach
- Demonstrate the potential to study at Level 4, equivalent to the first year of a degree course
- Complete an initial assessment of their maths, English, and ICT skills
Progression Opportunities
Upon successful completion, learners may progress to the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, further enhancing their teaching skills and knowledge.
Guidance on Assessment
This qualification is assessed by a portfolio of evidence covering all assessment criteria. The portfolio must include evidence of 30 hours of teaching practice and 3 hours of observed practice.
Highfield provides supporting assessment paperwork, but centres may use their own, subject to Highfield’s approval.