PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Further Education (24 July 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2019 to Question 279134, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of setting up an independent body to run a student complaints scheme for (a) Level three and (b) Level two qualifications.

Asked by:
Rosie Duffield (Independent)

Students with concerns about their education already have several options available to them.

If a student studying at an Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funded further education college, or other provider, has any general concerns they should first issue a formal written complaint to their college or provider. If the student remains dissatisfied after exhausting this process, they may contact the ESFA.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the independent regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. Where the complaint relates to the awarding organisation, Ofqual recommends that students speak to their college or provider in the first instance, who will be able to advise on whether a complaint should be made to the relevant awarding organisation. Ofqual has its own complaints procedure for regulated awarding organisations and qualifications. It expects complainants to have pursued the relevant awarding organisation’s complaints procedure before going to Ofqual.

Answered by:
Mrs Kemi Badenoch (Conservative)
3 September 2019