Ofqual consultation

Ofqual has recently launched a consultation entitled After the QCF: A new qualifications framework. This follows an initial consultation in 2014, where Ofqual proposed to withdraw the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) rules and introduce a descriptive framework. The proposals will cover general and vocational qualifications taken in England, and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. The key points are: • The Framework of Regulated Qualifications (FRQ) will be a descriptive qualifications framework. • The FRQ will provide a means for describing size and level. It will not say anything about the specific skills or knowledge gained, the use of the qualification or equivalence. • All awarding organisations will be required to input size and level information in their specifications. • Total Qualification Time (TQT) will be used to indicate size; the levels will not be recalibrated and will map to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Framework for HE qualifications. You can read the full consultation document on the GOV.UK website. If you would like to discuss the consultation further please contact Ben Jordan, Senior Policy Executive – b.jordan@ucas.ac.uk.