Changes to Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has announced and confirmed that the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) rules will be removed, following a 12 week consultation. From the recent consultation of Ofqual titled "Analysis of the Consultation on Withdrawing the Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework" it was clear that the Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework have not delivered on their intended outcomes.

According to Professor Alison Wolf, professor of public sector management at King’s College London and author of the Wolf Review of vocational education, 

This wasn’t surprising. The QCF was meant to reduce the number of qualifications. Instead, Ofqual’s figures show an increase from around 9,700 in 2008 to over 23,000 in 2013. Even the old ones were usually comprehensively redesigned.  In this situation, how could employers or colleges keep up?

Ofqual states, "The QCF rules are being removed so that high quality vocational qualifications can be designed around the needs of employers, rather than the prescriptive set of QCF rules. The change is part of our wider plans to strengthen vocational qualifications in England and Northern Ireland". The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. 

Sources: Withdrawing QCF regulatory arrangements, 'I am delighted to see the QCF go'