Steering Group in focus: Education at NAJ

03 Mar 2021

As the Education arm of the Association continues to progress JET on to the Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF), Heather Callaway FIRV, chair of the Steering Group, and also the NAJ’s vice chair, shares the Steering Group’s approach, and priorities for 2021.

As a group of well-connected and networked industry leaders, our meetings aim to support the NAJ’s education strategy, and the in-house education team that is charged with delivering it.

A crucial part of that support is collating information about what is going on education-wise in the sector and considering how this fits in with the Association’s education aspirations.

The Education Steering Group continually checks the market for developments and opportunities, bringing the most relevant to meetings for discussion and assessment, and we also challenge how existing or planned activities support the future direction of the NAJ.

This holistic and open-minded approach ensures the NAJ and its Jewellery, Education and Training (JET) qualifications continue to lead the market and add significant and credible value to the jewellery journeys of so many individuals and businesses.

A good recent example of enhancing JET’s reputation in the jewellery sector is the inclusion of JET 2 onto the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). RQF recognition comes with a series of strict external responsibilities and standards for the NAJ team, which are designed to ensure that student learning is of the highest possible standard.

The awarding organisation (Awards for Training and Higher Education), on behalf of Ofqual (the national qualifications’ regulator), will make regular external checks on the qualification to ensure that assessment is being carried out to nationally recognised standards and that student learning is being supported by well-designed learning resources and assignments.

This means that anyone learning with JET 2, for example, can be assured the Association is continuing to provide the best quality possible.

I must take a moment to congratulate the Association’s education team: Marie Garnett, Lyn Oliver and Chloe Thorn. Their work behind the scenes – updating policies and procedures, modernising assessment methods and providing information and guidance to help JET tutors, advisors and students to the new requirements – has been a considerable task.

However, it is important to point out that the Steering Group’s agenda is not just our JET courses. We’re determined to help support the jewellery journey of as many individuals and businesses as we can, hence the importance of keeping abreast of the whole market.

For example, last year, the Government published news of the Kickstart Scheme, which enables businesses to take on a young person on a funded six-month project. As part of our support to members we were able to share the opportunity with members, and co-ordinate, through a central organisation, to make such an opportunity available for smaller businesses, who would not have been eligible directly.

Another good recent example is the Jewellery Maker T Level that will provide a combined taught and vocational route for young people entering the industry from 2023. Looking ahead this year, a key priority is for the British Allied Trades Federation to be recognised as an End Point Assessment organisation. This will ensure that the

NAJ can assess industry apprentices coming through the jewellery retail and manufacturing apprenticeships.

This means that we have begun our journey towards hopefully, one day, being able to award the Goldsmiths Charter to jewellers and valuers at the pinnacle of their careers.

We’re also looking ahead to the Summit in September, which I really do hope will be able to take place.

Being able to connect with the sector in person once again is a thought I dare not get too excited about, but when it does eventually arrive, I’m excited to be able to share with all more progress from the Association’s Education community.

Explore Education available at NAJ

Source: The National Association of Jewellers