Further information
Approval principles for all external qualifications
Prior accreditation by a regulatory body
External qualifications will only be approved if they;
- meet high quality standards,
- are designed to meet the purpose for which they are intended,
- support a need, purpose or programme identified for either cohort,
- enable progression to other qualifications within the same or different pathways, to other further study or to sustainable employment,
- are provided by an awarding body that has demonstrated the capability to apply the criteria contained in the regulatory authorities’ Common Code of Practice.
Accreditation by a regulatory body will be expected to provide these assurances.
The qualification may either have been accredited to the national framework by the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC), the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) for Northern Ireland and/or QCA or is a Scottish qualification accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The qualification is from entry level up to and including level 3 in the national qualifications framework or the equivalent
Pre-19-year-olds are expected to focus on courses leading to qualifications up to and including advanced level (or the Scottish equivalent).
In exceptional circumstances, qualifications will be considered at level 4 for post-16 learners such as occupational qualifications, key skills or those in the performing arts.
Guarantee of provision for a required period
To ensure qualifications aren’t withdrawn to the detriment of candidates already part-way through a programme, qualifications will normally only be approved if the awarding body can guarantee the qualification (or a planned alternative) will continue long enough for people to complete courses and, if necessary, do one re-sit.
