EQA Strategy
Maintaining high standards of quality is essential to ensure learners receive the education they need to succeed.
TQUK’s external quality assurance (EQA) strategy is designed to:
- demonstrate regulatory compliance, particularly in relation to assessment standards
- ensure centres consistently meet TQUK quality expectations
- protect the reputation of TQUK qualifications, centres, and the wider sector
- support centres to understand and meet quality assurance requirements.
The strategy applies to all recognised centres and qualifications and is reviewed annually.
Responsibilities
TQUK is responsible for maintaining and applying the EQA strategy, while centres are responsible for ensuring staff involved in delivery, assessment, and quality assurance understand and follow it. Centres must have appropriate policies, procedures, and systems in place and must retain learner assessment records for at least three years.
Types of EQA Activity
TQUK operates three main types of EQA activity:
- Continued Recognition Activity (CRA): A holistic review of a centre’s ongoing compliance. This may be remote or face‑to‑face, planned or unannounced, and is valid for up to 12 months.
- Sampling Activity: Review of learner assessments, assessor decisions, and IQA records, typically linked to certificate claims where Direct Claim Status (DCS) is not held.
- Moderation: Where TQUK marks learner assessments before results are issued, usually because of qualification or regulatory requirements.
CRAs and sampling may include learner work, assessment records, IQA evidence, interviews, and observations where appropriate.
Risk‑Based Approach
All EQA activity is determined using a risk‑based model.
Centre risk ratings consider factors such as previous EQA outcomes, responsiveness to actions, sanctions, and instances of malpractice or maladministration.
Qualification risk ratings are determined by factors including assessment type, use of centre‑devised assessments, qualification structure, and qualification purpose.
Newly recognised centres and higher-risk qualifications attract increased scrutiny, particularly at the point of first claims.
EQA Outcomes and Actions
Following any EQA activity, a report is produced and reviewed before being issued to the centre. Outcomes may include:
- confirmation of compliance with no actions
- additional or expanded sampling where concerns are identified
- SMART actions to address identified issues.
Where incorrect assessment decisions are found, centres may be required to take corrective action, which can include result amendments or certificate revocation in line with TQUK’s processes. Actions are monitored by TQUK, and sanctions may be applied where necessary.
Direct Claim Status (DCS)
Direct Claim Status allows centres to claim certificates before EQA sampling has taken place and is awarded on a qualification‑by‑qualification basis. DCS may be transferred from another awarding organisation with appropriate, recent evidence. TQUK reserves the right to withdraw DCS where standards are not met, sanctions are applied, or there has been no activity on a qualification for 12 months.
Overall, the EQA strategy aims to be proportionate, supportive, and robust, ensuring high‑quality outcomes for learners while maintaining confidence in TQUK qualifications.