Ofqual, the new regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments launches a public consultation.

Ofqual, the new regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments, has launched a public consultation to find out people's views on how it should exercise its powers and duties. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act established Ofqual as an independent statutory body with responsibilities for the regulation of general and vocational qualifications in England. It will also regulate vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. Ofqual will be an independent body which will report directly to Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, said: "The establishment of Ofqual as an independent organisation represents a significant development in the regulation of qualifications and assessments. "At this important time for us we need to consult with a wide range of stakeholders about how we can best exercise the powers and duties given to us under the new legislation. "The results of the consultation will inform our business planning for the future as we work to secure the standards of qualifications and protect learners so that they can be confident their results count." The consultation document, Regulating For Confidence in Standards, includes information about the new legislation and explains the duties and powers which Ofqual will have and the suggested ways in which these can be exercised. It can be found at www.ofqual.gov.uk/consultation The last date for responses is 8 March 2010. Consultation events on the regulation of qualifications, examinations and assessments The Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act, which received Royal Assent on 12th November 2009, establishes Ofqual as an independent non-ministerial Government department. As you have already been informed, we are consulting on a step-change in the way qualifications and assessments will be regulated under this legislation. This consultation seeks views on how we should exercise our duties and powers in the future, details about the context of the legislation and explains the objectives set out for us and how we propose to use these. We hope you take this opportunity to comment on the information contained in the document. We welcome comments on the consultation through the following link: www.ofqual.gov.uk/consultations by the closing date of 8 March 2010. If you are keen to respond but would like more information about the consultation proposals or more information about the legislation before you do, we are running four regional consultation sessions. You may be someone interested in how examinations, qualifications and assessments are regulated in the future or you may be a teacher or lecturer, head of a school or college, early years practitioner, local authority officer, representative of a teaching association, learner, parent, employer or awarding organisation representative. These sessions are designed to help you understand our consultation proposals and how we intend to move from the old regulatory world to the new. Sessions will run from 12pm – 2pm or 4pm – 6pm. -Monday 1st February, Grand Connaught Rooms, Central London -Monday 8th February, Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel, Bristol -Tuesday 9th February, Burlington Hotel, Birmingham -Thursday 11th February, Queens Hotel, Leeds. We anticipate that these events will be very popular and would ask you to confirm your attendance with your first and second choice of briefing session (date/time) as soon as possible by emailing rsvp@ofqual.gov.uk.

External Link: http://www.ofqual.gov.uk