The Sport Educators are ‘the workforce behind the workforce’. They provide the high-quality training and development opportunities for those who are employed and volunteer in the sport and leisure industry. They in turn provide the best sporting experience for the people of Scotland.
sportscotland’s Sport Education Professional Development Award (PDA SET) is certified at SCQF Level 7 and is equivalent of an Advanced Higher, HNC or CertHE. It is delivered by sportscotland’s team of National Trainers, who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in this area. The NTs will provide support to the learners throughout the course. More information on the award can be found on the SQA website
The course requires approximately 120 hours to complete. It will include some personal study time and building an e-portfolio. The time between the sessions is designed to offer learners opportunities to reflect, plan for practical sessions and research with others. Learners will have the opportunities to work individually, in pairs and as mini groups.
The candidate needs to be nominated by their governing body of sport and/or their employer. They must have a plan for delivery in place, demonstrate a clear desire to be part of the programme and commit to engaging fully in all modules. Full line manager / SGB support and approval must be evidenced in the nomination form.
**If a candidate does not commit or complete, not only does it effect our budget and take the place up for another candidate, it also creates a massive amount of extra work for the assessors. All costs are covered by sportscotland but from 2024 we are imposing a charge to recuperate the cost of the course for a candidate who does not complete the award within 12 months and can be up to £400 per learner**
Any questions please contact us on sporteducator@sportscotland.org.uk
PDA1 SET 2024
The PDA will take a hybrid approach
Online sessions & Classroom/in person sessions.
Evening/Weekend Sessions: 6.30pm - 8pm/10am - 4pm
- Online Session 1: Tuesday 20th August 2024
- In Person Day 1: Sunday 1st September 2024 (10am - 4pm). Venue tbc central location.
- Online Session 2: Tuesday 24th September 2024
- Online Session 3: Tuesday 1st October 2024
- Online Session 4: Tuesday 22nd October 2024
- Online Session 5: Tuesday 29th October 2024
- Online Assessment 1: Tuesday 5th November 2024
- Online Assessment 2: Tuesday 12th November 2024
- In Person Day 2: Saturday 23rd November 2024 (10am - 4pm). Venue tbc central location.
Please see below for the link to the nomination form for sports and local authorities to put forward their candidates for PDA training.
PDA2 SET 2024
The PDA will take a hybrid approach
Online sessions & Classroom/in person sessions.
During week/day sessions: 10.30 - 12pm
- Online Session 1: Monday 26th August 2024
- Online Session 2: Monday 2nd September 2024
- In Person Day 1: Monday 7th October 2024 (10am - 4pm). Venue tbc central location tbc
- Online Session 3: Monday 21st October 2024
- Online Session 4: Monday 28th October 2024
- Online Session 5: Monday 4th November 2024
- Online Assessment 1: Monday 11th November (two sessions on same day) 1030am - 12pm
- Online Assessment 2: Monday 11th November (two sessions on same day) 12.45pm - 2.15pm
- In Person Day 2: Monday 25th November 2024 (10am - 4pm). Venue tbc central location.
Assessor PDA (level 8)
This PDA is designed for assessor-candidates who are assessing learners in a practical environment. The sessions listed below are available for CPD in the assessment process, as well as an opportunity to continue through the assessment process and gain the SQA qualification in "Conducting the assessment process". More information on this qualification can be found on the SQA website
Assessor PDA1 2024
All online starting at 6pm - 7.30pm
Session 1: Wednesday 18th September 2024
Session 2: Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Session 3: Wednesday 30th October 2024
Session 4: Wednesday 20th November 2024
Assessor PDA2 2024
All online starting at 3pm - 4.30pm
Session 1: Monday 21st October 2024
Session 2: Monday 4th November 2024
Session 3: Monday 18th November 2024
Session 4: Monday 2nd December 2024
Internal Verifier PDA (level 8) dates TBC
This PDA is designed for those monitoring assessment processes and decisions within an organisation and helping to maintain and improve the quality of workplace assessment.
The types of activities the internal verifier-candidate will be involved in include:
Preparing to carry out internal quality assurance
Planning internal quality assurance
Carrying out planned monitoring of the quality of assessment
Providing assessors with feedback, advice and support to help them maintain and improve their assessment practice
Meeting appropriate external quality assurance requirements
To achieve this Unit the verifier-candidate is required to carry out the monitoring activities defined in their organisation’s quality assurance procedures in accordance with appropriate external quality assurance requirements. The verifier-candidate will be observed monitoring the activities of one assessor. More information can be found on the SQA website
Session 1 Holistic approach
Session 2 Learning to learn & verification sampling
Session 3 Verification decisions (plan, do, review)
Session 4 Generating Feedback