Consultation outcome

Entry level qualifications: removing unnecessary regulations

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 5 August 2016
• Last updated: 16 December 2016 — See all updates

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Decisions on Entry Level qualifications: removing unnecessary regulations - Consultation outcomes

Ref: Ofqual/16/6137

PDF, 152 KB, 3 pages

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Entry Level qualifications: removing unnecessary regulations - Regulatory impact assessment

Ref: Ofqual/16/6138

PDF, 134 KB, 2 pages

Entry Level qualifications: removing unnecessary regulations - Equality impact assessment

Ref: Ofqual/16/6139

PDF, 135 KB, 2 pages

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Detail of outcome

From August to October 2016, we consulted on proposals to withdraw our regulations which apply only to Entry Level qualifications: the ‘Criteria for Entry Level qualifications’.

We set out why we judged the regulatory requirements were not necessary for the effective regulation of qualifications at Entry Level and represented an unnecessary regulatory burden. We explained our view that they duplicated many of the requirements in our other regulations. Where they added further regulatory requirements they could stop awarding organisations designing qualifications that would best meet users’ needs. We argued that the additional requirements set out in the ‘Criteria for Entry Level qualifications’ could have a detrimental effect on the validity of Entry Level qualifications and lead to extra costs for awarding organisations.

Decisions

Following consultation, we have decided that:

1. We will remove the current ‘Criteria for Entry Level qualifications’ with effect from 16 December 2016.
2. We will not introduce any new regulations specifically for Entry Level qualifications.

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Original consultation

Summary

After consultation, we decided to remove regulations that only apply to qualifications at entry level in the regulated qualifications framework.

This consultation ran from
midday on 5 August 2016 to 11:45pm on 7 October 2016

Consultation description

We propose to remove the regulations in ‘Criteria for entry level qualifications’, published in 2011 and originally put in place by our predecessor QCA.

We believe these regulations aren’t necessary to regulate qualifications at entry level and are an unnecessary burden. They duplicate many requirements in other regulations. Where they do add further regulations, we believe they might constrain the most effective design of qualifications, preventing them from meeting users’ needs.

The additional requirements set out in ‘Criteria for entry level qualifications’ could have a detrimental effect on entry level qualifications and lead to extra costs for awarding organisations.

We propose to remove the ‘Criteria for entry level qualifications’ immediately, following this consultation. We see no good reason for keeping these rules.

We are not proposing replacement rules or any other changes to how we regulate entry level qualifications.

Documents

Entry level qualifications: removing unnecessary regulations

Ref: Ofqual/16/6080

PDF, 142 KB, 20 pages

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Published 5 August 2016
Last updated 16 December 2016 + show all updates

1. 16 December 2016

   Publishing outcomes from the consultation.

2. 5 August 2016

   First published.