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 learner 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 they do not commit, not only does it take the place up for another learner, it also it puts a massive amount of extra administration and National Trainer time for people not completing.
Any questions please contact us on sporteducator@sportscotland.org.uk
PDA SET 2024: dates tbc
The PDA will take a hybrid approach
Virtual sessions & Classroom/in person sessions.
- Session1 (virtual) Introduction
- Session 2 (virtual) Learning to learn
- Session 3 (in person) Engaging learners/ delivery sessions / discussions and research tasks
- Session 4 (virtual) Facilitated discussions
- Session 5 (virtual) Pause, level up, replay
- Session 6 (virtual Flip classrooms
- Session 7 (virtual) Observation 1
- Session 8: (in person) Observation 2
Please note: all sportscotland Sport Educator training courses cost up to £450 per candidate and is fully funded by sportscotland.
Please see below for the link to the nomination form for sports and local authorities to put forward their candidates for PDA training.
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
Session 1: Holistic assessment
Session 2: Learning to learn
Session 3: Generating feedback
Session 4: Portfolio building
Internal Verifier PDA (level 8)
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