ASDAN

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

ASDAN
PurposeEducational
Location
Chief Executive
Melissa Farnham

ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) is a UK education charity and awarding organisation based in Bristol. It develops and accredits programmes and qualifications aimed at supporting learners in developing personal, social, and employability skills, using its six skills framework[1]. Its work focuses particularly on those who face barriers to learning in traditional educational settings.

History

[edit]

ASDAN originated as a curriculum development project at the University of the West of England during the 1980s and was formally established as a charity in 1991. The organisation was created with the aim of broadening educational access and supporting inclusion for students who may not thrive in conventional academic pathways.

Activities

[edit]

Programmes and qualifications

[edit]

ASDAN provides a variety of curriculum programmes and regulated qualifications. Its programmes include the Personal Development Programmes[2], Preparing for Adulthood programmes[3], Moving On[4], Lifeskills Challenge[5], and Short Courses[6] intended to be flexible and adaptable to different educational contexts, including mainstream schools, special education settings, and alternative provision.

The organisation's regulated qualifications ranging from Entry Level 1 to Level 3, include the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)[7], Employability[8], Personal and Social Development (PSD)[9], Personal Progress and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)[10]. ASDAN's Level 3 qualifications attract UCAS tariff points and are designed to support progression to further education or employment.[11]

Learner support and focus

[edit]

ASDAN is committed to prioritising learners with diverse needs, including those who are:

  • experiencing poverty in all its forms, whether economic, physical, mental, cultural, spiritual, political or societal
  • without support for their emotional and social needs have a special educational need or disability
  • not engaged or succeeding in their education and who miss an English and/or Maths pass at 16 or subsequently;
  • at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

Governance

[edit]

The Chief Executive of ASDAN is Melissa Farnham.

The Chair of Trustees is Brian Doidge.

Membership and training

[edit]

Educational institutions (centres) can become ASDAN members, gaining access to teaching resources, training opportunities, and support networks for delivering ASDAN programmes and qualifications.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ASDAN's six core skills for a changing world". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  2. ^ "Personal Development Programmes". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  3. ^ "Preparing for Adulthood programmes (SEND)". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. ^ "Moving On". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  5. ^ "Lifeskills Challenge". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  6. ^ "Short Courses". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  7. ^ "Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Level 1 and 2". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  8. ^ "Employability". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  9. ^ "Personal and Social Development". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  10. ^ "Extended Project Qualification Level 3". ASDANeducation. Archived from the original on 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  11. ^ "Qualifications membership information". ASDANeducation. Retrieved 2024-12-16.