Recognition requirements for Diploma awarding bodies

Expertise

The Diploma comprises principal, additional and specialist, and generic learning components, as outlined in Criteria for accreditation of Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diploma qualifications version 2.

1. Diploma awarding bodies must also meet the relevant regulatory criteria for component awarding bodies. They must offer at least one constituent qualification, as a component awarding body, for each of the Diploma lines of learning that they are recognised to award.

2. Diploma awarding bodies must be recognised at all levels of each line of learning for which they are awarding Diploma qualifications.

Recognition of all component awarding bodies’ constituent qualifications

3. Diploma awarding bodies must recognise all component awarding bodies’ constituent qualifications that meet the requirements of one or more lines of learning, as published in the Diploma catalogues.

Corporate governance

4. Diploma awarding bodies working in a partnership to offer the Diploma with other awarding organisations must provide a written statement of each organisation’s responsibilities, including the identification of a lead awarding organisation.

5. If a partnership has been set up specifically for the Diploma, it must meet awarding organisation recognition requirements1, together with the recognition requirements for component awarding bodies. The partnership will be referenced as a new awarding organisation.

Requirements for use of the Diploma aggregation service for awarding Diploma qualifications

The Diploma aggregation service is designed to enable the data sharing, results aggregation, grading and supporting functions required for the operation of the Diploma as a composite qualification. Further information is available at www.qcda.gov.uk/19061.aspx.
Diploma awarding bodies award and certificate whole Diploma qualifications for the lines of learning for which they are recognised, once the award has been aggregated by the Diploma Aggregation Service (DAS). Diploma awarding bodies provide information and guidance to centres on the lines of learning they award through their websites, customer service teams and training.

6. Diploma awarding bodies must demonstrate their compatibility with the Diploma aggregation service to award the Diploma qualification when the service has aggregated the learners' results.

7. Diploma awarding bodies must have formally agreed the commercial terms and obligations governing the provision of the Diploma aggregation service in order to open a Diploma aggregation service user account and use the system in live operation.

Provision of information and advice

8. Diploma awarding bodies must ensure that they have sufficient resources and effective arrangements to provide information and guidance to centres on the lines of learning for which they are recognised to award the Diploma, including on:

  • recording and awarding the Diploma qualification
  • complaints on quality of service in relation to the awarding of whole Diploma qualifications.2

9. When providing information and guidance for centres on the Diploma qualification, Diploma awarding bodies must advise centres that:

  • information on the full range of units and qualifications for the Diploma is available in the Diploma catalogues
  • the Diploma can be awarded against any of the permitted combinations of qualifications offered by different component awarding bodies, as shown in the Diploma catalogues.

Certification of the Diploma and the Diploma transcript

10. Diploma awarding bodies must ensure that they have the necessary resources, procedures and arrangements to meet the requirements of the operating rules outlined in this document for certification of the Diploma and the issuing of the Diploma transcript with the Diploma certificate for each Diploma award.

Malpractice

Awarding organisations should refer to Dealing with significant cases of suspected malpractice by those involved in the delivery of qualifications: Guidance for awarding bodies.

11. Diploma awarding bodies must report to Ofqual any significant malpractice and maladministration that is relevant to the award of a Diploma qualification.

12. Diploma awarding bodies must have procedures for reporting on and dealing with instances of malpractice at Diploma level.

Withdrawal of a Diploma awarding body

13. If a Diploma awarding body wishes to withdraw its services it must negotiate a timetable with Ofqual for withdrawal that will, where appropriate, allow for alternative arrangements to be made for centres and learners. The Diploma awarding body must ensure that adequate notice is given to protect the interests of learners.

  1. Ofqual has developed a streamlined process for this purpose [↩]
  2. Diploma awarding bodies are not involved in enquiries and appeals on other component awarding bodies’ constituent qualifications. [↩]