Corporate report

Ofqual Business Impact Target 2020 to 2021

Published 16 December 2021

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-impact-target-2020-to-2021-ofqual/ofqual-business-impact-target-2020-to-2021

Each heading in this document lists a category of exclusion followed by a summary of measures.

Regulator

Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation)

Business impact target reporting period covered

17 Dec 2020 to 16 Dec 2021

Measures certified as being below de minimis (measures with an EANDCB below plus or minus £5 million)

Following consultations, Ofqual introduced regulatory provisions relating to 2021 qualification delivery:

  • regulatory arrangements for the awarding of general, vocational and technical and other general qualifications in 2020 to 2021
  • autumn assessment opportunities for vocational and technical and other general qualifications

Following consultations, Ofqual introduced regulatory provisions relating to 2022 qualification delivery; arrangements for:

  • the assessment and awarding of vocational, technical and other general qualifications: 2021 to 2022​
  • non-exam assessment for qualifications in 2022

Ofqual amended the following regulatory provision after undertaking a consultation:

  • guidance on malpractice and maladministration

Ofqual ceased the following regulatory provisions relating to 2020 qualification delivery (for almost all purposes except in specific circumstances relating to individual learners):

  • extraordinary regulatory framework: vocational and technical qualifications, COVID-19 conditions and requirements
  • extended extraordinary regulatory framework: vocational and technical qualifications, COVID-19 conditions and requirements

EU regulations, decisions and directives and other international obligations, including the implementation of the EU Withdrawal Bill and EU Withdrawal Agreement

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Measures certified as concerning EU Withdrawal Bill operability measures

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Pro-competition

Following a consultation, Ofqual updated its General Condition F to support price transparency in the market, and require all awarding organisations to publish fee information on their websites.

Systemic financial risk

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Civil emergencies

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Fines and penalties

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Misuse of drugs

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Measures certified as relating to the safety of tenants, residents and occupants in response to the Grenfell tragedy

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

Casework

Ofqual undertook the following enforcement activity:

  • undertakings with two awarding organisations to secure ongoing compliance with the Conditions of Recognition
  • a monetary penalty of £50,000 and a notice for costs recovery of £8,558, for one awarding organisation
  • special conditions imposed on 12 awarding organisations (9 of these were imposed at recognition and one was an entry and inspection condition)

Education, communications and promotion

Ofqual communicates regularly with awarding organisations to keep them informed about existing and proposed regulatory requirements. Communication and education events arranged by Ofqual are optional for awarding organisations to attend.

Ofqual undertook the following activity relating to policy development:

  • a consultation on revised GCSE qualifications in modern foreign languages
  • a consultation on guidance on designing and developing accessible assessments
  • a consultation about changes to Ofqual’s regulatory action policy
  • announced policy approach and issued a consultation on regulating digital functional skills qualifications

Changes to management of regulator

Ian Bauckham CBE was appointed as interim Chair of Ofqual from January 2021 (replacing Roger Taylor).

Dr Jo Saxton was appointed Chief Regulator of Ofqual from September 2021, replacing Simon Lebus (Interim Chief Regulator January 2021 to September 2021). Simon Lebus replaced Dame Glenys Stacey (Interim Chief Regulator August 2020 to December 2020).

Back to top