24-567: The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation ( Ofqual ) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England. Colloquially and publicly, Ofqual is often referred to as the exam "watchdog". Ofqual was established in interim form on 8 April 2008 as part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), taking over the regulatory functions that had previously been undertaken by
48-419: A 30 mark question on Rylands v Fletcher and Private nuisance , accounting for 30% of the 100 mark paper, which had not been included in the advance information. In response, AQA stated that it would "look at how students performed" after the paper had been marked and that it would "take any action necessary to protect [pupils]." On 17 June 2022, exams regulator Ofqual criticised AQA and other exam boards for
72-660: A topic "not assessed" in the paper. Following the error, AQA announced that full marks would be awarded for the offending question, guaranteeing nine marks for each pupil who sat the paper. In addition, AQA announced that it would be performing "extra checks on the advance information and question papers for future exams". In relation to the June 2022 A Level Physics Paper Two, claims were made that advance information provided to pupils misleadingly stated that questions relating to Electric Fields and Capacitance would only be present synoptically and in low tariff questions; these topics made up
96-399: Is not accountable to government ministers and is independent from ministerial government. Whereas Ofqual regulates and accredits British examination boards (e.g. Edexcel , AQA , OCR etc.) and their GCSE and GCE A-Level specifications; the examination board CAIE ( Cambridge Assessment International Education ) which offers international GCSEs and GCE A-Levels predominantly for schools outside
120-550: Is the Joint Council for Qualifications which regulates administration of actual GCSE and A Level examinations. The Conservative Party under Prime Minister David Cameron initiated reforms for A Levels to change from the current modular to a linear structure. British examination boards ( Edexcel , AQA , OCR and WJEC ) regulated and accredited by Ofqual responded to the government's reform announcements by modifying syllabi of several A Level subjects. However, in 2014
144-549: Is therefore intended to protect them from political interference. Some are headed by a permanent office holder, such as a Permanent Secretary or Second Permanent Secretary . The status of an NMGD varies considerably from one to another. For example: A list of NMGDs is maintained by the Cabinet Office , which as of January 2023 states that the following 20 are in existence: Assessment and Qualifications Alliance AQA Education , trading as AQA (formerly
168-570: The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance ), is an awarding body in England , Wales and Northern Ireland . It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE , AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the government. However, its qualifications and exam syllabi are regulated by the Government of
192-626: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on vocational qualifications such as NVQs and BTECs. In Northern Ireland Ofqual regulated NVQs on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning until May 2016; this responsibility has since been handed to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment . Ofqual is the authority which regulates and accredits British examination boards offering GCSEs and GCE A levels while it
216-699: The Labour Party announced that it would halt and reverse the reforms and maintain the modular A-Level system if it got into government. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have expressed support for the modular system. 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. Rising numbers of students taking GCSEs and GCE A Levels over
240-474: The 'distress' which mistakes on the advance information had caused pupils. Shortly following the AQA A-Level Chemistry paper 2 (sat on the morning of 20 June 2022) photographs surfaced on social media, namely Twitter, showing the paper had been leaked potentially up to seven days before it took place. Throughout the day that followed, AQA were reluctant to comment on the matter. This revelation
264-680: The COVID-19 pandemic. Ofqual's role is "to maintain standards and confidence in qualifications." 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. Ofqual collaborates closely with the UK government and the Department for Education on general qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels , and with
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#1732776316340288-520: The QCA directly through its regulation and standards division. It was always intended that Ofqual would be an entirely separate body from the QCA. This was achieved on 1 April 2010, when Ofqual was established as a non-ministerial government department under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 . In 2020, Ofqual was involved in an GCSE and A-Level grading controversy during
312-475: The United Kingdom operates independently without British governmental intervention. Therefore, although CAIE qualifications are accredited by Ofqual, they are not regulated by it and thus may differ significantly in subject content and exam structure from UK GCSEs and GCE A-Levels. Ofqual has four directorates: The chief regulator is the leader and figurehead of Ofqual. Originally, the chief regulator
336-401: The United Kingdom responded to the government's reform announcements by modifying syllabi of several A Level subjects. However, the Labour Party and in particular the member of parliament Tristram Hunt announced that it would seek to halt and reverse the reforms and maintain the modular A-Level system. Labour's policy, and the modular AS- and A-Level system, are supported and promoted by
360-590: The United Kingdom, which is the regulator for the public examinations system in England and Wales. AQA is one of five awarding bodies which are recognised by schools across the country. AQA is also recognised by the regulators of the public exams systems for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to offer GCSE, AS and A Levels in the United Kingdom. AQA also offers the AQA Baccalaureate , a qualification also intended for students in Year 12 and 13 and which includes
384-530: The University of Cambridge and by the University of Oxford. The organisation announced that it will begin offering courses for which all assessment is carried out through examinations at the end of the course. This is commonly referred to as a linear course. Beforehand, they offered modular courses in England with several exams. During the summer 2022 exam series, AQA came under heavy criticism after several of its exam papers contained topics not included in
408-410: The new organisation, but transferred its GNVQ provision to AQA. AQA holds the candidate records and awards for the following historic exam boards: The Conservative Party under Prime Minister David Cameron initiated reforms for A Levels to change from a modular structure to a linear one. British examination boards ( Edexcel , AQA, OCR and WJEC ) regulated and accredited by the Government of
432-547: The past decades has led to an increase in the quantity of examination results being enquired for re-marking and reported to Ofqual. Ofqual's remit and responsibilities are established in law by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 and the Education Act 2011 . As a Non-ministerial department Ofqual is accountable to Parliament , through the Education Select Committee . It
456-584: The study of three A-Levels, an extended project and extra-curricular enrichment activities. AQA is the largest examination board for GCSEs and GCE A Levels in England. The organisation has several regional offices, the largest being in London , Guildford and Manchester . AQA was originally formed on 7 November 1997 as an alliance of NEAB and AEB/SEG exam boards and City & Guilds vocational awarding body. NEAB and AEB/SEG formally merged on 1 April 2000. City & Guilds chose to remain independent of
480-579: The subject specific 'advance information'. Following an announcement from the exams regulator Ofqual in December 2021, exam boards were required to produce advance information, covering the 'focus' of exams, to alleviate the disruption experienced by pupils during the COVID-19 pandemic . In June 2022, GCSE Physics Higher Paper One contained a 9-mark question on energy transfers and circuits . Advance Information had listed "series and parallel circuits" as
504-471: The third question of the paper, worth 12 marks, and came up 8 times in the multiple choice section, in total these topics made up 23.5% of the 85 mark paper. The perceived error lead to significant backlash on social media. AQA responded by defending the paper, stating that the two topics were separate and therefore "neither carried enough marks to be included in the advance information list". On 17 June 2022, AQA apologised after A-level Law Paper Two contained
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#1732776316340528-461: Was also the chair of Ofqual. When the chief regulator position was vacant during 2010 and 2011, the Deputy Chair, Dame Sandra Burslem , took on 'many of the responsibilities', though was never formally named chief regulator or chair. On 1 April 2012, in line with the Education Act 2011 , the chief regulator role transferred from the chair, to the chief executive. When the chief regulator post
552-489: Was merged with the post of chief regulator. Non-ministerial government department Non-ministerial government departments ( NMGDs ) are a type of department of the United Kingdom government that deal with matters for which direct political oversight has been judged unnecessary or inappropriate. They are headed by senior civil servants . Some fulfil a regulatory or inspection function , and their status
576-430: Was vacant in 2016, the chair acted as the interim chief regulator. 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. On 1 April 2012, the position of chief executive ceased to exist as an independent role when it
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