Centre risk rating 

Last month, we notified you about the changes we’ve made to our external quality assurance process, which saw the introduction of Annual Monitoring Reviews (AMRs) across all qualifications. As a result of an AMR, centres will be awarded a risk status based on the evidence reviewed. 

How is the risk rating achieved? 

Each criterion in section 3 of the AMR is profiled as being either a high, medium or low risk, as identified within our User Guide to the AMR report. Each criterion is marked ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘N/A’ within the report. If a ‘no’ is selected, this will trigger the risk applied to that question. ‘No’ would be selected when a centre is unable to satisfy the evidence requirements of an individual criterion. Our user guide outlines exactly what these evidence requirements are, and highlight what a Quality Reviewer (QR) will be looking for to satisfy each criterion as well as examples of evidence a centre could provide.  

The overall centre risk rating will be calculated based on the highest risk that has been awarded in section 3 of the report. 

What is the impact of each risk rating? 

High risk – If a centre is rated as high risk, an interim AMR would be arranged with the QR later in the session to review what progress has been made with the actions set by the Quality Reviewer..  

Medium or low risk – Any actions set for the centre would be reviewed at the next planned AMR, which would be in the following session.  

The risk rating of a centre may be used to inform an external quality assurance review and may be considered when an External Quality Assurer (EQA) selects the sample size they wish to review.  

The risk rating of a centre will not impact Direct Claim Status (DCS) of individual qualifications. This will continue to be monitored via the external quality assurance process. 

How long will a risk rating last?  

For centres who achieve either a medium or low risk status, this status will be applied for 12 months. It will be reviewed at the next AMR scheduled the following session.  

If a centre is given a high-risk status, an interim review will be arranged with the QR to check progress made towards actions set. The centre’s risk status could change during this review, depending on evidence seen.  This status would then be in place until the next scheduled AMR review (12 months from the initial review). 

During the session, if NCFE is made aware of any instances where a centre has not been compliant with our policies and procedures and an investigation takes place, the result of this investigation could impact and change a centre’s risk rating. In such cases, the centre would be made aware through the investigation process. The Provider Assurance team would also inform the allocated QR alongside the allocated EQA. The new risk status would remain in place until the next AMR.