Unit 4 - Citizenship

Overview

Citizenship at Entry Level 3 requires the candidate to understand their own rights and responsibilities as being a citizen in a country.  They need to be able to understand the laws tht protect their rights and equalities.  They need to demonstrate that they know how the levels of government work and how they fit into that structure.

A work activity will typically be ‘straightforward or routine’ because:

The task or context will be familiar and involve few variable aspects. The techniques used will be familiar or commonly undertaken.

Example of context – Make a simple report on citizenship.

Assessor's guide to interpreting the criteria

General Information

QCF general description for Level 1 qualifications

  • Achievement at RQF entry level 3 (EQF Level 1) reflects the ability to use relevant knowledge, skills and procedures to complete routine tasks. It includes responsibility for completing tasks and procedures subject to direction or guidance.
  • Use knowledge of facts, procedures and ideas to complete well- defined, routine tasks. Be aware of information relevant to the area of study or work
  • Complete well-defined routine tasks. Use relevant skills and procedures. Select and use relevant information. Identify whether actions have been effective.
  • Take responsibility for completing tasks and procedures subject to direction or guidance as needed

Requirements

  • Standards must be confirmed by a trained Level 1 Assessor or higher
  • Assessors must at a minimum record assessment judgements as entries in the online mark book on the INGOTs.org certification site.
  • Routine evidence of work used for judging assessment outcomes in the candidates' records of their day to day work will be available from their e-portfolios and online work. Assessors should ensure that relevant web pages are available to their Account Manager on request by supply of the URL.
  • When the candidate provides evidence of matching all the criteria to the specification, subject to the guidance below, the assessor can request the award using the link on the certification site. The Account Manager will request a random sample of evidence from candidates' work that verifies the assessor's judgement.
  • When the Account Manager is satisfied that the evidence is sufficient to safely make an award, the candidate's success will be confirmed and the unit certificate will be printable from the web site.
  • Each unit at Level 1 has recommended 40 guided learning hours based on time required to complete by an average learner.

Assessment Method

Assessors can score each of the criteria N, L, S or H. N indicates no evidence and it is the default setting. L indicates some capability but some help still required to meet the standard. S indicates that the candidate can match the criterion to its required specification in keeping with the overall level descriptor. H indicates performance that goes beyond the expected in at least some aspects. Candidates are required to achieve at least S on all the criteria to achieve the full unit award. Once the candidate has satisfied all the criteria by demonstrating practical competence in realistic contexts they achieve the unit certificate.

Expansion of the assessment criteria

1. The candidate will know that citizens have rights and responsibilities

1.1 I can identify the legal rights of a British Citizen

Candidates should be able to identify their rights as a citizen

Evidence: Documentation in portfolios, assessor observations.

Additional information and guidance

The basic rights you have as a citizen of any country can vary.  Here in the UK you have the right to live here, vote (if you are old enough), work and raise a family.  These are obviously supported by supplementary rights to have a certain amount of free health care and education.  You also have the right to justice.

1.2 I can identify a responsibility that citizens have to maintain their own well-being

Candidates should be able to identify what they need to do to act responsibly as a citizen

Evidence: Documentation in portfolios, assessor observations.

Additional information and guidance

What is "well being".  This should be straight forward, but some people might not have the ability to have well-being.  For example, if you can't afford to pay your bills and feed your family, though no fault of your own, have you failed in your responsibility as a citizen?  Candidates need to give some statements explaining how they maintain their well being in the system they live in.

1.3 I can identify a responsibility that citizens have to others

Candidates should be able to identify some responsibilities that we all should share

Evidence: Documentation in portfolios, assessor observations.

Additional information and guidance

A society clearly functions better if everyone has a certain amount of respect for the rights of others and acts accordingly.  Candidates should be able to articulate that not stealing from people of committing other crimes makes the society work better and makes it easier to live as a 'well' citizen.  Other similar examples.

2. The candidate will know about equal opportunity issues in relation to the law

2.1 I can give an example of a group of people protected by equality law

The candidate will be able to identify people protected by equality laws

Evidence: From portfolios and assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

This will vary depending on the locality of the candidates as they may well have local issues that relate to equality, such as traveler families or perhaps a large population of a specific religious group.  They need to show that they are aware of what protections there are and why. 

2.2 I can give an example of how equal opportunity law can help a specified group

The candidate will be able to flesh out the identified law in 2.1

Evidence: From portfolios and assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

How are the identified group of people in 2.1 protected by the existing laws?  Are they allowed certain freedoms beyond the basic freedoms that all citizens enjoy?  Are they given any additional legal protections?

3. The candidate will know the role of government in the daily life of citizens

3.1 I can state what a citizen needs to do in order to be able to vote in an election

The candidate will be able to identify the characteristic of voter registration

Evidence: From portfolios, local testing, assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

What is required in order to vote?

3.2 I can identify services provided by local government

The candidate will be able to identify their local services

Evidence: From portfolios, local testing, assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

What services are provided by your local government?  This could be parish based services, town or district services or even county services.  These will vary depending on where you live and the composition of the local council, i.e. what political party controls what they do.

3.3 I can identify services provided by national government

The candidate will be able to identify the services offered by national government

Evidence: From portfolios, local testing, assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

When candidate's vote in a general election, what does this give them as a citizen?

3.4 I can list the main public services available in my own community

The candidate will be able to identify their local services

Evidence: From portfolios, local testing, assessor observations

Additional information and guidance

This will vary for each candidate.  For TLM, the local services would be here.  The What we do paragraph lists and links to the services offered.  candidates should be able to find similar for their own town or village.

Moderation/verification

The assessor should keep a record of assessment judgements made for each candidate guided by the above guidance. Criteria should be interpreted in the context of the general descriptors of RQF Level 1 qualifications.  They should make notes of any significant issues for any candidate and be in a position to advise candidates on suitable routes for progression. They must be prepared to enter into dialogue with their Account Manager and provide their assessment records to the Account Manager through the on-line mark book. They should be prepared to provide evidence as a basis for their judgements through reference to candidate e-portfolios. Before authorising certification, the Account Manager must be satisfied that the assessors judgements are sound. In the event of missing evidence, the assessor will be requested to gather appropriate information before the award can be made.