The general conditions of recognition

Thursday, 12 May 2011 11:26

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 places a duty on Ofqual to set and publish general conditions of recognition which all recognised awarding organisations will be subject.

When the legislation commenced in April 2010 we introduced some interim conditions of recognition. Since then we have consulted twice on the full set of conditions we should impose – first in December 2009 and again in October 2010. As of 18th July 2011 the full version of the General Conditions of Recognition apply to all recognised awarding organisations.

We have reflected carefully on the responses we received to the consultations. (The independent report on the responses, written by Yougov, is available to download). Although the general conditions were in the main supported by those who responded, we received many requests for clarification. Concerns that were raised included that the conditions, as drafted, could be interpreted inconsistently. In light of these requests we have redrafted the general conditions to make them more explicit. As a result, although the final version looks different to the consultation version, in the main, the requirements of the conditions are substantially the same.

We have removed or revised some of the general conditions, in direct response to feedback to the consultation. We have also added in a small number of new general conditions, primarily to ensure that the on-going requirements placed on recognised awarding organisation reflect the recognition criteria against which we will judge applications from organisations seeking to become recognised awarding organisations for the first time.

The published general conditions set out clearly and fully the requirements on recognised awarding organisations. We believe that the general conditions ‘speak for themselves’ Therefore we are not at this stage publishing supporting guidance. However, we will develop guidance on the behaviour that would indicate that a recognised awarding organisation had met particular conditions where this is needed.

Between 16th May and 9th June, we invited Awarding Organsiations to submit any questions that they had around the general conditions via a central email address. We have grouped the questions together both to anonymise the requests and to avoid overlap and duplication. We have arranged the questions and answers in order of the conditions and a link to the document can be found at the bottom of this page.

The central email address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) remains open for further questions and we will update the Frequently Asked Questions document to answer any further questions received.

Each recognised awarding organisation’s governing body will be required to assure us, no later than 18th May 2012, that it is working in accordance with the general conditions. A recognised awarding organisation that is not able to provide us by that date with such an assurance will be required to confirm the progress it has made towards meeting the general conditions (and any other conditions to which it might be subject) and the steps it is taking to give us the necessary assurance.

The general conditions refer to other regulatory requirements that continue to apply. We have rationalised these requirements, to remove duplication with the general conditions; and we have also remove existing requirements that do not reflect our regulatory approach. Further information is available.

General Conditions of Recognition - May 2012

View the Equality Impact Assessment of the General Conditions of Recognition

View the Frequently Asked Questions on the General Conditions of Recognition and Recognition Criteria

Last Updated on Friday, 11 May 2012 10:05 Tags: Ofqual, education, examination regulation, qualifications, assessments