Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Level 1 and 2
About this course
ASDAN’s Award and Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE and CoPE) qualifications are closed to new learner registrations in England, Northern Ireland and international settings.
Centres in Wales can continue to register learners until 30 September 2026.
Centres with existing learners can continue to deliver AoPE and CoPE in line with the relevant specifications and certification deadlines.
ASDAN members approved to deliver AoPE or CoPE are automatically approved to deliver PEQ, except for centres in Wales.
Who is CoPE for?
- Students in Years 10 and 11, either within the whole school PSHE programme, within the option system, or to complement a programme of GCSEs.
- Students in post-16 education, embarking on programmes at Levels 1 and 2.
- Students in Key Stage 3 can start working towards these qualifications if the centre feels it is appropriate for the individual student, for example, if the student is considered to be more able or gifted.
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.
The following documents are available to download for free:
- CoPE Levels 1 and 2 student book
- Sample units from the CoPE Levels 1-3 standards with guidance
- CoPE exemplar portfolio: working with others Level 1
- CoPE exemplar portfolio: working with others Level 2
Assessment resources
- CoPE Level 1 assessment plans
- CoPE Level 2 assessment plans
- CoPE Levels 1 and 2 completed example assessment plans
Assessment planning guidance and an Assessment checklist are available from the Course resources section of this page and from ASDAN Qualifications Centre Guidance.
All candidate registration costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Personal Effectiveness: | |
| Level 1 and 2 | £38 |
| Level 3 | £41 |
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.
- England - Education and Skills Funding Agency, ESFA
- Wales - Qualifications in Wales, QiW
- Northern Ireland - Department for the Economy
Products
Course resources
Qualifications internal quality assurance guidance
Qualifications internal quality assurance cycle
Qualifications internal quality assurance pre-delivery check (with guidance)
Qualifications internal quality assurance sampling plan
Qualifications internal quality assurance feedback report template
Qualifications internal standardisation meeting template
Qualifications EQA/external moderation sample centre checklist
Digital sampling guidance
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, Worlds 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.