The reforms to the vocational qualifications system aim to achieve the right balance between high standards and flexibility, and proportionate regulation and bureaucracy
Changes to regulation in England
The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator ('Ofqual') was established in April 2008 in an interim form as the independent body responsible for regulating qualifications and examinations. For more information see www.ofqual.gov.uk
In addition the Education and Skills Act 2008 enabled Ofqual to recognise awarding organisations and so to shift the balance of its scrutiny from regulating at the level of individual qualifications to regulating at the more strategic level of recognition of awarding organisations.
For vocational qualifications, this change focuses regulation on awarding organisations’ processes, expertise and capacity and they are recognised to submit VQs to the Qualifications & Credit Framework (QCF) once these qualifications have been approved by the relevant SSC.
This change reduces bureaucracy by enabling the regulatory powers to be applied as appropriate to the level of risk associated with a qualification, with Ofqual having the freedom to make proportionate decisions about the appropriate frequency and degree of detailed scrutiny.
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will, subject to Parliamentary approval, set up Ofqual in law as an independent regulator of qualifications and assessment with a remit to monitor the efficiency of the qualifications market. The Bill also removes the requirement for Ofqual to accredit each qualification individually. This will enable, with proper safeguards in place, new awarding organisations, including employers, to be recognised to award their own accredited qualifications. This is expected to lead to a greater diversity in the supply of regulated qualifications and more learner choice.
Other changes
On 2 April 2008 QCA published a Report on recognising organisations as awarding bodies. This report details QCA's reformed approach to its process.for recognising awarding bodies. The current recognition process can take six months to three years, whereas the revised process can be completed within just a couple of months.
The Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) published in August 2008 set out the standards that must be met by all organisations that operate within, and the qualifications that are accredited on to, the QCF. The arrangements apply to all organisations, whether they are traditional awarding organisations, employers, providers or other new awarding organisations.
The qualifications regulators (Ofqual in England) are reviewing and evaluating these regulatory arrangements. For more information see the Ofqual website
