Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

640

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

484

Clause  145,  page  82,  line  18,  at end insert ‘, or

(ii)	a body none of whose members is a member of Ofqual or

Ofqual’s staff.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 483.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

485

Clause  146,  page  82,  line  24,  leave out ‘regulated qualifications’ and insert

‘qualifications in respect of which they are recognised’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This technical drafting amendment is one of the changes described in the Member’s explanatory

statement for amendment 431. The amendment clarifies that the qualifications to which Ofqual’s

guidance refers are those that a recognised body awards or authenticates.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

300

Clause  146,  page  82,  line  38,  leave out ‘from time to time’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 290.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

486

Clause  148,  page  83,  line  17,  after ‘of’ insert ‘any of’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This technical amendment and amendment 489 clarify that where the Bill makes provision about

the performance by Ofqual of its qualifications functions the intention is to catch the performance

of any of those functions and not just the performance of all of them.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

487

Clause  149,  page  83,  line  24,  leave out ‘another’ and insert ‘a’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and amendment 488 are technical drafting amendments, clarifying that Ofqual

itself is not a “qualifications regulator” within the meaning given to that term by clause 149(2)(a).

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

641

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

488

Clause  149,  page  83,  line  26,  leave out ‘other’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 487.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

489

Clause  149,  page  83,  line  32,  leave out ‘a qualifications function’ and insert ‘any of

the qualifications functions’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 486.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

380

Clause  153,  page  85,  line  38,  at end add—

‘(3)	Ofqual must keep under review the process of developing NC assessment

arrangements with a view to ensuring that the academic standard of NC

assessments is maintained.’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

382

Clause  153,  page  85,  line  38,  at end add—

‘(3)	Ofqual must keep under review the process of developing and implementing NC

assessment arrangements with a view to ensuring that NC assessments are

delivered in a timely and orderly fashion.’.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

522

Clause  153,  page  85,  line  38,  at end add—

‘(3)	In reporting its conclusions on reviews conducted under this section, Ofqual shall

not be bound to have regard to government policies in relation to assessment

arrangements.’.

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

642

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

384

Clause  155,  page  86,  line  45,  at end add—

‘(4)	If it appears to Ofqual that there is, or is likely to be, a significant failing in NC

assessment arrangements it must produce a public statement as soon as is

practicable which specifies—

(a)	the nature of the failing, and

(b)	the reasons for the occurrence of the failing, and

(c)	the actions it intends to take to rectify the failing.’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

381

Clause  156,  page  87,  line  6,  after ‘(1)’, insert ‘including a description of how it

intends to maintain the academic standard of NC assessments’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

301

Clause  156,  page  87,  line  10,  leave out ‘from time to time’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 290.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

302

Clause  157,  page  87,  line  29,  leave out ‘from time to time’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 290.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

7

Clause  162,  page  88,  line  37,  at end insert ‘and the extent to which it met

objectives.’.

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

643

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

35

Clause  162,  page  88,  line  37,  at end insert ‘and the outcome of the specific and

measurable success criteria established in section 125(7)’.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

70

Clause  162,  page  88,  line  37,  at end insert ‘how it performed in relation to its

objectives, what its assessment is of changes in educational standards and performance

since its last report, and how English educational standards and performance compare

with those in other developed countries.’. 

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

33

Clause  162,  page  89,  line  8,  at end insert—

‘(4A)

No recommendations contained in the report referred to in subsection (4) shall be

implemented unless the report has been approved by a resolution of each House

of Parliament.’.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

556

Clause  162,  page  89,  line  22,  at end insert—

‘(9)	Ofqual shall, before each financial year, publish a document (the “forward work

programme”) containing a description of the main activities which it plans to

undertake during the year and how these activities are intended to meet its

objectives.

(10)	Before publishing the forward work programme for any year, Ofqual shall give a

notice—

(a)	containing a draft of the forward work programme, and

(b)	specifying the time within which representations or objections to the

proposals contained in it may be made,

and shall consider any representations or objections which are made under

paragraph (b).’.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

144

Schedule  11,  page  196,  line  24,  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘Children,

Schools and Families Committee of the House of Commons.’.

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

644

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

500

Schedule  11,  page  197,  line  29,  leave out paragraph (c).

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 498.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

307

Schedule  11,  page  201,  line  24,  leave out ‘this or any other’ and insert ‘any’.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Member’s explanatory statement for amendment 291.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

34

Clause  167,  page  90,  line  31,  leave out ‘coherence’ and insert ‘rigour’.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

226

Clause  168,  page  91,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘(g)	information provided to it by recognised awarding bodies.’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

387

Clause  168,  page  91,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘(g)	the desirability of promoting the acquisition of academic knowledge.’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

386

Clause  168,  page  91,  line  21,  at end insert—

‘(d)	persons whom, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, represent the

interests of employers or institutions within the higher education sector.’.

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

645

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

145

Clause  169,  page  91,  line  37,  leave out subsection (2).

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

388

Clause  170,  page  92,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(c)	must have regard to the importance of maintaining the rigour of academic

qualifications.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

490

Clause  170,  page  92,  line  20,  leave out subsection (5).

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment removes an unnecessary power of the QCDA. Clause 170(5) makes explicit

provision for the QCDA to develop, set or administer certain tests or tasks; but the QCDA could

in any case do these things under clause 175.

Mr David Laws

Stephen Williams

Annette Brooke

146

Clause  170,  page  92,  line  25,  at end add—

‘(6)	All qualifications which are approved by the QCDA and Ofqual must be funded

by the Secretary of State, notwithstanding any advice which may be given to the

Secretary of State by the Joint Advisory Commitee for Qualifications Approval

or any other body.’.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

491

Clause  171,  page  92,  line  27,  leave out subsections (1) and (2) and insert—

‘(1)	The QCDA must, if requested to do so by Ofqual, assist Ofqual in setting

qualifications criteria which relate to a qualification or description of

qualification in respect of which a determination under section 138(1) has effect.

(2)	The QCDA may—

(a)	assist Ofqual in setting qualifications criteria which do not fall within

subsection (1), and

(b)	provide other assistance, information or advice to Ofqual in connection

with the performance by Ofqual of any of its qualifications functions.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

Public Bill Committee: 26 March 2009

646

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, continued

This amendment requires the QCDA, where requested by Ofqual, to assist in setting qualifications

criteria for a qualification covered by a determination under clause 138(1). It also enables the

QCDA generally to assist Ofqual in connection with its qualifications functions, including

assisting with setting qualifications criteria in other cases.

Jim Knight

Mr Siôn Simon

492

Clause  171,  page  92,  line  32,  at end insert—

‘“assistance” does not include financial assistance (and “assist” is to be

construed accordingly);’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment prevents the QCDA from giving financial assistance to Ofqual when providing

assistance to Ofqual under clause 171.

Mrs Maria Miller

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Bill Wiggin

548

Clause  172,  page  93,  line  5,  at end insert ‘and publish a review annually’.

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Mrs Maria Miller

Bill Wiggin

389

Clause  172,  page  93,  line  10,  at end insert—

‘(c)	must have regard to the importance of maintaining the academic rigour

of the curriculum.’.

Mrs Maria Miller

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Bill Wiggin

549

Clause  172,  page  93,  line  16,  after ‘may’, insert ‘, with the permission of the

Secretary of State,’.

Mrs Maria Miller

Mr Nick Gibb

Mr John Hayes

Bill Wiggin

553

Clause  172,  page  93,  line  17,  at end insert—

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Revised 26 March 2009