OTHM is a UK-based awarding organization regulated by Ofqual (Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). Ofqual is responsible for maintaining standards and confidence in qualifications, overseeing GCSEs and A levels in England, as well as a wide range of vocational qualifications and National Curriculum Assessments in England. The Register of Regulated Qualifications Framework can be found at Ofqual’s Register.
OTHM is approved and regulated by Ofqual, ensuring that its qualifications meet rigorous standards of quality and reliability. OTHM is also a full member of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB). FAB is the trade association for vocational awarding bodies in the UK, representing over 110 awarding bodies. FAB liaises with key stakeholders, including regulators, government departments, and funding agencies, to represent its members’ interests. It also provides information, advice, and guidance to its members to support them in delivering high-quality and valued vocational qualifications.
This policy applies to the assessment of learners’ work that leads to partial or full completion of OTHM qualifications and accredited or endorsed learning programmes.
Click the link below to download the OTHM Assessment Policy: HERE
OTHM supports Centres to operate within the terms of the Centre Agreement and the Ofqual Conditions of Recognition. Centres are monitored and sanctions are only applied when necessary to ensure adherence to the Centre Agreement, to protect the integrity of qualifications, or the interests of learners.
Click the link below to download the Centre Sanction Policy: HERE
This document sets out OTHM Qualifications approach to standardisation and the expectation of its centres to maintain the validity, quality and consistency of our qualifications.
This document sets out the policy and procedures with regards to the effective and efficient management of complaints and appeals.
A conflict of interest (COI) is defined as a situation where a person is charged with taking responsibility or making a decision, and where that person, or a person with a close relationship to them, might benefit unfairly from that position of responsibility or from that decision. In other words, a conflict of interest is a situation in which an individual, or Organisation, has competing interests or loyalties. In the case of an individual, the conflict of interest could compromise or appear to compromise their decisions if it is not properly managed.
This policy applies to the assessment of learners’ work that leads to partial or full completion of OTHM qualifications regulated by Ofqual and that are variously assessed through distance means in the UK and overseas.
Centre’s seeking endorsement of their own programmes must complete the Centre approval process in the first instance. Following successful centre approval, OTHM will evaluate the learning programmes and any associated materials and provide support to ensure that they meet the standards of recognition.
Ofqual requires all regulated Awarding Organisations to establish and maintain evidence of their compliance with the General Conditions of Recognition. As part of its ongoing process of compliance, OTHM policies and procedures will reflect the conditions and criteria they
address.
This document details procedures for investigating and determining suspected cases of malpractice, maladministration, complaints, incidents and appeals which in their fairness, thoroughness, impartiality and objectivity meet or exceed the requirements of current law in relation to such matters. OTHM is required to publish procedures to Centres for dealing with investigation on the part of Learners, Centre staff and any others involved in delivery, assessment and the award of qualifications, and to take appropriate action to maintain the integrity of the OTHM qualifications. This document fulfils that requirement.
The OTHM Invoicing Policy aims to make clear to our delivery Centres how invoices are issued, what invoices contain, the terms of payment and consequences of nonpayment.
This policy applies to all regulated qualifications offered by OTHM and related products and services.
OTHM is proud of its association with UK and international organisations and we want to encourage our recognised Centres to show their association with us and so the standard logo, above, can be used by any recognised Centre providing the following regulations are
adhered to:
Logo Usage Policy and Guidelines
This policy is designed to define malpractice and maladministration, clarify the roles and responsibilities of Centres, learners and OTHM and outline the procedures that will be followed when there are issues of suspected malpractice within a Centre.
This policy complies with the General Conditions of Recognition which require awarding organisations to inform Ofqual of adverse events which fall within the listed categories below. This list is not exhaustive.
Notification of Adverse Events to Ofqual Policy
OTHM recognises the crucial importance of establishing and maintaining standardisation of assessment requirements across subjects and levels and these regulations serve as the framework for standardisation. Both Internal and External Quality Assurance staff are required to conduct their work in line
with this model.
Quality Assurance Model for Regulated Qualifications and Endorsed Learning Programmes (ELP)
OTHM are committed to ensure that management and assessment of our qualifications is valid and reliable and that learners who have shown that they can meet the standards of a qualification receive certification. Our quality assurance procedures must also ensure consistency of standards over time for all qualifications.
This policy document provides guidance on reasonable adjustment and special consideration in vocational internally assessed units and should be read in conjunction with the JCQ Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustment and Special Consideration
guidance.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a method of assessment [leading to the award of credit] that considers whether Learners can demonstrate that they can meet the assessment requirements for a unit throughknowledge, understanding or skills they already possess and so not need to develop through a course of learning.
Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) defined Risk as “the threat or probability that an action or event, will adversely or beneficially affect an organisations ability to achieve its objectives” (HEFCE, Risk Management – A Guide to Good Practice for Higher Education Institutions, 01/28 May 2001). In simple terms risk is ‘Uncertainty of Outcome’, either from pursuing a future positive opportunity, or an existing negative threat in trying to achieve a current objective.
This policy relates to all situations in both UK and international, including online, in which OTHM staff, Assessment Associates, contractors and suppliers instructed by and acting on OTHM’s behalf, encounter children and/or vulnerable adults.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy
This document sets out OTHM Qualifications approach to standardisation and the expectation of its centres to maintain the validity, quality and consistency of our qualifications.
The fundamental aim of the OTHM CASS strategy for the design and development of all Assessment materials is to ensure that all assessment is reliable and valid and enables those who rely on OTHM certificates to be confident that a consistent standard and level of
quality assurance has been applied.
Strategy for Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny (CASS)
OTHM operate an open working environment and would encourage all stakeholders to report any concerns promptly which will be fully investigated without prejudice. This Policy is intended to enable those who become aware of wrongdoing in any aspect of OTHM activity affecting some other person or service, to report their concerns at the earliest opportunity so that they can be properly investigated. It is not intended to replace any other procedures.
This policy sets out how OTHM aims to support learners in the event of Centre approval or qualification approval being withdrawn by an Awarding Organisation.
Withdrawal of Centre Approval Policy and Procedure
It is the policy of OTHM that all regulated qualifications will be reviewed by the Head of Qualifications Development once a year or as and when the situation requires. The Head of Qualifications Development will provide a report to the Management with recommended actions before they are implemented. Where necessary, these will be discussed with the wider team of EQAs and representatives from Centres for feedback and input.
SIMI Swiss is actively preparing to seek accreditation from the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ), which is approved by the Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC), by 2027.
SIMI Swiss is actively preparing to seek accreditation from the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ), which is approved by the Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC), by 2027.