Qualifications market

Thursday, 29 July 2010 15:58

Uniquely in this country we have a market for qualifications. Part of our role is to help awarding organisations (qualification sellers) and centres, school, colleges , training providers, employers and individuals (qualification buyers) make the most informed decisions.

The qualifications market isn't simple. The government plays a key role in determining the qualifications bought with public money, awarding organisations are often businesses with a wide range of objectives that range beyond qualifications provision, and buyers of qualifications are usually not the final consumer.

In our role as overseer of the qualifications market we need to understand how the market works, we need to identify problems in the market and propose, and sometimes implement, solutions to these problems. We also need to provide information so that others can operate effectively in the market. We recognise that we are also a player in the market, and that our behaviour influences both buyers and sellers. Our actions to secure qualification standards are a cost in the system, albeit outweighed by the benefits.

In developing our strategy we have commissioned three economic regulation studies (to be published July 2010), which alongside the consultation in October 2010 on the evolving framework for economic regulation will provide a basis for Ofqual's work as overseer in the market. In most markets prices are a critical factor. We already know that in the qualifications market the fees charged (the prices) are probably less important to the buyer than other factors such as the suitability of the qualification to the candidate or indeed the ready availability of teaching resources to match the qualification. Nevertheless, in a time of increasing pressure on costs in the system the spotlight has turned to qualification fees.

We have already produced a report on awarding organisation fees for the revised A levels as well as a commissioned study on A level and GCSE fees. A commissioned study also reported on the reasonableness of fees for other widely used qualifications in 2009.

A critical part of our work in the market will involve transparency. Necessarily some of the work, particularly where it involves commercial considerations, will be confidential. Nevertheless, we are committed to publishing the results of our studies; the additional information provided will help both awarding organisations and qualifications buyers to make better decisions and in so doing will help the market work more efficiently and in the interest of the learner and that has to be the overriding aim of Ofqual's work in the territory.

Last Updated on Friday, 30 July 2010 09:53 Tags: Ofqual, education, examination regulation, qualifications, assessments