Age approval categories
Last updated on: 12/03/2008
When applying for accreditation for a new qualification, awarding bodies must identify which learner age groups approval is sought for under Section 96 or 97 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and must substantiate this choice.
It is recommended that the awarding body also checks that all accreditation data on the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) websites are correct.
Sections 96 and Section 97 use four main age approval categories for advice purposes:
- pre-16
- 16 to18
- 18+
- 19+.
Approval decisions are normally cumulative, so if a qualification is suitable for pre-16 learners it will also be suitable for learners aged 16 to 18, 18+ and 19+. Similarly, if a qualification is not considered suitable for the 16+ group, neither would it be appropriate for a pre-16 learners. There are, however, exceptional cases, for example pilot qualifications may be designed specifically for pre-16 use.
A category of 'no approval sought' is also available. One example of when no approval sought might be chosen is when a qualification is for use in Northern Ireland only. Also, since March 2004, BTEC Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas have been accredited but not approved by the secretary of state. These qualifications would therefore appear as no approval sought on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (opens in new window).
Further information on the suitability of different types and levels of qualification for different age groups of learners can be found on the 'Suitability for groups of learners' page in the related links box on this page.
Approval periods
A qualification is an approved qualification from the date that it is uploaded onto the Section 96 or Section 97 website, following acceptance of the regulator's advice. This approval start date will therefore be slightly later than the accreditation start date.
In the case of qualifications accredited with delayed accreditation start dates, accreditation and approval start dates are the same. Qualifications are approved under Sections 96 and/or 97 until their accreditation end date.
Please note that accreditation data on the Ofqual, DCSF and LSC websites is not updated at the same time, owing to the time lag involved in providing advice to DCSF and the subsequent transfer of approved data to the LSC.