Youth Achievement Awards

Certification of Youth Achievement Awards During Covid-19

All young people that have completed/almost completed a Bronze or Silver Youth Achievement Award and in the professional judgement of the award group worker has met/would have met all assessment criteria should be submitted and will be resulted. Sampling, if appropriate, will be carried out retrospectively and within six months of submission.

All young people that have completed/almost completed a Gold or Platinum Youth Achievement Award and in the professional judgement of the award group worker has met/would have met all assessment criteria by 28th April should be submitted. The assessor (or verifier) submitting will be contacted by Youth Scotland to discuss these submissions but the default position is that these submissions will be resulted (unless issues arise). Sampling will be carried out retrospectively and within six months of submission.

Please note: The Youth Achievement Awards are an SQA customised award and as such we try to mirror SQA quality assurance processes as closely as possible. The SQA have now advised that the retention of candidate evidence has been extended from 3 weeks to 6 months. What this means in practice is that all Youth Achievement Awards submitted for resulting must be retained and available for sampling for six months from the submission date. This allows Youth Scotland be more flexible in the way we quality assure and result submissions. 

Youth Achievement Awards (YAA) offer formal recognition and accreditation for young peoples’ achievements.

Youth Achievement Awards are inclusive and suitable for young people with a wide range of abilities and interests. They are easy to use and incorporate into your existing or planned activities. They are delivered in a range of settings including youth and community projects, schools and colleges. They follow a plan-do-review process which enables young people to more effectively recognise and articulate their learning and achievements within different contexts, increasing self-esteem, improving motivation and keeping them engaged with learning.

The YAAs are a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) customised award which, supports the aim and purpose of Curriculum for Excellence, the youth work outcomes, closing the attainment gap and the Developing the Young Workforce agenda.

They can be tailored to support any activity and provide a recognised, SCQF levelled award.

YAAs encourage reflection and critical thinking through self and peer assessment, keeping young people engaged while helping them to develop skills for learning, life and work.

The Awards recognise four levels of responsibility taken by young people participating in activities that interest them.

Key Features of the Award:

The Youth Achievement Awards

• Are easy to use
• Can be incorporated into existing or planned activities
• Can be used in a range of settings
• Are for young people age 14+ (16+ for the Platinum level)
• Have 4 levels based on the responsibility a young person takes within activities
• Can be accessed at the most appropriate level for the young person
• Help to evidence youth work outcomes
• Are inclusive and suitable for young people with a range of interests and abilities
• Are a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) customised award
• Are Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credit scored and leveled 4 – 7
• Appear on a young person’s Scottish Qualificiations Certificate alongside their academic achievements
• Placed on Insight and carry tariff points
• Support the aims, values, purpose and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence
• The Gold award carries 14 UCAS points

Award Criteria