Awarding Organisation

This is the name used to identify organisations, which were previously known as awarding bodies, and earlier still - examination boards.

Throughout the UK there are over 100 awarding organisations which offer different qualifications that can be used by schools, colleges or training organisations to deliver to students.

The qualifications that are offered usually fall into two different categories:
1. national (regulated) qualifications, or
2. 'customised provision' qualifications, which are typically designed to meet local and specific needs of learners or organisations and where comparable regulated qualifications are not available.

Awarding organisations maintain a degree of quality assurance by requiring the training providers to go through an approval process before they can offer qualifications to learners.

The regulated qualifications themselves have usually been designed and developed with industry experts and are supervised by Government regulatory authorities.

Each awarding organisation will typically offer a range of services, some of which will include:
• The publication of a syllabus or specification.
• Support material for the syllabus or specification.
• Assessments / Examinations.
• Moderation of course work.
• Advice and guidance on how to administer and run qualifications.
• Online resources.
• Training and Support courses.