Ofqual
QCA | |
Type | Non-ministerial government department |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | England |
Headquarters | Earlsdon Park, 53-55 Butts Road, Coventry, CV1 3BH 52°24′22.2″N 1°31′26.5″W / 52.406167°N 1.524028°W |
Employees | 192 (2017/18) |
Annual budget | £17.5 million (2018/19) |
Agency executives |
|
Website | gov |
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England.[1] Colloquially and publicly, Ofqual is often referred to as the exam "watchdog".[2]
History
Ofqual was established in interim form on 8 April 2008 as part of the
In 2020, Ofqual was involved in an
Role
Ofqual's role is "to maintain standards and confidence in qualifications."[5]
Area of governance
Ofqual regulates exams, qualifications and tests in England. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are regulated by each respective national government. However, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is also accredited by Ofqual.[6]
Ofqual collaborates closely with the UK government and the
Ofqual is the authority which regulates and accredits British examination boards offering GCSEs and GCE A levels while it is the Joint Council for Qualifications which regulates administration of actual GCSE and A Level examinations.
Modular versus linear syllabi
The
Recent reports reveal that the linear examination approach and the toughening educational reforms initiated by Ofqual provoked many schools to "play the system" by requesting test remarking and supplementary aid for students (e.g. special consideration and extra time) in order to uphold high exam grade levels so as to not drop in league tables.[14]
Rising numbers of students taking GCSEs and GCE A Levels over the past decades has led to an increase in the quantity of examination results being enquired for re-marking and reported to Ofqual.[15]
Ofqual's remit and responsibilities are established in law by the
Structure
Ofqual has four directorates:
- Standards, research and analysis
- Vocational and technical qualifications
- General qualifications
- Regulatory and corporate services
Chief Regulator
The Chief Regulator is the leader and figurehead of Ofqual.
Originally, the Chief Regulator was also the Chair of Ofqual. When the Chief Regulator position was vacant during 2010 and 2011, the Deputy Chair, Dame Sandra Burslem DBE, took on 'many of the responsibilities', though was never formally named Chief Regulator or Chair.[19]
On 1 April 2012, in line with the Education Act 2011, the Chief Regulator role transferred from the Chair of Ofqual to the Chief Executive of Ofqual. When the Chief Regulator post was vacant in 2016, the Chair acted as the Interim Chief Regulator.
- Kathleen Tattersall OBE, 8 April 2008–2 July 2010[3][20][21]
- Amanda Spielman, 14 July 2011–31 March 2012 (continued as Chair without Chief Regulator role)[19][22]
- Dame Glenys Stacey, 1 April 2012–29 February 2016[22][23]
- Sally Collier, 25 April 2016–25 August 2020[26][27]
- Simon Lebus, 1 January 2021–17 September 2021[29] (Interim Chief Regulator)
- Jo Saxton, 18 September 2021–present[30]
Chair of Ofqual
Until 31 March 2012, the Chair of Ofqual was also the Chief Regulator. When the Chair position was vacant during 2010 and 2011, the Deputy Chair, Dame Sandra Burslem, 'stepped in to provide continuity', though was never formally named Chair or Chief Regulator.[31]
- Julius Weinberg, 1 December 2016 – 31 December 2016 (Interim Chair)[27]
- Sir Ian Bauckham, 1 January 2021 – present[34] (interim Chair to January 2022, then Chair)
Chief Executive of Ofqual
- Isabel Nisbet, 8 April 2008–28 February 2011[35]
On 1 April 2012, the position of Chief Executive ceased to exist as an independent role when it was merged with the post of Chief Regulator.
References
- ^ Gov.uk, Gov.UK Government, Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, Retrieved 6 February 2014
- ^ "Exam watchdog Ofqual to check 'extra help' data". BBC News. August 2014.
- ^ a b c "House of Commons - Children, Schools and Families Committee - Minutes of Evidence". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Richardson, Hannah (25 August 2020). "Ofqual chief resigns after exams chaos". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ "About us". Ofqual. 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Ofqual External Verification". Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Changes to qualifications regulation in Northern Ireland". Ofqual. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Changes to A levels - The Department for Education". Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Edexcel A levels". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "GCSEs, AS and A levels: new subjects to be taught in 2016". 25 September 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Labour pledges to halt A-Level reforms". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Oxford raises concerns over A-level exam reform". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "A-level reforms 'will harm English pupils', says Cambridge". The Telegraph. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Ofqual: schools playing the system to boost pupils' grades". The Telegraph. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "GCSE and A level exam enquiries have exceeded 450,000 say Ofqual". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009". Office of Public Sector Information. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "Education Act 2011". Parliament of the United Kingdom.
- ^ "Are Cambridge qualifications accredited by Ofqual?". Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "New Chair of Ofqual". GOV.UK. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Exam Regulator Ofqual Chief Kathleen Tattersall Steps Down". Evening Standard. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-84721-945-9. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-10-297861-2.
- ^ a b Offord, Paul (6 August 2015). "Ofqual chief Glenys Stacey to stand down". FE Week. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ Whittaker, Freddie (26 February 2016). "Ofqual Chair Amanda Spielman to Replace Glenys Stacey as Interim Chief Regulator". Schools Week. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Education Secretary Selects New Ofqual Chief Regulator". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Sally Collier named as Ofqual's new chief regulator". 8 March 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4741-4435-3.
- ^ "Ofqual announces interim leadership arrangements".
- ^ a b "New Interim Chief Regulator of Ofqual". GOV.UK. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "New Chief Regulator at Ofqual". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ISBN 9780102974171. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b Whittaker, Freddie (16 December 2016). "Roger Taylor Appointed as New Chair of Exams Regulator Ofqual". Schools Week. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Roger Taylor - GOV.uk".
- ^ a b "New Interim Chair of Ofqual". GOV.UK. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ISBN 9780102974164. Retrieved 4 May 2020.