Updates: Ofqual Handbook: General Conditions of Recognition
2023
Added C2.6 and associated guidance following September 2023 resilience consultation decisions
Section F - Providing qualifications to purchasers
Removed version of Condition F1 that was in force prior to January 2021
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
Integrated additional definitions relating to qualification fees which came into force in January 2021
2022
Section D - General requirements for regulated qualifications
Guidance for designing and developing accessible assessments has been added to condition D.
Section G - Setting and delivering the assessment
Previous guidance for Condition G3 has been removed as detailed guidance for designing and developing accessible assessments has been added to condition D.
2021
Removed out-of-date guidance on Condition A8 that was included in error.
Published new guidance on malpractice and maladministration
2020
Section F - Providing qualifications to purchasers
Added guidance to support the new version of Condition F1 that comes into force on 18 January 2021.
Moved definitions of Change of Control and Conflict of Interest from (respectively) Conditions A3 and A4 to Condition J1. Minor changes to wording of Conditions A1, A3 and, A5.
Section B - The awarding organisation and Ofqual
Condition B1: New definition of 'Responsible Officer' and new requirement to ensure the Responsible Officer is effective in the role.
Condition B2: Revised to refer to 'statement of compliance' and simplify some wording.
Simplified wording of Conditions B4 and B8.
Minor changes to wording of Condition C1.
Section D - General requirements for regulated qualifications
Condition D6 withdrawn, and subsequent Conditions renumbered.
Minor changes to wording of Conditions D1 and D5.
Section E - Design and development of qualifications
Revised Condition E10 to require all awarding organisations to have a published policy which explains whether or not they will recognise prior learning. Consequential amendments to supporting guidance.
Moved definition of 'Recognition of Prior Learning' to Condition J1.
Minor changes to wording of Condition E1, E3.2(d) and E6.2(c).
Section F - Providing qualifications to purchasers
Added new version of Condition F1 which comes into force on 18 January 2021
Revised Condition F3 to clarify level of detail purchasers may seek to obtain when requesting a breakdown of fees.
Section G - Setting and delivering the assessment
Definitions of 'Reasonable Adjustment' and 'Special Consideration' moved from Conditions G6 and G7 (respectively) to Condition J1.
Section I - Appeals and certificates
Condition I1 revised to clarify role of independent decision makers in appeals.
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
New interpretation provision (Condition J1.2(j)) explaining how to interpret references to 'this condition'.
Revised Condition J1.7 to require publication of specified documents or information on awarding organisations' websites.
Definitions of 'Change of Control', 'Conflict of Interest', 'Reasonable Adjustment', 'Recognition of Prior Learning' and 'Special Consideration' moved from Conditions A3, A4, G6, E10 and G7 (respectively).
Revised definitions of 'Data Protection Law' and 'Special Consideration'. Minor change to definition of 'Adverse Effect'. Replaced defined term 'RITS' with 'Portal'.
Removed definition of 'Rule of Combination'.
New definitions of 'Procure' and 'Responsible Officer'.
Also added new definitions of 'Associated Learner Fees', 'Mandatory Centre Fees', 'Package Fee' and 'Standard Qualification Fee', which come into force alongside the new Condition F1 on 18 January 2021.
Change to Condition A2 - Establishment in the EU or the EFTA.
Section H - From marking to issuing results
Added condition H6.2 relating to compliance with notices from Ofqual requiring an awarding organisation to refrain from issuing results.
Published new guidance on conflicts of interest. This comes into effect at 00.01am on 21 February 2020.
Section H - From marking to issuing results
Added qualifications to which the Performance Table Qualifications Qualification Level Conditions apply to the list of qualifications which must be subject to Moderation
Revised Condition A4.6 to reflect introduction of new rules for Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny. This change comes into effect at 00.01am on 13 February 2020.
Revised Condition C2.3(j) to reflect introduction of new rules for Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny. This change comes into effect at 00.01am on 13 February 2020.
Section H - From marking to issuing results
Introduction of Conditions, requirements and guidance for Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny; related changes to Conditions H6.1(d) and H6. This change comes into effect at 00.01am on 13 February 2020.
Section I - Appeals and certificates
Revised Condition I4.2(c) to reflect introduction of new rules for Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny. This change comes into effect at 00.01am on 13 February 2020.
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
Introduced new definition of Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny, and revised definition of Moderation. This change comes into effect at 00.01am on 13 February 2020.
2019
Section B - The awarding organisation and Ofqual
Revised logo requirements to reflect transitional arrangements for changing Ofqual's Logo
Section B - The awarding organisation and Ofqual
Updated to include new version of Ofqual logo for use on certificates
Section I - Appeals and certificates
Added information about joint CCEA Regulation, Ofqual and Qualifications Wales guidance on using regulators' logos on certificates
2018
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section B - The awarding organisation and Ofqual
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section D - General requirements for regulated qualifications
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section E - Design and development of qualifications
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section F - Providing qualifications to purchasers
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section G - Setting and delivering the assessment
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section H - From marking to issuing results
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section I - Appeals and certificates
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
Published release version of Ofqual Handbook
Updated to reflect formal introduction of Ofqual Handbook
Updated to include revisions to Condition A4, and the guidance to Conditions A4 and A8, following our consultation on [regulating teacher involvement in exam development](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/rules-and-regulations-on-teacher-involvement-in-exam-development)
Section E - Design and development of qualifications
Updated to reflect formal introduction of Ofqual Handbook, and commencement of requirements for Total Qualification Time
Section G - Setting and delivering the assessment
Updated to include revisions to Condition G4 (and the associated guidance), as well as new guidance on safeguarding confidentiality when Teachers develop assessments, following our consultation on [regulating teacher involvement in exam development](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/rules-and-regulations-on-teacher-involvement-in-exam-development)
Section I - Appeals and certificates
Updated to reflect formal introduction of Ofqual Handbook
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
Updated following formal adoption of Handbook format
'Proposed changes' section removed following pilot of Handbook
2017
New section added.
New section added.
New section added.
Section B - The awarding organisation and Ofqual
New section added.
New section added.
Section D - General requirements for regulated qualifications
New section added.
Section E - Design and development of qualifications
New section added.
Section F - Providing qualifications to purchasers
New section added.
Section G - Setting and delivering the assessment
New section added.
Section H - From marking to issuing results
New section added.
Section I - Appeals and certificates
New section added.
Section J - Interpretation and definitions
New section added.