WJEC ( Welsh : CBAC ) is an examination board providing examinations, professional development and educational resources to schools and colleges in Wales and Northern Ireland under its own name, and the Eduqas brand for England .
21-416: WJEC may refer to: WJEC (exam board) , a UK exam board WJEC (FM) , a radio station (106.5 FM) licensed to serve Vernon, Alabama, United States World Journalism Education Congress , a triennial international academic event on journalism education Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
42-616: 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 the QCA directly through its regulation and standards division. It
63-399: 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
84-631: Is often discussed in the media, WJEC was interrogated by the British House of Commons on this matter and published a written declaration where it responded to the questions asked by the UK Parliament. A recent report by the BBC shows that there is an increasing trend for exam papers to be remarked because of growing allegations of inefficiency in grading under WJEC. WJEC has introduced a computerized assessment system for some subjects to improve
105-662: Is run on a day-to-day basis by a senior management team with experience in both the education and commercial sectors. WJEC’s qualifications include traditional academic and work-related subjects at Entry Level , GCSE , AS/ A Level , other level 3 qualifications such as Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Criminology or Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Medical Science as well as Functional Skills and Key Skills . As competition between examination boards on qualifications syllabuses and educational standards for GCSE and A Levels
126-637: Is used only for qualifications regulated by Qualifications Wales. Some WJEC qualifications are also available in Northern Ireland and a very small number of vocational qualifications are available in England. WJEC runs a programme of professional development with their subject specialists and Chief or Principal Examiners throughout England and Wales. WJEC previously managed the National Youth Orchestra of Wales , National Youth Dance Wales and National Youth Theatre of Wales, under
147-588: 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 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
168-689: 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 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
189-476: 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
210-603: The brand Eduqas. The brand was developed as a response to diverging qualifications between England and Wales. Existing specifications being taught in schools and colleges in England continued to be branded WJEC until they were reformed (first teaching from 2015, 2016 or 2017) and relabelled Eduqas. Eduqas qualifications are also available in Northern Ireland, providing they meet CCEA Accreditation's regulations. Some Eduqas qualifications are also available in Wales where no Qualifications Wales -regulated equivalent exists. The WJEC brand
231-841: The changes as outlined by the Welsh Government in their own series of reforms. WJEC also provides the Welsh Baccalaureate . This offers a programme of study incorporating working with employers, community activities, individual investigations and key skills, as well as students’ GCSEs, GNVQs or A level studies. WJEC offers more than 13,000 past papers, mark schemes and marked exemplars free of charge via their website, along with digital resources in English and Welsh. WJEC also provides an Online Exam Review (OER) in order to provide instant exam results analysis. WJEC offers qualifications regulated by England's Ofqual through
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#1732783591444252-533: 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 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
273-628: The examination experience and increase efficiency of marking. WJEC provides Qualifications Wales -regulated qualifications to all state schools and colleges in Wales. Independent schools in Wales may choose between qualifications regulated by Welsh Government or those regulated by the Government of the United Kingdom . WJEC also collaborates with the University of Cambridge to offer educational qualifications. New GCSEs, AS/A levels and vocational qualifications have been developed to incorporate
294-553: The joint brand of National Youth Arts Wales in partnership with Tŷ Cerdd . In 2016, Welsh Government recommended that the ensembles become managed under one unified body. WJEC ceased to manage the ensembles as of 2017. WJEC provides resources for adults learning Welsh , allowing candidates to show their speaking, listening, reading and writing abilities at different levels. They also provide Welsh examinations designed for adult learners. Ofqual The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation ( Ofqual )
315-435: 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
336-614: 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
357-527: The title WJEC . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WJEC&oldid=982611241 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Broadcast call sign disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages WJEC (exam board) The Welsh Joint Education Committee
378-462: 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
399-661: 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 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,
420-579: Was established as a consortium of Welsh Local Education Authorities in 1948, replacing the Central Welsh Board . It is now a registered charity , and a company limited by guarantee , led by a group trustees drawn from the local authorities in Wales and independents from both England and Wales. The organisation is based in Cardiff with a subsidiary company, WJEC CBAC Services Limited, providing specialist printing and publication services. WJEC
441-431: 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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