National awarding organisations (AOs) are an essential element in the regulation of the delivery and maintenance of high-quality qualifications that meet the needs of employers and learners. There are numerous non-regulated so-called ‘awarding organisations’ across the United Kingdom, including some that are of dubious quality and provenance. However, those regulated by the UK government’s qualification watchdog and enforcer, Ofqual, have to meet and comply with stringent quality assurance requirements to be able to operate legally.
Ofqual regulated status guarantees quality and fitness for purpose. Focus Awards is one of such regulated AOs. They are qualification experts and accountable directly to Ofqual for making sure high-quality delivery of their qualifications by quality-assured, vetted, and approved Centres (training providers) is consistently implemented. They carry out activities designed to maintain the quality of any qualifications awarded that are audited by the AO annually.
Imagine how the business would operate without an accountable awarding organisation in place. Abuse and deception would be rampant, and the correct flow of regulated processes and procedures would be disorganized and inconsistent as a result.
Awarding organisations also encourage healthy competition among different providers. They promote progress, innovation, and pride in every regulated Centre. There would be no standards in place without them, which and would be both unfair – and potentially unsafe – for students, trainees and consumers.
According to Wikipedia, an awarding body (or awarding organisation) in the United Kingdom includes examination boards that set examinations and awards qualifications, such as GCSEs and A-levels.
Additionally, Awarding Bodies provide professional awards other than degrees in the form of tertiary level Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Graduate Diplomas, and Post Graduate Diplomas.
There are seven main examination boards in the United Kingdom:
- AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
- NCC Education
- CIE (University of Cambridge International Examinations)
- Edexcel
- ICAAE (International Curriculum and Assessment Agency Examinations)
- OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
- WJEC
It is critical to know if an awarding organisation or body is recognised.
The best way to find out is by checking it in www.gov.uk/check-awarding-body-recognised.
Focus Awards is a regulated awarding organisation, so is on the government’s list.
For More Info: https://www.focusawards.org.uk