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Level 2 to Level 3 BEL Upgrade

Since October 2003 the Level 2 Award in Basic Expedition Leadership has been on the National Qualification Framework (NQF). From September 2010 this qualification sits on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) as the Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership.

Although the basic requirements and format of the qualification will not change, there are some specific aspects of the syllabus that will be different.

Some Basic Expedition Leaders who gained the Level 2 Award in Basic Expedition Leadership from October 2003 onwards may wish to upgrade to the Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership. Sports Leaders UK are making this possible by way of an 'upgrade programme'.

Sports Leaders UK will accept the following Level 2 units as 'exemptions':

  • Unit 1 - Understanding the principles and practice of leading an expedition.
  • Unit 2 - Understanding instructional and organisational methods in expedition leadership.
  • Unit 3 - Planning and preparing for an expedition.
  • Unit 4 - Understanding conservation and access for an expedition.
  • Unit 6 - Selecting and using appropriate equipment for an outdoor activity.
  • Unit 7 - Planning and completing an outdoor activity.
  • Unit 8 - Dealing with First Aid and emergency situations whilst outdoors.
  • Unit 9 - Understanding fitness and weather conditions in the outdoor environment.
  • Unit 10 - Demonstration of expedition leadership skills.

This means that learners who successfully completed and were certificated for these units after October 2003 will automatically count these previously gained units towards the Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership (QCF).

A learner wishing to upgrade to the Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership must successfully achieve all Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria from these specific Level 3 units:

  • Unit 6 - Navigation for the walk leader.
  • Unit 8 - Management of unaccompanied groups in the countryside.

In addition to these two Level 3 units learners will also need to complete/produce a current and valid eight hour First Aid certificate, and produce a log evidencing eight day walks in BEL terrain.

A Tutor/Assessor wishing to deliver a BEL Upgrade course will have to obtain a licence key-code for the Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership CD-ROM Tutor Resource in order to access the relevant teaching materials and resources needed to run a successful course.

Anyone wishing to upgrade in this way will follow the process outlined below:

  • The Centre Course Manager (CCM) will complete an Upgrade Course Application Form.
  • The CCM returns the completed Upgrade Course Application Form to Sports Leaders UK and will also submit a course programme, showing how the Level 3 specific units will be delivered and assessed. Normal guidance for completing a course programme will apply.
  • A BEL Quality Assurance Officer will approve the course programme in the normal way.
  • Sports Leaders UK will send:
    • an Upgrade letter reminding the CCM of what's involved and what they need to do.
    • the relevant number of learner Records of Achievement.
    • an Upgrade Internal Assessment Record.
    • an Upgrade Independent Assessor Report Form.
    • one Non Standard Learning Route Learner Certification Form per learner.
  • The CCM will return the completed Learner Registration Forms from the learner Records of Achievement to Sports Leaders UK, remembering to complete any exemption details.
  • Sports Leaders UK will check that every learner has previously been certificated for the units indicated as exemptions on the Learner Registration Form since October 2003.
  • The Tutor/Assessor will deliver the BEL Upgrade course, using the teaching materials and resources from the CD-ROM Tutor Resource as appropriate.
  • The Tutor/Assessor will record their assessment decisions on the BEL Upgrade Internal Assessment Record.
  • The course will be internally verified in the normal way and the Internal Verifier will record their findings on the Internal Verification Record as usual.
  • The course will be independently assessed in the normal manner. The Independent Assessor will record their assessment decisions on the BEL Upgrade Independent Assessor Report Form.
  • At the end of the course the CCM will return the completed Non Standard Learning Route Learner Certification Form to Sports Leaders UK, confirming that:
    • The learner has successfully completed Units 6 and 8.
    • The learner has a current and valid First aid certificate (eight hours).
    • The Independent Assessor has been involved and completed the Independent Assessor Report Form.
    • Eight day walks have been completed and logged.
  • Sports Leaders UK will issue certificates to successful learners.
  • BEL Upgrade courses will be externally verified as part of the normal sampling system.
  • The Tutor/Assessor will be expected to retain minimum evidence for at least three years.