Origins and Evolution of the CASLO Approach in England
The importance of outcomes and mastery when designing vocational and technical qualifications - part of a series from Ofqual’s programme of research into the CASLO approach.
Applies to England
Documents
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The CASLO approach is a high-level template for designing qualifications that is both outcome-based and mastery-based.
Outcome-based approaches insist qualifications should be designed around learning outcomes. Mastery-based approaches insist that only those students who have demonstrably mastered the full domain of learning should pass the qualification.
The CASLO approach - so called because CASLO qualifications are designed to Confirm the Acquisition of Specified Learning Outcomes - came to prominence in England during the 1980s and into the 1990s with the introduction of National Vocational Qualifications.
This report sets out to explain how and why the CASLO approach was first introduced in England, how it came to dominate the Technical and Vocational Education and Training landscape, and why it began to fall out of favour with policy makers in recent years. It aims to identify what lessons can be learnt from this trajectory.
Authors
- Paul E. Newton, Latoya Clarke, Milja Curcin, and Astera Brylka, from Ofqual’s Standards, Research, and Analysis Directorate.
With particular thanks to
- Fiona Beedle, Alan Carter, Gillian Cooke, Hayley Dalton, Norman Gealy, Tina Isaacs, Nick Juba, Jill Lanning, Rachael Meech, Judith Norrington, Tim Oates, Barry Smith, Vikki Smith, Isabel Sutcliffe, Jenny Williams, and Chris Winch.
The CASLO Research Programme
This report is part of a series that arose from Ofqual’s 2020 to 2024 programme of research into the CASLO approach:
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The CASLO Research Programme: Overview of research projects conducted between 2020 and 2024.
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The CASLO Approach: A design template for vocational and technical qualifications.
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How ‘CASLO’ Qualifications Work. (This was published in February 2022.)
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Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report A): A taxonomy of potential problems.
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Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report B): Views from awarding organisations.
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Responding to Criticisms of the CASLO Approach (Report C): Views from qualification stakeholders.