Ofqual wants to be assured that all learners have equal and appropriate access to all assessments and qualifications that will enable them to demonstrate their skills, abilities and knowledge. As a public body, Ofqual is bound by all the equalities legislation to promote fairness, equality and equity. To achieve a fully inclusive education system our aim is to ensure that all groups can fully participate in assessments and examinations by proactively ensuring that as many obstacles as possible are removed at the design stage of qualification criteria. Therefore, Annex 2, Draft diversity and equality principles, from version 2 of the Regulatory arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies has been removed as these regulations are already covered by regulations in the Criteria for accreditation of Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diploma qualifications (1.2f on page 6 and 2.5 on page 10).

Questions

Submission of all constituent qualification results

Principal learning and project component awarding bodies

1. Component awarding bodies must use the verified ULN to identify each learner with a learner account in the Diploma aggregation service, and to record their results for constituent qualifications of the Diploma with the Diploma aggregation service.¹

2. Component awarding bodies must verify the learner details referenced by the ULN and post results only where the ULN has been verified.

3. Component awarding bodies are responsible for the accuracy and validity of the results and grade data they submit to the Diploma aggregation service referenced by each verified ULN.

4. Component awarding bodies must submit results for principal learning units and qualifications and for project qualifications (with their associated weighted points) to the Diploma aggregation service, including unclassified results and absences.

5. Component awarding bodies must submit constituent results to the Diploma aggregation service within agreed timelines² and in appropriate formats.

6. The component awarding body must ensure that principal learning qualification results (including unit grades and weighted points) are resubmitted if a principal learning unit result is withdrawn.

Prior achievement claims

Principal learning and project component awarding bodies

7. Component awarding bodies must verify the relevant prior achievement of Diploma learners for the constituent qualifications they offer to enable timely Diploma awards. Prior achievement applies if this achievement was obtained before a learner account was opened in the Diploma aggregation service. Qualifications achieved before 1 January 2005 cannot be considered as prior achievement.

This verification is subject to the learner having a verified ULN for submission to the learner account, and one of the following requirements:

• the qualification is a current or expired qualification in the Diploma catalogue

or

• if requested, the component awarding organisation proposes that the qualification is an equivalent of a qualification that exists is in the current or previous versions of the Diploma catalogues.³

Resits

Principal learning component awarding bodies

8. Component awarding bodies must permit resits of principal learning units to enable learners to improve their grades for principal learning and the overall Diploma.⁴

9. Component awarding bodies must re-issue the principal learning qualification certificate if a unit resit improves the grade awarded for the principal learning qualification.⁵

1. 'Guidance on posting results to the Diploma aggregation service' sets out the detailed requirements of the Diploma aggregation service, and is available at www.qcda.gov.uk/das.
2. The timelines for awarding are set out as part of the Ofqual-agreed arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies that underpin the regulation of the Diploma. Details of these arrangements are available on Ofqual’s website: www.ofqual.gov.uk. They are agreed by Ofqual with component and Diploma awarding bodies and take into account the requirements of the Diploma aggregation service. Timelines for data supplied to the Diploma aggregation service must also be in accordance with the agreed service levels and commercial terms for the service.
3. Once a qualification has been recognised against a current qualification in the Diploma catalogue, it will be added to the expired qualifications in the catalogue.
4. Learners can resit principal learning units to improve their overall principal learning grade before or after the principal learning qualification has been awarded.
5. Diploma awarding bodies must re-issue the Diploma transcript and certificate to reflect an improved grade for the Diploma. The grade can be improved before or after the Diploma has been awarded.

Ofqual is seeking views from stakeholders on proposed updates to improve the clarity and understanding of the requirements set out in the Regulatory arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies. This publication sets out the recognition requirements and the regulations for operating the Diploma that component and Diploma awarding bodies must meet.

This online consultation introduces each section of the publication with information on the changes, along with the proposed regulations together with questions for response and feedback. A complete copy of the proposed publication can be downloaded to view and print. You can progress through the document on screen and also go back to sections you would like to re-visit. You will be asked for responses to questions on clarity, understanding and level of detail throughout the document. You will also have the opportunity to provide specific comments and feedback to explain your responses.