Introducing principles into the General Conditions of Recognition
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Ofqual is introducing a new Principles Condition into its regulatory framework, following a public consultation which concluded earlier in 2025. This marks a significant step in enhancing Ofqual’s Conditions of Recognition.
The consultation proposed the introduction of a set of 6 principles into Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition, known collectively as the Principles Condition. The Principles Condition will:
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make explicit the expectations of an awarding organisation’s approaches and behaviours — widely recognised, including by consultation respondents, as the indicators of a well-run organisation — to drive improvement
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support innovation by ensuring Ofqual’s regulatory framework remains flexible and supports informed decision-making by awarding organisations when they face new or novel situations not already covered by our regulatory framework
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help futureproof Ofqual’s rules by enhancing the regulator’s ability to effectively tailor its regulatory approach to different circumstances, in line with other sectors, so that it can better protect the interests of students
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promote clarity and adaptability in Ofqual’s regulatory framework at an operational and strategic level to improve understanding and support a co-regulatory approach where appropriate
What we’re doing
After considering all consultation responses, Ofqual will introduce the Principles Condition, which includes the 6 principles as consulted on, into the General Conditions of Recognition. We will also introduce the statutory guidance on which we consulted, with some amendments. The Principles Condition will strengthen Ofqual’s regulatory framework, help ensure a consistent understanding of our rules and make the underlying expectations of our framework clear.
We acknowledge the concerns raised, and that the Principles Condition will have a differing level of impact depending on the individual awarding organisation. However, our view is that by helping to ensure a level playing field across the sector, safeguard students, and protect the quality of qualifications, the impact of the Principles Condition will be proportionate to the benefits it will bring about.
We have listened to consultation feedback and recognise that awarding organisations would benefit from having an additional level of detail about how we see the principles working in practice and our wider approach to decision-making. We have decided to provide this additional detail through 2 advice notes.
The first advice note relates to the principles themselves and provides examples and case studies illustrating practical application. The second advice note gives advice on Ofqual’s broader decision-making processes and relates to all aspects of Ofqual’s work and not just the principles. Advice notes are not guidance and awarding organisations may choose to have regard to them. They will be kept under regular review.
We are also taking steps to address some of the concerns raised by awarding organisations due to the impact of the proposals on them. This includes changes to reporting expectations in relation to the Principles Condition in the annual Statement of Compliance that awarding organisations make to Ofqual about their compliance with our rules.
We have considered the implementation timing of the new requirements carefully, to allow awarding organisations sufficient time to understand and reflect on the changes. The new Condition and Guidance will come into effect on 4 December 2025.
More details on our decision are available in the decisions document.
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
Responses to the consultation were mixed. Many respondents said that the principles reflect appropriate standards and behaviours to expect of awarding organisations. However, concerns were raised, primarily by awarding organisations, about duplication or overlap with existing requirements, potential difficulties in evidencing compliance and increased regulatory burden. There were also questions about whether the principles should be a Condition of Recognition or have an alternative status.
A comprehensive analysis of all consultation responses, including a summary, is available in the consultation analysis document.
Original consultation
Consultation description
Ofqual is proposing to introduce a new Condition, referred to as the Principles Condition, within the General Conditions of Recognition. The Principles Condition contains 6 overarching principles and explains how these principles should be interpreted. Awarding organisations will be required to meet the Principles Condition by operating in a manner that reflects the following principles:
- Principle 1 – An awarding organisation must act with honesty and integrity.
- Principle 2 – An awarding organisation must treat Learners fairly by acting and taking decisions with due impartiality and based on appropriate evidence.
- Principle 3 – An awarding organisation must ensure that each qualification that it makes available, or proposes to make available is, and continues to be, fit for the purposes for which it is intended.
- Principle 4 – An awarding organisation must act in a way that maintains and, where possible, promotes public confidence in qualifications.
- Principle 5 – An awarding organisation must act in an open, transparent and co-operative manner with Ofqual and, as appropriate, with Users of qualifications.
- Principle 6 – An awarding organisation must conduct its activities with a proactive approach to compliance with its Conditions of Recognition.
We are also proposing to introduce statutory guidance to support the Principles Condition and to help awarding organisations understand the principles. All awarding organisations will be required to have regard to this guidance. The proposed guidance includes, where appropriate, examples of behaviours that would indicate whether an awarding organisation is, or is not, acting in line with a principle.
In addition to the principles themselves, the Principles Condition also sets out how an awarding organisation should interpret and apply the principles. In this consultation, the principles and their associated guidance are set out first, in order that each can be considered in turn. Those aspects of the Principles Condition and guidance that relate to their interpretation and application are set out in the sections following the principles. This sequencing in the consultation does not directly follow the way in which the Principles Condition will be structured – the full wording of the Principles Condition and its guidance, as it will appear in the General Conditions, is included in Annex A.
The introduction of the Principles Condition is intended to bring increased clarity to Ofqual’s framework and guide an awarding organisation’s actions when complying with Ofqual’s rules.
Documents
Updates to this page
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Added the public feedback and decisions pages.
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First published.