These courses are officially recognised and approved by Open Awards at Level 3. This means that the qualification is equivalent to an A level/GCE.
Open Awards is an Awarding Organisation approved by Ofqual, QiW (Qualifications in Wales) and an Access Validating Agency approved by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
Their qualifications and units are used across a range of education settings including Further Education, schools, sixth-form colleges, prisons, private training providers and third sector organisations.
All students on accredited courses are required to submit evidence of learning via a workbook. This is provided at the beginning of the course with a deadline and hand in workshop arranged.