The following documents set out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations and AVAs.
Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition – England
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofqual-handbook
Qualifications Wales Standard Conditions of Recognition – Wales
https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/publications/standard-conditions-of-recognition/
AVA Licensing Criteria – Criteria for the Licensing of Access Validating Agencies.
https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/AboutUs/Publications/Page s/AVA-licensing-criteria-05-11.aspx
Centres must ensure that Gateway Qualifications is able to comply with these regulatory requirements.
We would draw your attention to the General Conditions related to Adverse Effects and Conflicts of Interest.
Guidance in relation to Adverse Effects
An ‘adverse effect’ is defined as:
An act, omission, event, incident or circumstance which:
- Gives rise to prejudice to Learners or potential Learners, or
- Adversely affects
i. the ability of the awarding organisation to undertake the development, delivery or award of qualifications in accordance with its Conditions of Recognition,
ii. the standards of qualifications which the awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available, or
iii. public confidence in qualifications.
Centre Responsibilities
The approved Gateway Qualifications centre responsibilities related to Adverse Effects are outlined in the Gateway Qualifications Centre Agreement.
Centres must take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff involved in the management, assessment and quality assurance of Gateway Qualifications should report any situations which could have an adverse effect or affect learners. Centres must identify and manage the risk of and occurrence of an incident which could compromise:
- The integrity of qualifications.
- Gateway Qualifications’ compliance with the General Conditions of Recognition.
- The Centre Approval Criteria.
- The reputation of Gateway Qualifications.
Where a centre identifies a risk, it should take all reasonable steps to prevent the incident from occurring, or where it cannot be prevented, reduce the risk of the incident occurring.