Decision

Recognition conditions for AQA Education

Published 6 May 2014

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2014

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aqa-special-conditions-may-2014/recognition-conditions-for-aqa-education

1. Reasons for recognition conditions

On 6 May 2014, we accepted AQA Education’s (AQA) application to be recognised for the new GCSE (9 to 1) qualifications.

At the same time, we decided to impose special conditions on AQA for those qualifications. This is because:

  • GCSE (9 to 1) qualifications are important qualifications. They will be used for the purposes of Learners moving to Higher Education and employment and for ‘school league tables’. But they are also fundamentally different from existing GCSE qualifications (graded A* to G).
  • As part of its application for recognition AQA explained how it proposes to implement the development, delivery and award of GCSE (9 to 1) qualifications (its ‘Implementation Plan’). These processes and practices have not yet been fully tested in operation.
  • The successful completion of AQA’s Implementation Plan is extremely important to Learners and other anticipated Users of these qualifications.
  • To maintain standards and public confidence in GCSE qualifications, we want to closely monitor AQA’s Implementation Plan and any changes to it.

2. Recognition conditions

Pearson’s recognition for the development, delivery and award of GCSE (9 to 1) qualifications is subject to the following Recognition Conditions.

We will review these conditions on or before 1st October 2016, and will remove them when they are no longer necessary.

2.1 Definitions

‘Implementation Plan’ means:

  • the plans submitted by the awarding organisation as part of its application for recognition for GCSE 9-1 qualifications for its development, delivery and award of these qualifications, as updated where relevant.

‘Change of Significance’ means:

  • Any variation of the finances or other resources available to the awarding organisation, however arising, which is likely to have a direct effect on its ability to deliver its Implementation Plan;
  • Any inability to appoint and/ or train sufficient staff or contractors in respect of any aspects of the development and award of GCSE 9-1 qualifications including but not limited to its arrangements with those appointed to mark examination scripts, act as reviewers or lead examiners;
  • Any issues in its Information Technology (‘IT’) arrangements including where relevant the implementation of new IT systems or arrangements for the change, adaptation or modification of existing IT systems to meet the requirements for marking and monitoring examination scripts or the award of GCSE 9-1; or
  • Any anticipated variation of more than 10% increase or decrease or such percentage to be agreed by the Director of Regulatory Operations, when compared to its 2013 GCSE candidate numbers for any subject.

2.2 Condition A5.5

A5.5 The awarding organisation must monitor its Implementation Plan and notify Ofqual:

i) On a quarterly basis – from end of June 2014 or such timescale agreed by the Director of Regulatory Operations of its progress against its Implementation Plan, and
ii) of any Change of Significance which may cause its Implementation Plan to be delayed, and its proposals for addressing any issues to ensure it is able to complete its Implementation Plan within the timescale proposed.
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