students

awarding bodies

OCR Qualifications

are nationally recognised and represent the most respected names in education.
provide enhancement and enrichment to learners of all ages and abilities
are created and provided through effective partnerships with over 13,000 educational establishments.
reflect the requirements of business, industry and higher education, as well as creating increased levels of self-esteem.

Breadth of coverage

Through approximately 13,000 different educational establishments around the UK, OCR recognises the achievement of those people who know that qualifications can enhance their life, whether they be young people taking their GCSE's or older people returning to learning after many years absence.

OCR is responsible to the Government as one of the UK's leading awarding bodies providing qualifications to students at school, college, in work or through part-time learning programmes.

OCR was formed in 1998 from the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate and RSA, which means that OCR offers an extremely broad range of qualifications, with the integrity, quality and assurances that you would expect from an organisation with such a respected heritage. Over 600 staff work for OCR on sites in Cambridge, Coventry, Birmingham and in six Regional Offices. Add to this the thousands of examiners, verifiers and consultants that mark, assess and write qualifications, and it will be recognised that we are one of the major organisations in the country.

OCR is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment (www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk) is the new name for the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), a department of the world-renowned University of Cambridge and a not-for-profit organisation. OCR operates alongside CIE (Cambridge International Examinations), which provides examination and assessment services internationally, and Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) which delivers a portfolio of qualifications for people learning English.

(National) Open College Network

National Open College Network (NOCN) is the leading credit-based awarding body in the UK, offering high quality, flexible, credit-based qualifications. We originate from the Open College Network (OCN) movement first established in 1975 to formally recognise the achievements of adult learners. We work with national and local organisations (industry, government, employers and education providers) to develop and widen access to high quality and flexible education, training and learning.

NOCN is an innovative and progressive national awarding body. We are a recognised awarding body by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in England, the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland and the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACCAC) in Wales, since 2000.

We support learning and widen opportunity by recognising achievement through credit based courses and qualifications.

There are more than 3,000 centres nationally offering NOCN qualifications and/or NOCN accredited provision. We currently have almost 100 qualifications, made up of more than 1,000 units from a wide range of sub-sectors, including health and social care, crafts, creative arts and design, foundations for learning and life and preparation for work. We offer different types of qualifications in vocationally related subjects, skills for life and entry level. We awarded certificates to 800,000 learners last academic year, and an increasing number of these are for national qualifications.

NOCN qualifications and NOCN accredited provision, are delivered through further education and sixth form colleges, universities and higher education institutions, trade unions and employers, local education authorities and training organisations, adult and community education centres, and voluntary and community organisations. There are 11 OCNs in Wales, Northern Ireland and the 9 regions of England that support the delivery of NOCN qualifications, through the centres.

NOCN employ 24 staff at the national office, with a further 400 staff employed by the OCNs. We are a not for profit organisation and plough all of our resources back into the development of existing products and services and new qualifications.

We are proud to be a registered charity and will continue to promote our charitable objects through the Open College Network.

ASET

ASET is a National Awarding body recognised in the UK by DfES, the Learning and Skills Council and all relevant government departments and agencies. Although we are a very modern Awarding Body, using the latest techniques for quality management, assessment and communications, ASET can trace its roots back through regional advisory councils and examining boards to the 1920s.

ASET works extensively across the UK and has a growing International network. In the UK more than 3,000 ASET learning programmes are delivered by over 500 licensed centres including FE colleges, universities, sixth form and community colleges, LEAs, employers, government agencies, training companies and not-for-profit organisations.