Meet the team: Carol Scott

Tell us a bit about your role – what do you do and who do you work with?

Like many of my colleagues, I carry out a variety of roles across different training providers and centres. To some I am an account manager or an External Quality Assurer (EQA), which can involve things like iLearner system training, sampling portfolios and advising on the requirements of qualifications or apprenticeships.

But I am also a Lead Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) for End-Point Assessment (EPA) and like to keep my skills sharp by continuing to carry out some apprenticeship assessments as an independent assessor. I do this as well as supporting and training the EPA teams.

Each role involves working closely with a range of people. I ensure they receive the support and development they need so that their learners or apprentices have the best opportunity to achieve and progress within their lives and work situations.

Tell us a bit about you – when did you start with iCQ Awards, what was your previous experience?

I have worked in education for 30 years this year, starting as a workplace assessor in the hospitality industry and progressing through roles at various training providers. I trained to become an EQA to develop my own practice and initially carried this role out alongside my full-time job.

I joined ICQ in 2015 after being made redundant from my full-time role and realised that this was the perfect way to have more impact on the quality of education and qualifications. I see the role of an EQA as being a constructive friend and partner, sharing good practice and raising standards.

What do you like most about working in education sector?

The education system is always changing, responding and evolving. That means there’s always a variety of work and opportunities that help shape the workforces of tomorrow. There is nothing more satisfying that seeing learners and apprentices achieve, gaining skills and qualifications that will help them progress and develop.

Tell us about a time or some of your experiences where you have seen the impact that qualifications or apprenticeships have made for individual learners?

Every day! Training and supporting our own teams of assessors and quality assurers has a direct impact on the quality of experience apprentices have completing their End-Point Assessments. Responding to the questions, queries and needs of our training providers also impacts on the quality of apprenticeships and qualifications that people are achieving. I’m really proud to be part of upholding the standards of support that can make or break a learner’s experience.