AQA Unit Awards
Flexible, interest-led, low demand learning with nationally recognised certificates to show your child’s learning and experience.
What is the AQA Unit Award Scheme?
DigiTribe is an accredited AQA Unit Award Centre. This means we can offer AqA Unit Awards to young people and submit them to AQA, to allow your children to gain certificates of their learning and experience.
The AQA Unit Award Scheme is a flexible, nationally-recognised way to celebrate learning and achievement. Each time a young person completes a short “unit” of work, they are awarded a certificate. There is a huge range of units to suit varied interests.
Each Unit Award is a flexible short course that recognises what each young person has done, not what they can’t do. Each award is based on completing a short unit of work – for example, “Creating a Minecraft Skin Using Pixel Art”, “Norse Mythology”, or “Introduction to Coding”.
There are no exams, and no minimum time requirement. Every child can achieve success in a way that suits their interests, pace and ability.
- Learners build a portfolio of certificates that show their skills, knowledge and experience.
- The units cover a wide range of topics, from life skills, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, STEM, through to vocational work-related learning. You can choose ANY unit from the AqA Unit Award database.
- The scheme is inclusive: it is designed for learners of all ages and abilities, and can be adapted to meet individual needs.
- It is not a qualification like a GCSE; instead it is a recognised award for completing a specific unit of learning.
- What does it cost? Introductory cost of £45 per learner registration fee for 1 year, running from Sept-July. This cost includes VAT, Unit assessment, certificates and postage for 3 Units of your choice. Additional Units incur a cost of £6 per Unit which includes VAT, Unit assessment, certificate and postage.
DigiTribe Supported AqA Units
We have chosen a number of what we call ‘Supported Units’, which work particularly well with our in person and online sessions, and which we provide free downloadable workbooks for if you wish to use them.
Our bespoke workbooks for our Supported Units give learners a framework for completing the module with the evidence we need to submit to the AQA.
You don’t HAVE to use these workbooks – they are intended as an aid for those who prefer something to work from, and a physical copy of your work. These workbooks can be printed off or we also offer editable PDFs for most Supported Units.
You receive access to your downloadable resources once you have either chosen your three included Units, or purchased additional Units.
You can choose ANY unit from the AqA Unit Award database – you won’t receive any resources for these but you can send your evidence to Rachel for moderation and certification.
List of Supported Units
- Board Games — Developing Social Skills Entry Level
- Exploring the History of Video Gaming Entry Level
- Using Pixel Art to Create a Minecraft Skin Entry Level
- Art for Therapy – Scribble Art Entry Level
- Writing a CV Level One
- Basic Computer Skills Entry Level
- Junk Art-Making a Model Pre Entry Level
- Introduction to Basic Coding Level One
- An Introduction to Canva Entry Level
- Basic Blocky Coding to Navigate a Maze Entry Level
- Producing a Handmade Christmas Card Pre-Entry Level
- Introduction to Stop Motion Animation Entry Level
- Exploring the Local Area Pre-Entry Level
- Introduction to Coding Using Minecraft Entry Level
- Game Design Concepts and Flow Chart Creation Level One
- Making a Minecraft Server Entry Level
- Using the BBC:Microbit to Animate an Animal and Adapt the Code Entry Level
- Introduction to Electronic Circuits Entry Level
- Introduction to Scratch Programming Entry Level
- Getting to Know My Computer (Unit 1) Entry Level
- Using Basic Block Coding to Create a Jumping Game Entry Level
- Using the BBC:Microbit as Dice to Play a Board Game Entry Level
- Editing a Short Gaming Video Pre-Entry Level
How it Works
Each unit has a clear list of things to do or demonstrate — called “learning outcomes”.
The student can undertake self directed learning, or, our youth workers or you the parent/carer guides your child through the activities, supporting them to complete each part. Once the work is finished and checked, we send the evidence to AQA, who issue a printed certificate with your child’s name and the details of what they achieved.
Every completed unit earns its own certificate. Young people can collect as many as they like, building a personal record of achievement that shows their skills and progress over time.
The learning outcomes for the unit are clearly set out: what the learner needs to know and/or do, and how evidence will be captured. We provide our own workbooks for the modules we support.
The young person completes the activities, tasks or projects required. The parent/carer, youth worker or facilitator supports them through this work, and evidence is gathered (this could be through text, photos, observations, its very flexible).
Submit their work to be marked- this can be in the form of photographs, workbooks, or videos, you can also scribe for your child. If there is not enough evidence you may be asked to resubmit. We will give you support with what is needed.
Once complete, we send off to the AQA and wait to receive your certificate!
AQA Unit Awards can be used to:
Show learning and personal progress outside of school
Support EHCP or annual review evidence
Boost confidence and motivation
Help prepare for college, training or employment
Provide a sense of pride and recognition for effort and creativity
