WESTROW ACADEMY

VTCT Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
INDUSTRY READY TRAINING

Gain the skills and confidence that employers are looking for.

EXPERT
EDUCATORS

Industry professionals who are as passionate about your success as you are.

REAL SALON
EXPERIENCE

Opportunities to train in our busy real salon with real clients.

AWARD WINNING
SALONS

Recognised for excellence across Leeds and West Yorkshire.

ABOUT THE COURSE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Westrow is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all staff, students and members of the community it serves. In doing so, the college will actively work to achieve equality, regardless of age, race, skin colour, disability, gender, marital status, sexuality or faith.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The VTCT Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement is a practical assessor qualification for learners who want to assess vocational skills, knowledge and competence within a training, education or workplace setting.

Learners will develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to plan, carry out and evaluate assessments fairly, consistently and professionally. The course covers assessment principles, assessment planning, evidence gathering, feedback, record keeping and working within quality assurance requirements.

Learners will also develop their understanding of the role and responsibilities of an assessor, including professional boundaries, equality and diversity, standardisation, confidentiality, communication and supporting learners through the assessment process.

All courses require employment for a minimum duration of 16 hours per week. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

There are no formal prerequisite qualifications required to undertake this qualification.

Learners should be occupationally competent in the subject area they wish to assess and should have suitable industry knowledge or experience. As this is a practical assessor qualification, learners will also need access to learners or candidates so they can gather evidence of real assessment practice.

COURSE DURATION

This is a flexible assessor qualification delivered over a timetable suited to the learner and the evidence they need to gather.

PROGRESSION

On completion, learners can progress into assessor roles within vocational education, workplace training, apprenticeships, private training academies or further education environments.

Further progression may include the VTCT Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, the VTCT Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, specialist teaching qualifications or wider quality assurance and training roles.

COURSE UNITS
Learners develop the knowledge needed to understand how assessment works within vocational education and training. This includes assessment methods, assessment planning, evidence requirements, learner support, feedback, standardisation, quality assurance and the legal and professional responsibilities of an assessor.
This unit focuses on assessing learners’ practical competence in a real workplace environment. Learners develop the skills needed to plan workplace assessments, use suitable evidence, observe performance, make fair assessment decisions, provide feedback and maintain accurate assessment records.
Learners develop the practical skills needed to assess vocational learning in settings such as classrooms, workshops or training environments. This includes selecting appropriate assessment methods, assessing skills and knowledge, using evidence effectively, giving constructive feedback and reviewing assessment practice.
Assessment:

Learners will build a portfolio of evidence throughout the course. This may include written assignments, assessment plans, observation records, learner feedback, reflective accounts, professional discussion, oral questioning and evidence gathered from real assessment practice.

Learners will need to demonstrate their ability to assess occupational competence in the work environment and vocational skills, knowledge and understanding in a training or learning environment. Assessment evidence should show that the learner can plan assessments, use appropriate assessment methods, make reliable assessment decisions, provide feedback and complete accurate records.

Assessment is designed to confirm the learner’s knowledge, understanding and practical ability to work as a vocational assessor in line with professional and quality assurance requirements.

APPRENTICESHIPS

How Does it all Work?

At Westrow Academy, our courses are designed to give learners the skills, confidence and professional support they need to progress in the hairdressing industry. Training combines practical experience, expert guidance and structured learning, helping each learner develop at the right pace while building the knowledge and techniques required for their chosen qualification.

Depending on the course, learning may take place through a combination of salon-based training, Academy sessions, practical demonstrations, theory work, observations and ongoing reviews. This ensures learners can apply their skills in real working environments while receiving regular support from experienced educators.

Learners benefit from:

  • Earn while you learn.
  • Professional practical and theory training
  • Support from experienced industry educators
  • A clear learning pathway tailored to the course requirements
  • Regular progress reviews and feedback
  • Practical observations and assessment guidance
  • Support with portfolio evidence where required
  • Preparation for assessments and End-point Assessment where applicable
  • English and maths support where required as part of an apprenticeship
SUCCESS STORIES

A WORD FROM OUR AMAZING GRADUATES