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Report into the reasonableness of fees for qualifications

Last updated on: 05/06/2009

This study by Grant Thornton was commissioned by Ofqual and undertaken in conjunction with Ofqual's regulatory partners in Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA).

The purpose of the study was to consider the reasonableness and transparency of the fees charged by awarding organisations for widely used qualifications other than GCSEs and A levels. Grant Thornton's review involved case studies of 33 qualifications across 15 awarding organisations.

In developing and taking forward its work in this area, Ofqual will be mindful of its future statutory responsibility, as set out in the current Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill (as published 4 February 2009) to "secure that regulated qualifications are provided efficiently and in particular that any sums payable to a body awarding or authenticating a regulated qualification in respect of the award or authentication represent value for money." The Bill includes provision for Ofqual to impose fee capping conditions as part of the conditions of recognition for awarding organisations.

Grant Thornton's report has been redacted for reasons of commercial confidentiality and is available to download from this page.  Alongside the report Ofqual has published its own conclusions based on this study.