Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Level 1 and 2

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About this course

What is it?

The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) is a nationally recognised qualification available at Levels 1, 2 and CoPE Level 3. The qualification offers imaginative ways of accrediting young people's activities. It promotes, and allows centres to record, a wide range of personal qualities, abilities and achievements of young people, as well as introducing them to new activities and challenges.

Read the full specifications for CoPE Level 1 and CoPE Level 2

Take a look at inspiring success stories from ASDAN centres in the CoPE case studies leaflet. These testimonials highlight the benefits of CoPE for both learners and centres.

You can also find out more about CoPE in this information leaflet

The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness qualification is a larger qualification than, and offers progression from, the Award of Personal Effectiveness.

Join ASDAN

To teach this course you must have one of these membership types:

  • Qualifications

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Who is it for?

  • Students in Years 10 and 11, either within the whole school PSHE programme or within the option system
  • Students in post-16 education, embarking on programmes at Levels 1 and 2

Facts and figures

  • Following amendments to the school and college performance tables in England, qualifications that do not rely on a written examination for assessment purposes, such as ASDAN qualifications, do not, themselves, contribute to the tables. There is however strong evidence that ASDAN qualifications improve performance in English and mathematics, which have a double weighting in school performance measures such as Progress 8.
  • In Wales and Northern Ireland, ASDAN qualifications can contribute towards school/college performance measures. Download this information sheet for details. 

Structure

The CoPE curriculum is found in the student book, which comprises 13 modules. The modules are divided into three sections; section A, B and C. Each section should take at least 10 hours to complete – 10 hours is worth one credit. Students will need 12 credits to gain the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness.

The module titles are: Communication; Citizenship and community; Sport and leisure; Independent living; The environment; Vocational preparation; Health and fitness; Work-related learning and enterprise; Science and technology; International links; Expressive arts; Beliefs and values; Combined studies (this module allows you to mix and match a combination of challenges from other modules).

Students will produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their achievements. Students must also demonstrate competence at Level 1 or 2 in the six CoPE skills units:

  • Introduction to working with others
  • Introduction to improving own learning and performance
  • Introduction to problem solving
  • Planning and carrying out a piece of research
  • Communication through discussion
  • Planning and giving an oral presentation

Units and standards

Download the CoPE Levels 1-3 standards only.

Please note that centres registered to deliver CoPE will be able to access a full copy of the standards with guidance, which provides key information on how to interpret and implement the unit standards. Download sample units from the CoPE Levels 1-3 standards with guidance.

1. Staff training

• The members of staff with overall responsibility for delivery must attend an ASDAN introductory workshop, webinar or INSET. Book at: asdan.org.uk/training

2. Register with ASDAN

• You will need ASDAN Qualifications membership to deliver CoPE qualifications. Membership allows centres to purchase materials and access support, including regular mailings and updates.
• Become a member at: asdan.org.uk/membership or manage your existing membership at: asdan.org.uk/membership-details

3. Centre approval

• Centres will need to provide specific policies and procedures and provide additional information in order to be given centre approval to deliver qualifications. Centres are risk rated and all new centres will require a centre approval visit.
• Centres should create assessment plans for all units being assessed. Centres may be asked to supply them to ASDAN for validation.
• Centres will be required to review and renew a number of centre policies each year at: asdan.org.uk/member/centre-details/centre-approval

4. Create a new cohort

• Create a new cohort using the ASDAN website: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• Specify a course co-ordinator, the expected completion date and the number of learners taking the course. Select student books for your learners.

5. Delivery and assessment

• Deliver the course to candidates, making use of the standards and general guidance and assessment resources. Resources can be downloaded from the course resources section on this page.

6. Support

• Autumn term themed support meetings offer CPD opportunities.
• Spring term qualification support meetings offer ongoing support, feedback and opportunities for networking.

7. Internal moderation

• Internally moderate all portfolios to ensure that learners have met the full requirements of the course. Ensure learners are given time to make any necessary amendments.

8. External moderation

• Book your moderation at: asdan.org.uk/member/moderations
• Deadline of 31 October for booking moderation within the academic year. Fees apply for moderations booked after this date. Members are entitled to two free moderations per qualification, per year.
• Confirm your learner names and details for moderation: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• Provide the sample portfolios to the external quality assurer (EQA), as requested.
Moderation may take place as part of a centre visit or be carried out by post.
• Certificates will be sent to your centre within 20 working days of your EQA notifying ASDAN that a successful final moderation has taken place.

ASDAN training events are delivered by experts to enable your centre to successfully run our courses. They provide an introduction to the course, along with guidance on the processes involved, course delivery and moderation. 

Training is mandatory for Certificate of Personal Effectiveness qualifications. 

Book training

Costs

All candidate registration costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated.

Item Price
Certificate of Personal and Social Effectiveness:   
Level 1 and 2 £35.95
Level 3 £39.45

Products can be purchased below.

