Learning and Skills Act 2000 and qualification accreditation

Section 96 forms part of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and deals with the approval, by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, of external qualifications for learners under the age of 19.

Under the provisions of Section 96, schools, institutions and employers in England may offer a course leading to an external qualification to those under the age of 19, which is funded either by a local education authority (LEA) or the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) only if the qualification is approved.

The DfES Section 96 website lists external qualifications that the Secretary of State has approved for the use of learners under the age of 19 in England from August 2002. Further guidance on age-approval categories can be found later in this document.

Section 97 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 applies to courses provided to persons aged 19 and over, which lead to an external qualification. Only if such a qualification is approved may LSC financial resources be used to make payments in respect of the qualification.

The DfES Section 97 website holds details of qualifications that the Secretary of State has approved for the use of persons over 19 in further education from August 2002.

Guidance on the process

These pages contain guidance for awarding bodies that have been recognised by the regulatory authorities and are submitting qualifications for accreditation. It aims to explain the rationale and process for recommending qualifications for approval under Sections 96 and 97 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and to provide guidance on the suitability of different types and levels of qualification for different age groups of learners.

Please contact QCA's Sections 96/97 Approvals Team at ApprovalsTeam@qca.org.uk for further information regarding either Sections 96 and 97 approval listings, or the process and criteria for approval. Sections 96/97 Approvals Team members are Gill Sellix, Janine McGeoch and Peter Harris.

Please note that this guidance refers primarily to the approval of qualifications for use in England. Information on qualifications approved for use in Wales can be found on the ACCAC website. Information on qualifications approved for use in Northern Ireland can be found on the DENI website.