Ofqual sends open letter on technology platforms
Monday, 20 October 2008 01:00
Ofqual publishes first open letter.
As part of its commitment to transparency Ofqual, the new regulator of qualifications, exams and tests in England, has issued its first open letter to awarding bodies. Open letters are just one method being implemented by the regulator to publicise its position on important issues. These letters, addressing a range of issues, will be published regularly on Ofqual's website.
The first letter concerns the emerging issue of technology platforms and the delivery of assessment. Addressed to awarding bodies it outlines Ofqual's confirmation that adoption of a single national platform for delivery of assessment will not be a requirement for accreditation of qualifications that utilise technology for assessment purposes.
Ofqual aims to ensure that its regulations do not hinder awarding bodies' developments, including those that utilise technology. The regulator has therefore decided against introducing a single national platform. Ofqual would however welcome any moves by awarding bodies to work together to share best practice and system specifications.
Chair of Ofqual, Kathleen Tattersall, comments: "This letter represents the first of what will become a timely series of open letters designed to set out Ofqual's views and expectations on a given subject.
"All open letters will be published on the Ofqual website and reported in the Ofqual e newsletters. This supports our ambitions to demonstrate excellence in regulation, and demonstrates our commitment to transparency, one of the government's five principles of good regulation."
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Notes to editors
- The plans follow a recent report compiled for Ofqual called Encouraging technology related innovation in the general qualifications market which identified that a barrier to some awarding bodies' investing further in e-assessment was the lack of clear direction from the regulator about whether they would be required to use one national IT platform to deliver examinations to schools and colleges in the future.
- The letter can be downloaded from the Ofqual website.
- Ofqual in its interim form is a part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). On 2 April 2008 Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that the government intended to legislate to make Ofqual a separate statutory authority reporting directly to Parliament.
- Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, announced the appointment of Kathleen Tattersall as Chair of Ofqual on 2 April 2008. Prior to legislation being passed to establish Ofqual on a statutory basis, Kathleen Tattersall is a QCA Board member and Chair of its Ofqual committee. For further information please contact the Ofqual Press Office on 0300 303 3342 or out of hours on 07798 924552.
