Ofqual seeks views on regulatory approach for level 3 qualifications
@Ofqual consultation launched on alternative qualifications for post-16 education.
Ofqual is seeking views on its proposed approach to regulating qualifications to sit alongside A levels and T levels at level 3 in a consultation published today. This consultation sets out proposals to regulate these qualifications so that students can be confident their qualifications are high quality.
Ofqual regulates on behalf of students of all ages and apprentices. It is important that students can access high-quality qualifications and assessments. Employers and other users need to be able to recognise the quality and relevance of these qualifications.
We are keen to hear from awarding organisations, colleges, schools, and training providers, as well as from employers, students and anyone with an interest in these qualifications, on our proposals, which include:
- the grading of qualifications
- the assessment of qualifications
- the titles of qualifications
In July 2021 the Department for Education published its plans to reform post-16 qualifications in England. This followed a consultation that set out its proposals to make sure the qualifications approved for use alongside A levels and T Levels are of high quality and are relevant.
High-quality qualifications and assessments are designed and delivered in a way that enables those taking them to demonstrate fully their knowledge, skills and understanding, with a clear purpose, and are designed so that their content and assessments reflect that purpose.
Ofqual has worked closely with the Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) to develop this proposed approach to regulating these qualifications. For alternative technical qualifications, the Institute will be responsible for approvals and will consult on its criteria and requirements for approval later this year.
The consultation will open today, Thursday 24 February, and will run for eight weeks, ending on Wednesday 20 April at 23.45.
The proposed regulatory approach is based on Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition, with extra requirements for both academic and technical alternative qualifications.
The Department for Education recently updated its guidance on the approvals process for academic and technical qualifications at level 3.
Open consultation: Regulating academic and technical qualifications at level 3
Proposed regulatory approach for alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications at level 3 in England
This consultation closes at
Consultation description
This consultation sets out Ofqual’s proposed approach to regulating alternative academic qualifications and alternative technical qualifications, operating in conjunction with the Institute and the Department. These qualifications will be part of the future level 3 landscape, as part of the Department’s ‘Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 in England’, alongside A levels, T Levels and Apprenticeships. These groups of qualifications are explained in more detail later in this document, but in summary:
- alternative academic qualifications are those which have the primary purpose of evidencing students’ attainment in relation to their course of study, with a view to supporting informed decisions and choices about further study
- alternative technical qualifications are those which have the primary purpose of identifying students that have attained the knowledge, skills and behaviours linked to competence in a given occupation.
This consultation is open to anyone who may wish to make representation but may be of most interest to:
- awarding organisations and their representative bodies, particularly those that deliver (or want to deliver) alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications that would fit into the groups to be regulated by the proposed arrangements
- schools, colleges and training providers, and their representative bodies – particularly those that deliver (or want to deliver) alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications that would fit into the groups to be regulated by the proposed arrangements
- students
- employers
Documents
Regulating academic and technical qualifications at level 3
Ref: Ofqual/22/6898/1HTML
Responses