Ofqual
Ofqual is reviewing its regulation of qualifications in the light of the governments recently published skills plan. In our response, we said that we recognised the importance of avoiding a proliferation of qualifications. As a first step we signalled our intent to remove around 2,000 qualifications from the register.
Today (Friday 5 August) we are focusing on improving the quality of entry level qualifications and reducing the regulatory burden. We have published a consultation removing criteria that currently apply to these qualifications.
If we remove these criteria, awarding organisations may choose to develop new qualifications if they think these will better meet users needs. Where these qualifications are successors to less effective qualifications we would expect the old qualifications to be withdrawn once the last students complete them. We will keep the overall numbers of entry level qualifications under review, but do not expect a significant or long term increase as a result of this change.
For more information on this consultation, including how to respond, please follow the links to our consultation page.