Last updated: 04 Apr 2008

QCA today published the following reports on the qualifications market and examination fees:

• Report on awarding bodies' fees for the revised GCE A levels
• PKF Review of awarding bodies' fees executive summary
• Annual qualifications market report 2008
• Europe Economics report: Scoping exercise for a study of the efficiency of the qualifications system
• Information for centres on exam fees
  

Ken Boston, QCA's Chief Executive, said:

"These reports represent the beginning of our work as a market regulator. By carrying out and publishing this type of work we will help to develop a better understanding of how the qualifications system operates and what schools and colleges get for the fees they pay.

"We are pleased to see that the awarding bodies have indicated their fees for A levels much further in advance than ever before. We believe that this is of great value to centres which can now plan their budgets more effectively. Choices by centres of which qualification to use are rightly based on a wide range of factors, not just the price. But our report on A level fees will allow them to make better informed judgements.

"This valuable work will be continued by Ofqual, the new regulator of qualifications, exams and tests in England, which will be publishing further reports on the efficiency of the qualifications system in 2009."

Notes to Editors

1. Copies of the reports can be downloaded from this page

2. Awarding bodies' fees for the revised GCE A levels report is published jointly with our regulatory partners DCELLS in Wales

3. Annual qualifications market report 2008 is published jointly with our regulatory partners DCELLS in Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland

4. 'Right to reply' letters from awarding bodies and other organisations have been published in response to the Report on awarding bodies' fees for the revised GCE A levels and the Europe Economics report: Scoping exercise for a study of the efficiency of the qualifications system

5. For any further information please contact the QCA newsdesk on 020 7509 6789, or 07798 924552 outside office hours. Members of the public should call the QCA enquiries line on 020 7509 5556.