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‘ofqual’

Training provider director jailed for 8 months for fraud

A former director of a training provider that falsified exam papers for individuals seeking to gain security guard licenses has been jailed for eight months. Shamin Uddin, who headed up SAS Training Academy in Telford, Shropshire, was handed the sentence on March 29 at Shrewsbury Crown Court for fraud that was investigated in 2015. He […]

News

Short-term fix found for gap in apprenticeship quality assurance arrangements

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has reached a deal with the organisation that has delivered external quality assurance on its behalf for the past 18 months to extend its work until June while it finalises its procurement for a long-term contract. Open Awards first won the contract to deliver quality assurance for apprenticeships […]

News

Why the IfATE have decided to become more transparent about our plans

Sir Gerry Berragan sets out his institute’s programme for the new financial year The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is two years old next month and has developed considerably in that time. We have reduced the time it takes to approve new apprenticeship standards, effectively doubling our approval rate, and learner and employer engagement […]

Opinion

Apprenticeship quango launches Quality Strategy with aspiration that no apprentice starts without an assessment body

Employers should have access to at least one end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) before apprentices start their programme, the body responsible for apprenticeship standards and assessment has said today. The “best practice” recommendation, made in a new ‘Quality Strategy’ unveiled by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education today, has been made despite there currently being […]

News

Government consults on plans to withdraw funding for applied generals including BTECs

The future of thousands of applied general qualifications including BTECs hangs in the balance as the government launches its first consultation on plans to withdraw their funding. The Department for Education has been reviewing vocational qualifications at level 3 and below since announcing plans to introduce new “high-quality” T-levels. The review includes applied generals, tech […]

News

Ofqual rules out tendering to take over apprenticeship quality assurance

Ofqual has ruled itself out of delivering the apprenticeship external quality assurance service for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. Sally Collier, the chief executive of the exams regulator, told the Commons education committee during an accountability hearing this morning that her organisation would like to expand its role in monitoring apprenticeship end-point assessment […]

News

Government to ‘strengthen’ end-point assessment register to exclude ‘rogues’

The government is “strengthening” the approvals process for its register of end-point assessment organisations following an FE Week exposé that raised concerns. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, the chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education revealed his organisation is working with the Education and Skills Funding Agency to make the […]

News

So much about the ESFA’s register of end-point assessment organisations makes no sense

In October 2016 the then-chief executive of the ESFA boasted about how hard it was for organisations to get onto their apprenticeship register of end-point assessment organisations. As we reported at the time, Peter Lauener told the education select committee that just 21 applications out of 161 had been successful, explaining: “The quality of the […]

Opinion

Ofqual sparks immediate backlash over plans to force awarding organisations to conduct no-notice audits

Awarding organisations could soon have to conduct surprise audits to colleges and training providers as Ofqual seeks to tighten controls on the controversial direct claims status practice. The qualifications watchdog has today launched a consultation on changing the way awarding bodies manage and oversee centre assessments. Ofqual has identified a risk with so many assessments […]

News