What we do
We design and validate Access to Higher Education Diplomas. These diplomas provide an opportunity for adults without the relevant formal qualifications to go to university. Like A levels, they are full level 3 qualifications. Around 40,000 students take Access to HE courses each year in the UK, and gain a recognised entry route to university.
We are a non-profit membership organisation: a strong and equal partnership between 6 higher education institutions and more than 30 further education providers. Together, we are committed to aiding social mobility by increasing the opportunities for people from all backgrounds to study at university.
Our Mission
In partnership with our members, CAVA assures the highest quality adult qualifications, actively promotes lifelong learning, and enhances the educational journey of adults in England and across the world.
Our Aims
- Develop, quality assure, validate, and award high-quality qualifications that set the gold standard for adult education.
- Cultivate a collaborative membership of educational institutions to ensure the best attainment outcomes for our students.
- Through dynamic partnerships, enhance the educational journey by providing resources and support for inclusive and sustainable learning.
- Promote adult education as a valuable option in life planning and educational policy. .
Our Values
- Community of critical friends: We are a collaborative community that values support, constructive feedback, and personal connections.
- Quality experts: We strive for excellence, with a focus on quality assurance and enhancement.
- Transparent integrity: We foster a culture of accountability and trust. We value openness, honesty, and ethical conduct.
- Continuous improvement: We proactively seek opportunities to learn, innovate, and enhance our educational offering and practice.
- Sustainable and inclusive: We embed sustainability and inclusivity into all that we do, ensuring a positive environment for our students, members, team, and organisation.
- Education champions: With a passion for adult education, we champion lifelong learning and the transformative power of educational experiences.
Meet the team
We have a small, dedicated team who specialise in assuring high quality Access to Higher Education Diplomas. We pride ourselves on: working closely with our member colleges; having the support of a network of highly-regarded universities; making regular visits to, and having face-to-face meetings with, our Access to HE providers. We are just a phone call away and you will always know who you’re speaking with on the phone should you need our support. If you have any questions or queries, please contact us at quality@cava.ac.uk. If you need to speak with a specific member of CAVA staff, please use the details below:
Chief Executive Officer
EMILY ROSS
Emily works closely with the CAVA Board and the CAVA Council of Members to lead the organisation’s strategy and operations. Passionate about lifelong learning, she champions excellence, innovation and sustainability in adult education. Committed to building strong partnerships, she supports educational institutions in realising the value of the Access to HE Diploma and the CAVA community.
Emily has a Masters degree in English, a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Assessment and has worked for CAVA since 2008. In her spare time Emily enjoys reading, playing in the town brass band and going on muddy walks with her family and cocker spaniel.
Director of Quality and Development
GRAEME NAYLOR
Graeme’s role is to oversee the effective operation of CAVA’s quality systems and procedures and lead on the development and further enhancement of quality processes. Graeme also works closely with CAVA’s Chief Executive Officer in matters relating to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), and provides reports and assurance to CAVA’s governance committees and Quality and Academic Development Committee.
Graeme has a Masters in Social History and more recently studied Counselling and Counselling Skills. He has worked in further and higher education for nearly twenty years. In his spare time, Graeme enjoys gardening, boxing and yoga, as well as classic cinema.
Quality Manager
BARBARA HUGHES
Barbara manages the CAVA Quality Team, supports CAVA quality systems and procedures, inputs to the development of support services for CAVA members and leads on the development of professional events for providers and external moderators.
With over 20 years’ experience of working with quality systems and procedures for credit based qualifications, Barbara has a wealth of expertise in the sector. She has a first degree in Humanities and a Masters in Film Studies. Outside work her spare time is mostly spent on the water rowing and coaching as an active member of Cantabrigian Rowing Club.
Quality and Operations Officer
JACKY KELLY
Jacky is usually the first person you will talk to when you contact CAVA. She handles initial queries, provides IT and database support and generally keeps us all organised. Jacky handles all finance and invoicing queries. Before joining CAVA, Jacky worked in adult community education, and is experienced in working with quality systems in other educational organisations, notably the National Extension College.
Jacky is a qualified IT tutor and is an examiner for ICT IGCSE. She spends her weekends bird watching and photographing wildlife in the fens, often accompanied by her young border collie.
Quality and Development Officer
EMMA WATTS
Emma supports the team in quality assurance and development of Access to HE courses at CAVA providers. Emma has over 20 years experience of working in education and training, before joining CAVA she worked with training providers to deliver apprenticeship programmes across numerous sectors.
Emma has a degree in Hospitality Management and a Postgraduate certificate in Education. Outside of work Emma enjoys cycling, swimming, dog walking and cardio boxing.
Quality and Development Officer
NORK ZAKARIAN
Nork works within the Quality Team and is responsible for implementing CAVA’s quality and development systems throughout the academic year. He is a key contact for quality matters, external moderation, and helps to deliver our training and briefing events.
Nork recently graduated with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Improvement from the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. He has eight years of experience in education and comes from a 12 -year background in filmmaking. Outside of work, Nork plays the guitar in local bands, and enjoys watching independent cinema from around the globe.
Communications and Events Officer
GEORGIA GREEN
Georgia supports the team by running the website and social media pages. She leads the Promotion and Recruitment Working Group (PRWG) and is responsible for writing the monthly newsletter. She also works closely with other members of the team to plan and carry out events.
Georgia has a BEd in Primary Education and has spent the past 5 years working as a teacher, where she has led computing and an environmental council. She has recently gained her masters in Psychology, carrying out her main research on how teachers’ demographics impact their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, reading and challenging herself with a puzzle.
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