Education Act 1997

Part VU.K. Supervision of curriculum for schools and external qualifications

Chapter IE+W+N.I. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Establishment of the AuthorityE+W+N.I.

F121 The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.E+W+N.I.

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Functions of the AuthorityE+W+N.I.

F122 General function of Authority to advance education and training.E+W+N.I.

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F123 Functions of the Authority in relation to curriculum and assessment.E+W

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F124 Functions of the Authority in relation to external vocational and academic qualifications.E+W+N.I.

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F125 Other functions of the Authority.E+W

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F126 Supplementary provisions relating to discharge by Authority of their functions.E+W+N.I.

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F126A Power of Authority to give directionsE+W+N.I.

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Chapter IIU.K. [F2Functions of the National Assembly for Wales]

F3...E+W

F427 The Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.E+W

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Functions of the [F5National Assembly for Wales] E+W

[F628 General function of [F7National Assembly for Wales] to advance education and training.E+W

(1)The functions conferred on the [F8National Assembly for Wales] by this Part shall be exercised by [F9the National Assembly for Wales] for the purpose of advancing education and training in Wales.

(2)[F10The National Assembly for Wales] shall exercise [F11its functions] under this Part with a view to promoting quality and coherence in education and training in relation to which [F12it has] functions under this Part.]

[F1329 Functions of the [F14National Assembly for Wales] in relation to curriculum and assessment.E+W

(1)[F15The National Assembly for Wales] shall have the functions set out in subsection (2) [F16 with respect to—

(a)pupils at maintained schools in Wales who have not ceased to be of compulsory school age,

(b)pupils at maintained nursery schools in Wales, and

(c)children for whom funded nursery education is provided in Wales otherwise than at a maintained school or maintained nursery school.]

(2)The functions are—

(a)to keep under review all aspects of the curriculum for [F17maintained schools or maintained nursery schools] and all aspects of school examinations and assessment;

F18(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)to publish and disseminate, and assist in the publication and dissemination of, information relating to the curriculum for such schools or to school examinations and assessment;

(e)to make arrangements with appropriate bodies for auditing the quality of assessments made in pursuance of assessment arrangements; F20...

(f)F20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F21(2A)In subsection (2) references to the curriculum for a maintained nursery school include references to the curriculum for any funded nursery education provided as mentioned in subsection (1)(c); and references to assessment in schools include references to assessment in funded nursery education.]

(3)The Authority shall have, in relation to Wales, the function of developing learning goals and related materials for children who are [F22under compulsory school age.]

(4)The Authority shall have, in relation to Wales, the following functions in connection with baseline assessment schemes (within the meaning of Chapter I of Part IV), namely—

(a)if designated by the Secretary of State for the purpose, any function of a designated body under that Chapter; and

(b)any other function which may be conferred on the Authority by the Secretary of State.

[F23(5)In this section—

• “assessment” includes examination and test;

• “funded nursery education” has the meaning given by section 98 of the Education Act 2002;

• “maintained school” means—

  (a)

  any community, foundation or voluntary school, and

  (b)

  any community F24... special school.

(6)In the definition of “maintained school”, the reference to a community, foundation or voluntary school or to a community F25... special school, is a reference to such a school within the meaning of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.]

[F26(7)In this section references to ”school examinations and assessment” do not include examinations taken or assessments carried out for the purpose of the award of a qualification within the meaning of section 56 of the Qualifications Wales Act 2015.]]

F2930 Functions of the [F27National Assembly for Wales] in relation to [F28relevant] qualificationsE+W

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F3031 Other functions of the Authority.E+W

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[F3132 Supplementary provisions relating to discharge by [F32the National Assembly for Wales of its functions].E+W

(1)In carrying out [F33its functions] under this Part [F34the National Assembly for Wales] shall—

F35(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F36(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)so far as relevant, have regard to—

(i)the requirements of [F37section 99 of the Education Act 2002] (general duties in respect of curriculum),

(ii)the [F38reasonable] requirements of industry, commerce, finance and the professions regarding education and training (including required standards of practical competence), and

[F39(iii)the reasonable requirements of persons with learning difficulties.]

(2)In carrying out those functions [F40the National Assembly for Wales] shall in addition have regard to information supplied [F41to it] by [F42Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales or Prif Arolygydd Ei Mawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru] or by any body designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section.

F43(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F44(3A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F45(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F46(4A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F47(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F48(6)In this section “persons with learning difficulties” means—

(a)children with [F49additional learning needs (as defined in section 2 of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018)], and

(b)other persons who—

(i)have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of persons of their age, or

(ii)have a disability which either prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for persons of their age.

(7)But a person is not to be taken to have a learning difficulty solely because the language (or form of language) in which the person is or will be taught is different from a language (or form of language) which has at any time been spoken in the person's home.]]

F51[F5032ZA]Qualifications functions of Welsh Ministers: co-operation and joint working etc.E+W

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F51[F5232A] Power of Welsh Ministers to give directionsE+W

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F51[F5332AAPower of Welsh Ministers to impose monetary penaltiesE+W

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F5132ABMonetary penalties: amountE+W

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F5132ACMonetary penalties: appealsE+W

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F5132AD]Monetary penalties: interest and recoveryE+W

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F51[F5432B]Power of Welsh Ministers to withdraw recognitionE+W

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F51[F5532BACosts recoveryE+W

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F5132BBCosts recovery: appealsE+W

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F5132BC]Costs: interest and recoveryE+W

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F51[F5432C]Surrender of recognitionE+W

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Chapter IIIE+W+N.I. Provisions supplementary to Chapters I and II

Dissolution of existing bodiesE+W

F5633 Dissolution of existing bodies.E+W

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Transfer of property and staffE+W+N.I.

F5734 Transfer of property.E+W+N.I.

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F5835 Transfer of staff.E+W+N.I.

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Levy on bodies awarding accredited qualificationsE+W+N.I.

F5936 Levy on bodies awarding qualifications accredited by relevant body.E+W+N.I.

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Chapter IVU.K. Control of certain courses leading to external qualifications

F6037 Requirement for approval of certain publicly-funded and school courses leading to external qualifications.E+W

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