Background
In December 2022, the Department for Education (DfE) published a call for evidence as part of the joint review of the Sector Subject Area (SSA) classification system. The call for evidence sought to understand who uses the classification system, how they use it, and how far it meets their needs. Ofqual also published a survey for awarding organisations to try to understand if they faced any specific challenges in using the SSA classification system and how they assigned SSAs...More
The Sector Subject Area (SSA) classification system is used to classify qualifications into sectors or subject areas. It is owned by Ofqual and used widely across the education and skills system.
Ofqual and the Department for Education (DfE) have been undertaking a review of this classification system to ensure that it remains fit for purpose for future and emerging skills.
Ofqual and DfE therefore issued a joint call for evidence earlier in the year to understand how the...More
Proposals at a glance
Ofqual invites your views on proposed adaptations to the assessment of GCSEs in mathematics, physics and combined science for students in England taking exams in 2024.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that in view of the disruption students may have experienced, it is not necessary for them to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science in 2024, as they must in a normal year....More
Ofqual is the independent regulator for qualifications in England. Ofqual’s statutory objectives include securing the standards of, and promoting public confidence in, regulated qualifications. Ofqual’s rules, which awarding organisations must follow, are designed to achieve this. Ofqual monitors their approaches to make sure they are meeting the rules and takes action if they are not. Ofqual’s regulation seeks to:
ensure quality and fairness for students and...More
Exams and formal assessments went ahead in 2022 for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and are expected to continue, as normal, from now on. This has been widely welcomed as exams and other formal assessments remain the best and fairest way of assessing what students know, understand and can do.
The government does not expect to be in the situation again where exams do not go ahead. However, it remains good public policy to have contingency arrangements, even...More
Ofqual is currently conducting an evaluation of how it regulates reformed Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths. As part of this work, we would like to speak to apprenticeship employers and other employers involved with Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths.
We are planning to hold online focus groups with a range of employers, to find out your views of the qualifications and how they are meeting the needs of employers.
...More
Ofqual invites your views on a proposed amendment to the assessment requirements for AS and A level Chinese and Japanese qualifications being taught from autumn 2024. This consultation seeks views on whether, and if so how, Ofqual should amend a requirement for AS and A level qualifications in Chinese and Japanese that limits how many marks can be used for responses in English.
Ofqual’s proposal is in response to a separate consultation launched by the Department for Education (DfE)...More
Background to EDIAs: Ofqual’s focus on diversity and inclusion has increased over recent years with an aim to make the workforce more representative of the communities we serve. As part of this focus, following a callout for volunteers, 9 colleagues from across the organisation, representing a range of protected characteristics and minority groups, came together.
In 2021, we met for the first time to begin to discuss how we could...More
Ofqual is the independent regulator for qualifications in England. Ofqual’s statutory objectives include securing the standards of, and promoting public confidence in, regulated qualifications. Ofqual’s rules, which awarding organisations must follow, are designed to achieve this. Ofqual monitors their approaches to make sure they are meeting the rules and takes action if they are not. Ofqual’s regulation seeks to:
ensure quality and fairness for students and...More
Please find the link to access the consultation questions below.
The Department for Education (DfE) is changing its policy for how students can take the Core Exams and Core Project which are part of the Technical Qualification in a T Level. Instead of having to take both together the first time they take them, from September 2023, students will be able to take each separately. This means, for example, that instead of having to take the Core Exam and Core Project in a single series, as...More
In October 2022, DfE published the government’s response to its consultation on the ‘Review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England ’ . This response sets out DfE’s intentions for the future qualifications landscape at level 2 and below in England. It confirms the groups of qualifications that will be considered for public funding in the future grouped by level, purpose, and intended destination. The review of qualifications at level 2 and below will span...More
The aim of this survey is to understand providers’ views and experiences of the reformed Functional Skills qualifications (FSQs) in English and maths.
The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
The survey will remain open until 11:59 on 28th March 2023.
Please press the ‘online survey’ link below for further details and to start the survey.
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This survey is for students who have taken at least one assessment in Functional Skills English or maths since August 2021.
Reformed Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths were introduced in 2019 and Ofqual would like to understand your experiences of these qualifications as a student.
The survey is quite short and will take around 10 minutes to complete.
The survey will remain open until 11:59 on 28th March 2023....More
Please find below the link to access the consultation questions
In October 2022, the Department for Education (DfE) published the government’s response to its consultation on the ‘Review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England’ . This response sets out DfE’s proposals to transform the qualification landscape at level 2 and below in England. It confirms the groups of qualifications that will be considered for public funding in the future, grouped by level and...More
Exam boards and awarding organisations allow disabled students to have reasonable adjustments in their exams (you may call them ‘access arrangements’) to reduce or remove disadvantage caused by their disability. One type of adjustment is extra time to complete exams.
