LONDON, April 22 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Ofqual's Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham has issued his first formal'rebuke'after the new enforcementoptionwas introduced last year.
The Chief Regulator's Rebuke has beenhandedto exam board WJECCBAC Ltd(WJEC), for serious failuresconcerning4of itsEduqasGCSE, AS and A level qualificationsbetween 2019 and 2025.
Therebukewas introduced as a newenforcement toolwhenOfqualupdated its 'Supporting compliance and taking regulatory action' policy in October 2025,following consultation last year.
The Chief Regulator's Rebukeisusedfor cases which are considered so serious that a public outcome isrequired, but where the circumstances fall short of meriting a fine.
WJEC admittedfailing tocollectand monitor centre declaration formsforthe4qualifications-in breach of its conditions of recognition. The forms are required as statements to demonstrate centres have complied with subject content requirements. WJEC said this was an oversight - it had failed to make relevant staff aware of the requirements related to declaration forms.
The failures concernedthe following qualifications offeredbyWJEC'sEduqasbrandin England,WalesandNorthern Ireland:
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GCSE drama and GCE drama and theatre - Live Performance statements
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GCE drama and theatre - Text suitability forms
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GCSE geography - Fieldwork statements
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GCSE computer science - Practical Programming statements.
Sir Ian Bauckham said:"The Chief Regulator's Rebukedemonstratesour commitment totaking action to protectstudentsand uphold public confidence in qualifications. It enablesus to hold an awarding organisation to account publicly for serious failings whena fineis notwarranted.
"The circumstances of this caseinclude that therewasno evidence to indicateany actual adverse effects on students.
"However, thesefailings by WJECrepresent serious breaches of Ofqual'sconditions across multiple subjects and years.The failures had the potential to prejudice studentsand undermine public confidence in the validity of regulated qualifications."
The Chief Regulator's Rebuke isdesigned to beanon-statutory instrumentas part of our commitment toproportionate regulationwhilemaintainingrigorous standards.
Non-statutorymeanscan be usedto influence an awarding organisation's behaviour and to support compliance.Our policy aims to ensure awarding organisations resolve issues early wherever possible.
Ofqualtook into accountmitigating factors, including thatWJECaccepted the breachesandagreedtothe rebuke.
Ofqual has today publishedthe Notice of Chief Regulator's Rebukeitissued to WJECCBAC Ltd.
Ofqual's Supporting compliance and taking regulatory action guidance sets out how its powersare usedin takingregulatory action,includingmoredetails aboutthe Chief Regulator's Rebuke.
Background information
Previouscases and fines canalsobe viewed in Regulatory actions and interventions by Ofqual - GOV.UK.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
