Accreditation and quality standards

UK colleges and universities with publicly funded courses, undergo regular inspections, have rigorous self-monitoring systems, student charters and complaints procedures as part of the public funding arrangements.

Please note, that the grading system in Further Education is different from Higher Education. Grade 1 is the highest grade in Further Education, Grade 1 is the lowest grade in the Higher Education/university sector.

• Access courses from UCAS - the main aim of Access programmes is to prepare adult learners from non-traditional backgrounds and under-represented groups for admission to undergraduate education (degrees, HNDs, Foundation degrees and other Higher Education qualifications)
  
  This database includes all the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) recognised Access programmes.The database includes more than 1000 Access programmes that are recognised and registered by QAA
  
  
• Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) - responsible for inspecting all publicly funded work-based training for people over 16 and learning for post-19s. Also responsible for inspecting learning in prisons, all adult and community education, area inspections of provision for 16-19 year olds in support of Ofsted and e-learning via learndirect, provided on-line by the University for Industry. In addition, the ALI will inspect training offered and funded by employers at their invitation. ALI provides newsletters in PDF format.
  
  
• Further Education colleges are inspected regularly by the Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate which provide college inspection reports, schedules and other publications. ALI has a magazine, available online (pdf format).
  
  Colleges and universities must ensure that their policies, practices and procedures will comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
  
  In 2003, they will have provide auxiliary aids and by 2005, make reasonable adjustments to buildings where disabled people or students are placed at a substantial disadvantage.
  
  They must anticipate reasonable access requirements and not wait until a request is made. For more information, see the information and Codes of Practice from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
  
  
• Choosing an institution - provides advice on quality assurance and standards in higher education.
  
  
• Learning and Skills Council - official LSC site, includes news, information, press notices, performance indicators, qualifications database including college inspection reports and funding issues for the Further Education sector.
  
  
• Raising Quality and Achievement programme (RQA) helps colleges improve quality standards and students' achievements.
  
  
• QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) - includes quality assessment reports for university departments and colleges and institutions providing degree qualifications accredited in the UK.
  
  
• SHEFC (Scottish Higher Education Funding Council) - provides information on Higher Education in Scotland.
  
  
• Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) - Research and Teaching Quality Assessment, University League Tables, funding allocations, also Further Education statistics and information.
  
  
• Service First - Education and other Charters and Quality issues - for Higher Education and other UK government funded services.

There is no UK government regulation of independent, private and commercial colleges for post-16 education. However, colleges and training organisations may seek accreditation and follow codes of practice from the following organisations.

Open and distance learning institutions may be accredited, voluntarily in Britain, through the ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Quality Council), previously known as The Council for the Accreditation of Correspondence Colleges. The Council is recognised by and liaises with organisations such as the DfES, British Council, British Accreditation Council, Learning and Skills Council, HEQC and professional, examination and assessment bodies.

The Council is a registered charity and an independent assessor of issues including tuition arrangements, calibre of tutorial staff, recruitment and publicity policies, quality of study materials, conditions of enrolment, efficiency of administrative procedures, qualifications awarded (if appropriate).

Independent (private and commercial) colleges and training organisations offering other learning methods, may be accredited through BAC (The British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education).

Institutions are subject to a full inspection every five years and an interim inspection during the intervening period. They are required to submit annual reports to BAC, drawing attention to any significant changes, including staff and course programmes. Inspectors are drawn from senior academics or practitioners or former HMIs (members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate).

Institutions are graded in five areas: accommodation and learning resources, administration and staffing, quality control, welfare and teaching and learning. Statutory requirements e.g. fire precautions, health and safety, public liability insurance etc. are also checked. An unsatisfactory grade in any of the five graded areas will lead to a refusal or withdrawal of accreditation.

The Institute of IT Training publishes standards for IT training, standards for e-learning and charters for e-learners and has a register of accredited IT training providers.

Training and education organisations, not publicly funded, are also responsible under Part lll and Part lV of the Disability Discrimination Act, as service providers and education providers, to ensure that they do not discriminate against any student or member of staff. This includes information provided online and through distance learning using other formats.

More information, including codes of practice, is available from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

English language schools English Language Schools and the teaching of English can be accredited by other bodies as well as those above. Further information is available from:

• BASELT (The British Association of State English Language Teaching - British Association of State English Language Teaching provides a list of accredited colleges and universities, accredited by the British Council and other national inspection organisations.
  
  
• English in Britain Accreditation Scheme - list of accredited institutions, large and small, within the UK.
  
  
• Commission on English Language Program Accreditation - accreditation of English language programs and institutions in the US.
  
  
• ABLS (The Association of British Language Schools - self-governing body with an annual inspection process.
  
  
• ARELS (The Association of Recognised Language Schools) - representative body for private accredited English Language schools in the UK.
  
  
• British Institute of English Language Teaching - professional institute for English Language Teaching professionals, with a code of practice.
  
  
• EFLWEB - which includes information for staff and links to courses in other countries.

The National Open College Network (National Open College Network Office, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB Tel: 01332 622712, Fax: 01332 622734) represents, supports and co-ordinates the work of its members. Within the national framework of accreditation standards established by each NOCN, each Open College Network operates a quality system that is flexible and responsive to the needs of local providers.

OCNs are membership organisations, accountable to their local members who are collectively responsible for ensuring the integrity of NOCN's quality standards in their own area. Most OCNs are also Authorised Validating Agencies (AVAs), authorised by HEQC to award "Kitemarked" Access to HE Certificates and between them validate the majority of Access courses listed in the current Register published by HEQC.

The Networks also accredit a comprehensive range of other programmes at levels up to and including Access to HE. The common framework of accreditation is based on the accumulation of credits at different levels on modular programmes. Credit is awarded to learners for the successful completion of units at four levels prior to Higher Education entry.