All component awarding bodies and Diploma awarding bodies must be recognised as awarding organisations by Ofqual; the Department of Children, Education and Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales; and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland. The recognition process is operated jointly by the three regulators. Ofqual’s recognition requirements for those awarding organisations must also be met by component and Diploma awarding bodies.
The recognition requirements set out the rules that awarding organisations must meet to be recognised as being able to operate as component and/or Diploma awarding bodies, and be recognised as awarding organisations. All Diploma awarding bodies must also operate as component awarding bodies.
The recognition requirements apply according to the provision of the component awarding body and whether this includes principal learning, the project, and/or additional and specialist learning and functional skills. There are also recognition requirements specifically for Diploma awarding bodies. The requirements are set out in the following sections:
- recognition requirements for all component awarding bodies (including additional and specialist learning component awarding bodies and awarding organisations offering functional skills for the Diploma1)
- additional recognition requirements specific to principal learning and project component awarding bodies
- additional recognition requirements specific to the recognition of additional and specialist learning and functional skills component awarding bodies
- recognition requirements for Diploma awarding bodies.
- Awarding organisations that only offer functional skills outside the Diploma do not need to be recognised as a component awarding body. [↩]
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