Regulated qualifications and regulated assessment arrangements
Section 130: Meaning of “regulated qualifications” etc.
395.This section describes the types of qualifications that Ofqual has the power to regulate.
396.For a qualification to be a “regulated qualification”, three criteria must be met:
it must not be a foundation, first or higher degree;
it must either (a) be awarded or authenticated in England, or (b) be a vocational qualification awarded or authenticated in Northern Ireland;
it must be awarded or authenticated by a body which is recognised by Ofqual under section 132 in relation to that qualification.
397.The meaning of awarding or authenticating a qualification “in England” and “in Northern Ireland” is explained in subsection (4): there must be, or may reasonably be expected to be, persons seeking to obtain the qualification who are, will be or may reasonably be expected to be assessed wholly or mainly in England or Northern Ireland.
398.Ofqual’s role in regulating relevant vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland may be removed by order of the Secretary of State. Before making such an order he would have first to consult the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland and the order would be subject to the affirmative procedure. This is to allow for the possibility that the Northern Ireland authorities may in future wish to change the arrangements for the regulation of qualifications in Northern Ireland.
399.In the Education Act 1997, the QCA’s regulatory responsibilities relate to external qualifications, defined as:
“any academic or vocational qualification authenticated or awarded by an outside person… (section 24(6)(a)).”
400.The restriction to external qualifications has been removed in the Act, which means that Ofqual may recognise bodies which both teach and award qualifications – for example, employers or colleges which have the capability to do so. This change has implications for other legislation, for example for section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, which is amended by paragraph 27 of Schedule 12.
Section 131: Meaning of “regulated assessment arrangements”etc.
401.This section describes the types of assessment that Ofqual has the duty to keep under review. “Regulated assessment arrangements” means the arrangements made for assessing pupils in England in respect of each key stage of the NC; and the arrangements for assessing children in England. (This equates currently to NC tests at Key Stages 1 and 2, teacher assessment as part of Key Stages 1-3 and the EYFS Profile.) As noted above the purpose of NC assessment arrangements is “ascertaining what [pupils] have achieved in relation to the attainment targets for that stage”, and for the EYFS assessment arrangements “ascertaining what [children] have achieved in relation to the early learning goals”; and there is a new provision in the Act for the Secretary of State to specify additional purposes by order. These defined specified purposes provide Ofqual with a policy framework within which it is to monitor and report upon regulated assessment arrangements, and it is required to “have regard to” these purposes.
402.The NC assessment arrangements are made under the Education Act 2002, setting out the arrangements for assessing pupils at each key stage of the NC. The EYFS assessment arrangements are made under the Childcare Act 2006.
