Ofqual's regulatory efficiency report 2026
An annual report on plans to keep our regulatory functions under review, fulfilling our requirement under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Ofqual is the independent qualifications and assessments regulator for England. It is our responsibility to maintain standards and confidence in regulated qualifications and assessments.
As outlined in Ofqual’s 2025 to 2028 strategy, regulated qualifications open doors to continued education, employment, and independent living. They provide a fair and reliable way for individuals to demonstrate their achievements and access opportunities that match their skills and ambitions, in turn supporting efficiency in the labour market.
Alongside Ofqual’s statutory objectives, we have duties to:
- keep our regulatory functions under review
- not impose or maintain unnecessary regulatory burden
- have regard to the desirability of facilitating innovation
- consider the impact of our work on economic growth
Ofqual thinks about this as regulatory efficiency: achieving the maximum impact toward our statutory objectives for the lowest cost to those we regulate. We are committed to streamlining regulation in ways that can support growth while continuing to protect the value of regulated qualifications.
In pursuit of regulatory efficiency, we seek to keep regulatory activity proportionate, to reduce the administrative burden on regulated entities, and to improve how we work with other parts of government - the core themes set out in this document.