Exam boards could be criticized for being “dishonesty” or for criticizing their competitors under new applicable rules proposed by the qualifications regulator.

Ofqual will add new “core conditions” to its 100-plus page rulebook for awarding bodies, subject to a consultation launched today.

Six principles, one of which requires boards to “act with honesty and integrity,” will be added to the general conditions of recognition (GCR). The regulator said it would help boards make decisions in “new, unexpected or novel situations”.

These principles also include ensuring that qualifications “are fit for purpose” and “where possible, promoting public confidence in qualifications”.

Ofqual’s GCR is its rulebook for exam boards. It regulates who can run them, how qualifications should be developed and titled and even where the Ofqual logo should appear on certificates.

Violations of the GCR can result in sanctions ranging from requiring certain improvements to financial penalties and removal of a board’s powers to award qualifications.

Ofqual declined to comment when asked if it was tightening its rules following recent fines and regulatory action taken against awarding bodies such as Pearson And NCFE.

The regulator admitted its expectations of exam boards had not changed, but stressed the new rules would help them make decisions by “removing regulatory uncertainty”.

“Potential” burdens for contracting bodies

Sir Ian Bauckham, Chief Regulator of Ofqual, said: “These principles will play an important role in helping Ofqual ensure standards and public confidence in qualifications.

“Although the principles are new, the concepts and expectations they articulate already underpin our rules.

“They will provide additional support to help awarding organizations make decisions and can be applied at both strategic and operational levels.”

The consultation acknowledged that exam boards will face “an additional burden” from the new core conditions. Ofqual considers this to be “warranted”.

“The long-term benefits to awarding bodies and Ofqual of a clearer understanding and more consistent interpretation of the framework will outweigh the potential short-term burden of familiarization and the guarantee of respect for the principles.

Rob Nitsch, chief executive of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, said: “The main principles reflect best practice that FAB members would recognise.

“However, we will look closely at the potential impact and in particular the additional regulatory burden that the proposal will generate, which we know is a very significant area of ​​concern for the industry.”

Public confidence in all qualifications

If the principles are agreed, exam boards will be provided with statutory guidance which will set out examples of incidents constituting a breach.

For example, “failing to pay sufficient attention to the accuracy of the information that the qualification awarding body provides to Ofqual and qualification users” would be considered a breach of the first principle, “acting with honesty and integrity”.

Incidents leading to delays in results, or negative publicity campaigns against competitors’ qualifications, could cause councils to breach Principle 4, which is to “maintain and, where possible, promote public confidence in qualifications”.

Existing Ofqual rules already require exam boards to ensure qualifications are fit for purpose.

A new condition, together with guidelines, is now proposed as one of six principles which states: “A certification body must ensure that each qualification it makes available, or proposes to make available, is and continues to be adapted to the intended objectives. for which it is intended.

The consultation closes on February 12.

The six main conditions proposed by Ofqual

An awarding body must:

1. Act with honesty and integrity
2. Treat learners fairly by acting and making decisions impartially and based on appropriate evidence
3. Ensure that each qualification it makes available or proposes to make available is and continues to be suitable for the purposes for which it is intended
4. Act in a way that maintains and, where possible, promotes public confidence in qualifications
5. Act in an open, transparent and cooperative manner with Ofqual and, where appropriate, with users of qualifications
6. Conduct its activities with a proactive approach to compliance with its Conditions of Recognition