Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
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The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom. In England QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations; and accredits and monitors qualifications in colleges and at work and advises the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on these matters. QCA oversees the work of the awarding bodies in England, to ensure that their administration, marking and awarding procedures run smoothly. The QCA also has responsibility for vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Education and qualifications in other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of devolved governments and agencies.
QCA works closely with its main strategic partners, including the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) , employers' organisations, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) and the Sector Skills Councils (SSC).
QCA 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).
QCA is based in Piccadilly, London.
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[edit] History
QCA 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). QCA has 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, QCA launched the National Assessment Agency to take over its role in the delivery and administration of national curriculum assessments.
[edit] Responsibilities and areas
QCA is responsible for overseeing several areas of education in England:
[edit] Examination system
QCA regulates the public examination system, so that it is responsive to the needs of learners and society and is responsible for the development, delivery and administration of high-quality national tests.
[edit] National Curriculum
QCA develops the national curriculum, which defines the knowledge, understanding and skills to which children and young people are entitled. It is kept under review, to evaluate its appropriateness and relevance to the changing needs of learners and society.
[edit] National Qualifications Framework
The National Qualifications Framework enables QCA to accredit qualifications at appropriate levels to meet the needs of employers and learners. QCA funds occupational standards, supports learning at work and regularly reviews the suitability and availability of qualifications, to ensure that the needs of learners, employers and the economy are met.
