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Ofqual publishes information on new Diplomas

Ofqual, the qualifications regulator for England, has today announced the accreditation of new principal learning qualifications and the overarching structure for Diplomas in business, administration and finance; environmental and land-based studies; hair and beauty studies; hospitality; and manufacturing and product design. These will be available for first teaching from September 2009. 

Ofqual has also published a report called Arrangements for awarding & setting standards in the Diploma and the Regulatory arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies.

Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, today said:

"Ofqual is committed to ensuring that the qualifications available to learners are of the highest quality and deserve to command the confidence of employers and higher education. The design of these Diplomas has met Ofqual's high standards. We shall monitor them closely as they are delivered to make sure that learners get a fair deal and that standards are set appropriately. The documents we published today will play a key role in ensuring that Diplomas are introduced fairly and rigorously by all awarding bodies. "

The catalogue of qualifications for additional and specialist learning, available on the National Database of the Accredited Qualifications, has also been updated.

Notes to editors

1.  Ofqual has accredited these qualifications jointly with the regulators of external qualifications in Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA). The Diploma is only available for learners in England.

2.  More information about the principal learning qualifications that have been accredited for Phase 2 Diplomas can be accessed from this page.  All accredited Diploma qualifications can be found on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications which can be accessed from this page.

3.  Arrangements for awarding & setting standards in the Diploma is a report produced by the Diploma Awarding and Standards Group. The report is aimed at awarding bodies and provides the detail needed to translate the high-level principles outlined in the regulatory arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies into consistent practice. It can be downloaded from this page.

4.  The Regulatory arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies incorporates the recognition criteria and version 2 of the Operating rules for component and Diploma awarding bodies. It can be downloaded from this page.

5.  Updated qualifications catalogues for additional and specialist learning can be found on the  National Database of Accredited Qualifications.

6.  Ofqual in its interim form is a part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
On 2 April 2008 Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that the government intended to legislate to make Ofqual a separate statutory authority reporting directly to Parliament.

7.  Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, announced the appointment of Kathleen Tattersall as Chair of Ofqual on 2 April 2008. Prior to legislation being passed to establish Ofqual on a statutory basis, Kathleen Tattersall is a QCA Board member and Chair of its Ofqual committee.

8.  More information on Diplomas can be accessed from this page.

9.  To find out more about Ofqual contact the press office newsdesk on 0300 303 3342 or the out-of-hours duty press officer on 07798 924 552. Members of the public should contact the Ofqual helpline on 0300 303 3346. Or there are alternative ways to contact us via the link at top of this page.