Press release

Ofqual seeks views on improvements to supporting compliance for AOs

The regulator is to refine its approach to ensure awarding organisations continue to offer high quality qualifications.바카라 사이트�

From:
Ofqual
Published
20 February 2025

Changes to improve the way Ofqual both supports compliance and takes regulatory action were put out for consultation today.바카라 사이트�

The changes are designed both to support awarding organisations and ensure that enforcement action, when it is needed, is proportionate and fair, to maintain the standards of qualifications that students and the public rely on.

The updated approach introduces proposals to better explain the way in which the regulator uses its powers. It also proposes revised and more efficient processes for dealing with regulatory breaches and a new sanction.

Proposals include:바카라 사이트�

  • a streamlined process for settling simple cases quickly, where organisations agree they have breached Ofqual바카라 사이트檚 conditions바카라 사이트�

  • a new sanction of a public rebuke from the regulator in cases where it바카라 사이트檚 right that a failure to follow regulatory rules be addressed formally and publicly, but where a fine may not be proportionate

Where cases are not contested, it is proposed that the chief regulator will have the power to decide that a final decision can be made by a single decision-maker.

Deputy Chief Regulator Michael Hanton said:바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트淭he 11 million certificates awarded for regulated qualifications in England each year are intrinsic to our education system, the economy, and wider society. Ofqual바카라 사이트檚 job is to be the guardian of standards and quality in those qualifications.

바카라 사이트淟ike all regulators, we want those we regulate to comply with our rules, so that standards are maintained. These proposals are intended to bring clarity about how we will both support compliance and also take action when necessary.바카라 사이트澛�

The updated policy, 바카라 사이트楽upporting Compliance and Taking Regulatory Action바카라 사이트�, will include a new section explaining the ways Ofqual can support awarding organisations to meet its requirements and avoid the need for formal enforcement action.

Previous work on updating the policy was interrupted by the pandemic.바카라 사이트�

The consultation was launched today, Thursday, 20 February 2025, and will end on Tuesday, 15 May 2025, at 11:45pm.

Background information:聽聽

  • Ofqual regulates 249 awarding organisations, certificating over 11 million certificates a year. These include GCSEs, A levels, T Levels, apprenticeship assessments and safety critical qualifications in sectors such as healthcare, childcare and security.聽聽聽

  • Parliament gave Ofqual enforcement powers in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. Those powers were amended by the Education Act 2011.聽

  • The Taking Regulatory Action policy was last amended in 2012.聽

  • Ofqual previously consulted on the proposal to implement a 바카라 사이트榬ebuke바카라 사이트� as part of its consultation on this policy in 2019. This work was paused due to the pandemic.聽

  • The consultation and further details are here: /government/consultations/amending-our-taking-regulatory-action-policy

Updates to this page

Published 20 February 2025