Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Encyclopedia
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) is an exempt charity
, and an executive non-departmental public body
(NDPB) of the Department for Children, Schools and Families
. In England
and Northern Ireland
, the QCDA maintains and develops the National Curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations, advising the minister formerly known as the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
and now known as the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove
, on these matters.
Regulatory functions regarding examination and assessment boards have been transferred to Ofqual
, an independent regulator.
Education and qualifications in Scotland
and Wales
are the responsibility of the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government
and their agencies. In Scotland, for example, the Scottish Qualifications Authority
is the responsible body.
In May 2010 the Secretary of State announced his intention to promote legislation that would abolish QCDA.
, employers' organisations, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), the Skills Funding Agency
, the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE)
and the Sector Skills Councils (SSC)
.
QCDA also collaborates with the other public qualification agencies in the UK: the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
, the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC)
and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland (CCEA)
.
QCDA is based in Coventry
.
In April 2004, the QCA launched the National Assessment Agency
to take over its role in the delivery and administration of National Curriculum assessment
s. However, on the recommendation of The Sutherland Enquiry the National Assessment Agency was disbanded and its functions subsumed within the management structure of the QCA.
On 8 April 2008, Ofqual
began work as the independent regulator of exams and tests in England, accountable to Parliament rather than to government ministers. The remaining work of the QCA was transferred to the QCDA. The QCA was formally dissolved on 1 April 2010 when the QCDA and Ofqual gained their statutory statuses.
The INCA website focuses on education provided in schools and to the 3-19 age range.
Exempt charity
An exempt charity is an institution established in England and Wales for charitable purposes which is exempt from registration with, and oversight by, the Charity Commission....
, and an executive non-departmental public body
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
(NDPB) of the Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
. In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the QCDA maintains and develops the National Curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations, advising the minister formerly known as the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families is a Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom. The post was created on 28 June 2007 after the disbanding of the Department for Education and Skills by Gordon Brown. The first Secretary of State was Ed Balls, a former treasury aide to Brown...
and now known as the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
, on these matters.
Regulatory functions regarding examination and assessment boards have been transferred to Ofqual
Ofqual
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.-Role:...
, an independent regulator.
Education and qualifications in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
are the responsibility of the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
and their agencies. In Scotland, for example, the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
is the responsible body.
In May 2010 the Secretary of State announced his intention to promote legislation that would abolish QCDA.
Partners
QCDA works closely with its main strategic partners, including the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
, employers' organisations, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), the Skills Funding Agency
Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency is one of two successor organisations that emerged from the closure of the Learning and Skills Council...
, the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE)
General Teaching Council for England
The General Teaching Council for England is the professional body for teaching in England. The GTC was established by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 which set two aims:...
and the Sector Skills Councils (SSC)
Sector Skills Councils
Sector Skills Councils are state-sponsored, employer-led organisations that cover specific economic sectors in the United Kingdom. They have four key goals:* to reduce skills gaps and shortages* to improve productivity...
.
QCDA also collaborates with the other public qualification agencies in the UK: the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
, the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC)
ACCAC
ACCAC was the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales....
and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland (CCEA)
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment
The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment is an examination board in Northern Ireland...
.
QCDA is based in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
History
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA's predecessor) was formed on 1 October 1997 through a merger of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) and the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA). The QCA had additional powers and duties granted to it by the Education Act 1997, which established the role of the QCA. Under Section 24 of this Act, QCA was granted the right to regulate all external qualifications in England.In April 2004, the QCA launched the National Assessment Agency
National Assessment Agency
The National Assessment Agency was, until December 2008, a subsidiary unit of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority , an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom...
to take over its role in the delivery and administration of National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
s. However, on the recommendation of The Sutherland Enquiry the National Assessment Agency was disbanded and its functions subsumed within the management structure of the QCA.
Formation of Ofqual
On 26 September 2007, DCSF announced that the regulatory functions of the QCA were to become statutorily independent with the creation of a new body, Ofqual.On 8 April 2008, Ofqual
Ofqual
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.-Role:...
began work as the independent regulator of exams and tests in England, accountable to Parliament rather than to government ministers. The remaining work of the QCA was transferred to the QCDA. The QCA was formally dissolved on 1 April 2010 when the QCDA and Ofqual gained their statutory statuses.
External links
- QCDA website
- BBC News - Gove's statement on abolition
- http://www.inca.org.uk Funded by QCDA, INCA is the International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Internet Archive. It provides regularly updated descriptions of government policy on education in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Wales, and makes particular reference to the curriculum, assessment and initial teacher training frameworks in place. A description for South Africa has recently (October 2009) been added.
The INCA website focuses on education provided in schools and to the 3-19 age range.