Ofqual
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| Non-ministerial government department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 2008 |
| Preceding Non-ministerial government department | |
| Type | Non-ministerial government department |
| Jurisdiction | England |
| Headquarters | Spring Place, Coventry Business Park, Herald Avenue, Canley, Coventry, CV5 6UB 52°24′12.4884″N 1°32′59.3088″W / 52.403469000°N 1.549808000°W |
| Employees | 232 (2013/14) |
| Annual budget | £19.5 million (2016/17) |
| Non-ministerial government department executives |
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| Website | www |
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England and, until May 2016, vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. Colloquially and publicly, Ofqual is often referred to as the exam "watchdog".
Ofqual's role is to maintain standards and confidence in qualifications.
It regulates exams, qualifications and tests in England. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are regulated by each respective national government. However, the Scottish Qualifications Authority SQA 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 it 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. It should be noted that Ofqual is the authority which regulates and accredits British examination boards offering GCSEs and GCE A levels while it is the JCQ 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 and OCR) regulated and accredited by Ofqual 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 will halt and reverse the reforms and maintain the modular A-Level system. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have expressed support for the modular system.
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