We regulate all academic and vocational qualifications in England, together with vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland, where those qualifications are provided by a body recognised by Ofqual to provide them. Each recognised body is known as an “awarding organisation” (AO) and each qualification for which it is recognised is known as a “regulated qualification”.

We are a statutory body, created by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (the Act). The Act sets out the legal framework within which we operate; it gives us powers to take specific forms of regulatory action.

We regulate to secure standards of, and public confidence in, regulated qualifications. We also regulate to secure efficiency in the provision of regulated qualifications and to raise awareness of the range and benefits of regulated qualifications to learners, employers and higher education institutions. We aim to regulate so that, among other purposes set out in the Act, the interests of learners are protected.

We also keep under review all aspects of statutory assessment arrangements (“regulated assessment arrangements”, i.e. National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage) that are delivered on behalf of the Secretary of State.