Accessing qualifications

We are absolutely committed to ensuring that all candidates have access to qualifications and equality of opportunity, while safeguarding the integrity of qualifications.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) was extended in September 2007 to include general qualifications and the awarding bodies that offer them. The DDA already applied to vocational qualification bodies and relevant qualifications.

The regulators of external qualifications in England (Ofqual), Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) aim to promote disability, race and gender equality and help to eliminate discrimination across the qualifications market. When qualifications come up for review, or new ones are developed, the regulators produce criteria that set out the requirements that must be met by awarding bodies' qualifications.

Since February 2007, beginning with the A level criteria, the regulators have ensured that new criteria are subject to a disability impact assessment so that criteria meet the needs of disabled candidates.

From December 2007, the impact assessment process will be improved and also include race, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.  

The regulatory authorities have produced the guidance document Fair Access by Design in partnership with the JCQ awarding bodies and representatives of disability groups.

The regulators of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have a duty to ensure there is fair access to external qualifications. The statutory regulation of qualifications supports this with a requirement on awarding bodies to consider the needs of all potential candidates when developing specifications, assessment arrangements and associated materials. Examinations must be designed to minimise any later need to make adjustments for candidates who have particular requirements.

This guidance sets out the principles underlying current good practice and can be used to support wider training and development programmes within awarding bodies and the regulatory authorities.

Review of access arrangements 2004–6

This report contains the findings of a review of access arrangements from 2004–6 in relation to candidates taking GCE and GCSE examinations offered by AQA, Edexcel and OCR. You can download a copy of the report from this page.

As part of its commitment to equity for all learners, QCA has completed a focussed investigation of assessment arrangements for disabled students in countries around the world. It also responds to a need for information about arrangements for dyslexic students. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.