Personal Effectiveness Qualifications
About this course
What are Personal Effectiveness Qualifications?
ASDAN’s Personal Effectiveness Qualifications (PEQ) are regulated, portfolio-based qualifications for learners aged 14 and over.
Available at Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in Award, Extended Award and Certificate sizes, the qualifications provide a flexible way to develop and recognise transferable skills.
The flexible structure allows centres to select a qualification level, size and combination of units that reflect learners’ starting points, interests and progression goals.
The qualification units develop skills in:
- learning
- communicating
- decision making
- thinking
- team working
- self-awareness
Through practical, learner-centred activities and portfolio-based assessment, learners build confidence, independence and skills for further education, training, employment and adult life.
PEQ can support inclusive curriculum pathways, personal development, careers and employability education, work readiness and preparation for adulthood.
Information for centres moving from AoPE or CoPE
ASDAN’s Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) and Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) are closed to new registrations in England, Northern Ireland and international settings. Centres in Wales can continue to register learners for AoPE and CoPE until 30 September 2026.
ASDAN members approved to deliver AoPE or CoPE are automatically approved to deliver the PEQ suite, except for centres in Wales.
For registration, certification and withdrawal dates, please refer to the ASDAN qualifications information sheet.
External quality assurance in the first year of delivery
Centres must register learners and submit work for external quality assurance sampling during their first year of delivering PEQ, even if learners are not expected to complete their qualification during that year.
For guidance, please contact ASDAN's centre support team
| Learner age | 14+, 14–16, 14–25, 16+, 16–19, 19+, Adults |
| Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) | Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 |
| Key Stage | Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5 |
| Education setting | Mainstream school, Justice system (including youth offending), Further education, Community Education, EOTAS, PRU, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Training provider, Adult education, Independent school, Secondary |
| Guided learning hours | 20–60 hours, 60–100 hours, 100–180 hours |
| Regulated | Qualification |
| Certification | Externally certificated, hard-copy only |
| Location | England, Northern Ireland, International (including Channel Islands and Ireland) |
| UCAS points | UCAS points available |
| Available on Equitas | No |
| Pathway | Personal Effectiveness |
Who are they for?
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications are designed for learners aged 14 and over. Level 3 qualifications are available to learners aged 16 and over.
They can be used with learners across a wide range of education and training settings and may be particularly valuable where a flexible, applied and portfolio-based qualification supports the learner’s needs and goals.
PEQ can support:
- flexible Key Stage 4 and post-16 curriculum pathways
- personal development and transferable skills
- careers education and employability
- preparation for adulthood and work readiness
- re-engagement with learning
- progression to further education, training or employment
- learners with additional needs or SEND
- learners who benefit from practical, portfolio-based assessment.
There are no formal entry requirements. Centres should carry out an initial assessment before registering each learner to determine the most appropriate qualification level and size.
Progression opportunities
Learners may progress to:
- a larger or higher-level Personal Effectiveness Qualification
- another ASDAN qualification at the same or a higher level
- further education or training (eg moving from school to college or to higher education)
- a work placement or an apprenticeship
- employment
Funding, performance points and UCAS Tariff points
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications at Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2 are approved for funding in England and Northern Ireland for eligible learners aged 14–16. Performance points are available for qualifications regulated in Northern Ireland.
Selected Level 3 ASDAN qualifications carry UCAS Tariff points. Funding eligibility, performance measures and UCAS information can change. Centres should check the latest information before making curriculum, registration or funding decisions.
Qualification details can be found on the Register of Regulated Qualifications. Current funding and performance point information is available from:
- List of qualifications approved for funding (Ofqual-regulated)
- NIEFQAN (qualifications regulated by CCEA Regulation)
- UCAS tariff information
Structure
To achieve a Personal Effectiveness Qualification, learners must complete a set number of credits. One credit refers to approximately 10 hours of learning, including assessment.
Members can select units that suit their learners’ needs and interests.
Learners can achieve a combination of units from the level of the qualification and from either the level above or the level below it. Please refer to the specification document for details about rules of combination.
If a learner achieves more credits than allowed at a higher level, this may lead to a different qualification outcome. Members unsure about the likely result should contact info@asdan.org.uk for guidance.
If a learner does not achieve enough credits to complete a qualification, they will receive certification for the units they have achieved.
Downloads
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications specification
ASDAN training provides guidance on qualification planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance. It is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.
Centres are responsible for ensuring staff are appropriately skilled and meet the requirements in the qualification specification.
Training is included as part of ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.
ASDAN Qualification Assessment Planning
Three free training videos explain what assessment plans are, how to complete them and how to manage assessment planning across learner cohorts.
All candidate registration costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Personal Effectiveness Qualification – all levels and sizes | £40 |
Public funding for ASDAN qualifications delivered in the UK
Some Employability Qualifications are approved for public funding for eligible learners.
Funding status can change. Members should check the current government qualification record for the relevant level and size before registering learners or making funding decisions.
Products and materials can be purchased below.
Our team can help you identify the most appropriate qualification level and size for your learners and guide you through the approval and registration process.
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
CoPE Level 1 and 2 challenges for PEQ
Members may use and adapt challenges from ASDAN's previous qualifications. ASDAN recognises that the previous qualifications do not include specific challenges at Entry 3, however members can adapt challenges to suit.
CoPE Level 3 challenges for PEQ
Members may use and adapt challenges from ASDAN's previous qualifications. ASDAN recognises that the previous qualifications do not include specific challenges at Entry 3, however members can adapt challenges to suit.
PSE Levels 1 and 2 challenges for PEQ
Members may use and adapt challenges from ASDAN's previous qualifications. ASDAN recognises that the previous qualifications do not include specific challenges at Entry 3, however members can adapt challenges to suit.
PEQ challenges
ASDAN has developed these challenges specifically for PEQ in a standardised format. This challenge bank will be added to over time. Currently 16 challenges are available covering a range of topic areas including English, mathematics and environmental.
Decision making skills unit assessment booklet (DecMkSkE3)
Learning skills unit assessment booklet (LSkE3)
Team working skills unit assessment booklet (TmWkSkE3)
Thinking skills unit assessment booklet (ThSkE3)
Communication skills unit assessment booklet (ComSkE3)
Wellbeing in learning unit assessment booklet (WellbLeE3)
Communication skills unit assessment booklet (ComSk1)
Decision making skills unit assessment booklet (DecMkSk1)
Learning skills unit assessment booklet (LSk1)
Team working skills unit assessment booklet (TmWkSk1)
Thinking skills unit assessment booklet (ThSk1)
Wellbeing in learning unit assessment booklet (WellbLe1)
Communication skills unit assessment booklet (ComSk2)
Decision making skills unit assessment booklet (DecMkSk2)
Learning skills unit assessment booklet (LSk2)
Team working skills unit assessment booklet (TmWkSk2)
Critical thinking skills unit assessment booklet (CrThSk2)
Wellbeing in learning unit assessment booklet (WellbLe2)
Communication skills unit assessment booklet (ComSk3)
Decision making skills unit assessment booklet (DecMkSk3)
Learning skills unit assessment booklet (LSk3)
Team working skills unit assessment booklet (TmWkSk3)
Critical thinking skills unit assessment booklet (CrThSk3)
Wellbeing in learning unit assessment booklet (WellbLe3)
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications specification
Personal Effectiveness Qualifications delivery guide (coming soon)
PEQ Thinking/Critical thinking skills: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units
PEQ Decision making skills: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units
PEQ Communication skills: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units
PEQ Learning skills: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units
PEQ Wellbeing in learning: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units
PEQ Team working skills: unit mapping to CoPE, AoPE and PSE units