The LMS built for Access to HE providers and AVAs
Pearl Access to HE handles graded unit management, QAA compliance reporting, and learner tracking across your full network, without the spreadsheets.
What it is
Pearl Access to HE is a learning management system built specifically for the Access to Higher Education qualification. It is used by authorised validating agencies (AVAs) managing networks of Access to HE centres, and by FE colleges delivering Access to HE as a standalone provision.
The platform manages the full Access to HE cycle: unit planning and validation, learner enrolment and progression, graded unit tracking and grade point calculations, tutor and assessor activity, and QAA-required data reporting. It replaces the combination of spreadsheets, email chains, and generic LMS platforms that most providers currently use to manage Access compliance.
Built to the Access to HE credit framework and QAA requirements, the platform is updated whenever the national framework changes, so providers do not need to manually reconfigure their systems each academic year.
Who it is for
Pearl Access to HE is used by FE colleges running their own Access to HE provision with direct QAA validation.
If your quality team is manually compiling graded unit data from college spreadsheets, if your centre coordinators are chasing tutors for unit completion evidence, or if your QAA reporting takes weeks of preparation, this platform removes that overhead. It is also well-suited to colleges that deliver Access to HE alongside other provision in Atom and want consistent learner data across both systems.
Key features
Graded unit tracking
Log unit completion, grades, and grade point totals in real time, with automatic calculation against qualification requirements.
QAA reporting suite
Generate required data returns and quality review evidence directly from the platform, in the formats QAA specifies.
Centre management for AVAs
Manage multiple college centres from a single dashboard, with centre-level and network-level reporting views.
Learner progression tracking
Monitor each learner's route through the 45-credit framework, with flagging for learners at risk of non-completion.
Unit and module library
Store and version unit specifications, grading criteria, and assessment briefs for tutor access across your network.
Assessor and tutor activity logs
Full audit trail of unit assessments, feedback given, and standardisation activity for IQA and EQA purposes.
Proof points
- Used by many Access to HE college centres.
- QAA reporting preparation time reduced for providers replacing manual spreadsheet compilation.
- Built to the current Access to HE credit framework and updated with every national framework revision.
How it works
The platform is browser-based and hosted by Pearl with UK data residency. AVAs access a network management view where they can see all centres, all cohorts, and all graded unit data across their provision in one place. Individual colleges log in to a centre-level view configured for their own learners and programmes.
Onboarding includes migration of existing unit libraries, configuration of your graded unit structure, and training for coordinators and tutors. Integration with Atom is available for providers using both systems, so learner records are consistent across their full provision.
QAA data returns are generated at the click of a button, pulling from the live data in the platform rather than requiring manual extraction and formatting.
Integrations & compatibility
FAQs
Yes. AVAs have a network-level view that shows all centres, all cohorts, and aggregated data across their provision. Each college centre has its own login with access restricted to their own learners and data.
Yes. Pearl updates the platform whenever the Access to HE credit framework or QAA reporting requirements change. Providers do not need to reconfigure anything manually.
That is its primary purpose. The platform is specifically designed to replace the combination of spreadsheets, email, and generic tools that most Access providers currently use for graded unit management and QAA reporting.
Yes. Learner data can be shared between Pearl Access to HE and Atom via integration, so providers do not maintain duplicate records.
Pricing is based on the number of centres and learner volumes in your network. Contact Pearl for a quote based on your specific provision size.
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See Pearl Access to HE in your provision
Book a 30-minute walkthrough with the Pearl team. We will show Pearl Access to HE configured to your delivery model.