Pitman Training offers students and employers GCSE alternative

Pitman Training, the provider of office and IT skills training has formed a partnership with OCR - a renowned, internationally recognised, examinations awarding body.

Centres across the UK and Ireland are now approved to offer a wide range of OCR examinations that will enable students to gain recognised qualifications following study of many Pitman Training courses. These qualifications are listed on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), primarily at Level 2. Students will be able to gain OCR Level 2 qualifications in Text Processing and also CLAiT Plus. Further qualifications will become available in due course.

OCR itself was formed in 1998 from the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate and RSA. It has over 600 staff, as well as thousands of examiners, verifiers and consultants who mark, assess and write qualifications.

Lyn Relfe, product development manager for Pitman Training commented: ìThere is a major push for all employees to have at least a Level 2 qualification, which roughly equates to the competency required for GCSEs (A* to C grade) and funding is available to employers to achieve this aim. Pitman Training has recognised this need and provides an ideal learning environment where students can study flexibly at times and durations to suit their busy lives. The courses are designed like building blocks so that the whole learning experience can be developed in stages thereby increasing learnersí confidence.î

Students choosing to study with Pitman Training can not only learn the required skills in their local centre, but can go on to take the relevant examinations to gain a nationally recognised qualification which would help make their CV stand head and shoulders above the rest. Many centres are also Microsoft IT Academies, offering Microsoft Office Specialist exams. Students receive instant results online, and if successful gain a coveted Microsoft Certificate, as well as an OCR level 2 unit qualification.

Lyn added: ìAll the incentives are there for employers to ensure that employees can gain an OCR qualification. For those studying, the OCR is a qualification that has practical uses in the workplace, while at the same time demonstrating that the student has the same ability and competence as someone whoís been awarded several top grade GCSEís. And for the employer, the cash incentives to send their employees to train mean they are helping their staff develop up to the minute nationally recognised skills ñ upskilling their workforce without having to spend huge amounts on training.î