We are very keen to hear all students’ views on time in exams or tests, whether or not you personally get extra time or any other reasonable adjustment in your exams. This research is intended to help us...More
The summer was a significant step in terms of returning the qualifications system to pre-pandemic business as usual. As you know, this year we saw a return to exams and formal assessments, and across the country we saw more than 600,000 results awarded to students between March and August, across almost 400 vocational qualifications (VTQs).
While the vast majority of students received accurate results on time, some did not. For a student not to receive their results when they either...More
As discussed at recent Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQ) Data Forums, we would be grateful if you would arrange for this survey to be completed by a member of your staff who is closely and regularly involved in submitting data to us, via the Data Portal.
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We welcomed the return of exams and other formal assessments in summer 2022, for the first time since 2019. Exams and other formal assessments are the best and fairest way of assessing what students know and can do. That’s why it was so important that we got back to students taking them in 2022, and that this continues next year.
The national closure of schools or cancellation of exams – necessitating the use of alternative assessment arrangements – is now very unlikely. The...More
Proposals at a glance
Ofqual invites your views on proposed adaptations to the assessment of GCSEs in mathematics, physics and combined science for students in England taking exams in 2023.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that in view of the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is not necessary for students to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science, as they must in a normal...More
Proposals at a glance
Ofqual invites your views on a proposed adaptation to the assessment of GCSE modern foreign languages (MFL) qualifications for students in England taking exams from summer 2023.
We propose carrying forward to future assessments the changes we made to last year’s qualifications in respect of the use of vocabulary. In summer 2022, these changes allowed the exam boards greater flexibility by:
removing the specific requirement ...More
Please find the link at the bottom of the page to access the consultation questions.
Ofqual is seeking views on proposed updates to the End-Point Assessment Qualification Level Guidance . The proposed guidance, if adopted, is intended to help end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) in their understanding of our regulatory framework and how it applies to end-point assessments (EPAs).
The following updates are proposed to the current EPA Qualification Level Guidance:
...More
The link to the consultation questions is at the bottom of this page.
This consultation sets out Ofqual’s proposed Conditions, requirements and statutory guidance for regulating alternative academic qualifications and alternative technical qualifications, operating in conjunction with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and the Department for Education (‘The Department’). These qualifications will be part of the future level 3 landscape,...More
We would very much like to hear your views on how you have found Ofqual’s pre-recognition engagement throughout your experience of applying for Ofqual recognition.
We would be grateful if you could take 5 to 10 minutes to answer the following questions.
You have the option to remain anonymous, or if you wish to you can share your details with us. All responses will be used to help shape and improve our pre-recognition engagement activity in future for those approaching...More
Ofqual's teacher survey on adaptations to exam arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels in 2022 (pre-exam)
Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications in England, is surveying teachers, tutors, and home-educators who are teaching and entering students for GCSE, AS or A level qualifications this year.
This year, a number of adaptations have been made to the assessment arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels, following a joint consultation by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual....More
Ofqual's student survey on adaptations to exam arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels 2022.
Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications in England, is surveying students who are preparing for their GCSE, AS or A level exams in summer 2022.
This year, a number of adaptations have been made to the assessment arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels. The aim of these adaptations is to make sure that we are being as fair as possible to students, given the disruption they have...More
Please find the link below to access the consulation questions.
This consultation sets out how Ofqual proposes to regulate academic and technical qualifications which serve as alternatives to A levels and T Levels. These 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. For the purpose of this consultation, these qualifications are referred to...More
On 3 February 2022, we held a 'Knowledge Base' webinar. This was an opportunity for the awarding organisation community to get to know more about the work of the Research, Data and Analytics team.
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Please find below the link to access the consultation questions
The Department for Education (referred to as the Department in this document) is introducing new qualifications called Digital Functional Skills qualifications (FSQs) that seek to provide students with the core digital skills needed to participate fully in society. The Department is introducing them as part of their plans to improve adult basic digital skills and the new qualifications will sit alongside...More
We regulate to ensure assessments give a reliable indication of what students know, understand and can do. We are guided by the best interests of students as we meet our statutory objectives, including to secure qualification and assessment standards. Students must be able to access assessments without unnecessary obstacles.
It would not be fair if an assessment had been designed and developed in a way that prevents a student from fully demonstrating their knowledge, skills and...More