Public funding for ASDAN qualifications delivered in the UK

Many ASDAN qualifications are fully funded by the UK Government.

Whether you are an employer, a learner or a training provider, the following websites will provide you with more information on the different types of public funding in the UK for ASDAN qualifications.  

Products

Course resources


Learning log


CoPE Level 1: Approved problems


CoPE Level 1 and 2 record of progress


CoPE Level 1 exemplar portfolio: Research


CoPE Level 1 exemplar portfolio: Problem solving


CoPE Level 1 exemplar portfolio: Working with others


CoPE Level 2: Suggested problems


CoPE Level 2 exemplar portfolio: Research


CoPE Level 2 exemplar portfolio: Problem solving


CoPE Level 2 exemplar portfolio: Working with others


Helping others at Christmas: Citizenship and community

This PowerPoint can be used to structure a project based around helping others at Christmas, with links to challenges 2A6 and 2B1 from the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE). Learners are asked to investigate potential ways of helping others at Christmas, they then plan and undertake a period of volunteering, community or fundraising work and review their involvement. For example: organising a Christmas fayre to raise funds for charity; volunteering at a homeless shelter; donating presents to overseas children via a shoebox appeal; hosting a social event for local elderly residents.


Fundraising event review

This resource can be used by learners to review a fundraising event that they have organised (e.g. Comic Relief, Children in Need, Jeans for Genes Day, World's Biggest Coffee Morning). It is linked to the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Levels 1 and 2 (Module 2, Section B) and ASDAN Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold) (challenge 2B1).


Fundraising event plan

This resource can be used by learners to plan a fundraising event (e.g. Comic Relief, Children in Need, Jeans for Genes Day, World's Biggest Coffee Morning). It is linked to the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Levels 1 and 2 (Module 2, Section B) and ASDAN Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold) (challenge 2B1).


Evaluation chart (individual)

This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week individual activity. Learners are asked to mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt; at the end of the project the learner should join up the marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.


Evaluation chart (group)

This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week group activity. Each member of the group should choose a different colour and mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt. At the end of the project, each group member then joins up their marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.


CoPE Levels 1 and 2 - Citizenship and Community Section B - Fundraising

Module 2, Citizenship and Community: Section B. Teacher notes, worksheets and evidence checklist.


Birds of prey factsheets

These birds of prey factsheets can be used to record information about three different species - barn owl, goshawk and kestrel - as well as a blank template. This resource could be used to provide evidence for challenge 5A4 from the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Levels 1 and 2 and the Personal Development Programmes. Created with input from Riverside Falconry: http://www.riversidefalconry.co.uk/


Scheme of work template

This template can be used to plan and create a scheme of work for any ASDAN programme or qualification. Also included is a completed example showing a scheme of work for Module 3 of the Personal Development Programmes.


Self-evaluation template

This generic self-evaluation template can be used by learners to evaluate almost any group activity. Learners are asked to record how they felt about the activity and pick out the best and worst bits, before reflecting on what they could do better next time. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.


Social action ideas: lesson PowerPoint

This PowerPoint can be used at the start of a social action project to gather ideas and make a pledge and plan for social action. The PowerPoint outlines a three-part lesson to generate ideas and start making plans. A supporting worksheet is also available. This resource links to CoPE Levels 1 and 2 (Module 2: Citizenship and community, Section B) and ASDAN Bronze, Silver, Gold Personal Development Programmes (Module 2: The community, Section B, Challenge 1).


Social action ideas: Mind map and plan

This worksheet can be used at the start of a social action project to come up with ideas, make a pledge and write a plan. A lesson PowerPoint outlining a three-part lesson based on social action is also available. This resource links to CoPE Levels 1 and 2 (Module 2: Citizenship and Community, Section B) and ASDAN Bronze, Silver, Gold Personal Development Programmes (Module 2: The Community, Section B, Challenge 1).


Teamwork health check

This generic teamwork health check template can support a wide range of group activities. Learners are asked to come up with a list of agreed ground rules for good teamwork, then rate each group member's performance against these criteria. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.


Personal skills progress tracker

Tracking chart to identify particular personal skills and whether the student is good or bad at each.

Success stories

CoPE is core part of the curriculum at outstanding school

Many students at Hockerill Anglo-European College have gone on to achieve success following the completion of ASDAN’s Certificate of Personal Effectiveness. Popular among learners, staff and parents, the qualification has become a key part of the school’s curriculum.

Learners at Dorset school improve literacy skills through CoPE

ASDAN’s Certificate of Personal Effectiveness qualification has boosted the literacy of GCSE students at Corfe Hills School as well as helping them develop essential skills. Trish Rickaby, the school’s ASDAN Co-ordinator, tells us more.

CoPE complements academic learning at Gloucestershire school

Learners at a Gloucestershire School undertake ASDAN’s Certificate of Personal Effectiveness in place of a GCSE subject. This has boosted their engagement in class, enhanced their confidence and helped them develop core skills.
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