Awarding body guidance on inclusive qualifications and assessments
Inclusive qualifications are vital to ensure that learners have the fairest possible opportunities to show what they know, understand and can do. Qualifications Wales has refreshed its Fair Access by Design guidance, which sets out recommendations for awarding bodies to design high-quality and inclusive qualifications.
The Fair Access by Design guidance document, co-authored by CCEA, is a valuable resource for awarding bodies, supporting their work to ensure qualifications are as accessible as possible for all learners. Our guidance, first published in 2019, has been refreshed to improve accessibility for awarding bodies and ensure they have the latest information to design inclusive qualifications, to provide fair access for all learners to give them the fairest possibly opportunity to show what they know, understand and can do.
Awarding bodies are required to consider the needs of all learners when developing qualifications. Every effort should be made to enable all learners to participate in the whole assessment.
Designing inclusive qualifications has huge benefits for awarding bodies, schools and colleges, as well as the learners taking exams and assessments. Considering inclusive design from the start of the qualification development process can reduce the extent to which access arrangements are required, as well as reduce the need for future modifications or adjustments.
Our Fair Access by Design guidance includes:
- examples of how good design can be incorporated
- recommendations to support the best practice of awarding bodies in the design of qualifications and assessment
- guidance on complying with regulatory requirements
Sarah John, Qualifications Manager at Qualifications Wales, said:
“Ensuring that the qualifications system in Wales incorporates an inclusive and sustainable range of relevant qualifications is fundamental for our vision. At Qualifications Wales, we want to ensure that all learners can take the qualifications they need to help them progress in life, learning and work.
Our Fair Access by Design guidance document is a resource that outlines how qualifications can be designed to give all learners the fairest possible opportunities.
It is available to support compliance with regulatory Conditions of Recognition and share best practice for awarding bodies as they design qualifications for learners in Wales.”
Read the Fair Access by Design guidance on our website