Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is a non-governmental public body. QCA advises the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, to whom it is accountable, on the curriculum, assessments and publicly-funded qualifications. QCA also accredits NVQs in Wales and Northern Ireland. Their remit covers the assessments of schools, colleges and organisations in the UK
QCA were formed on 1 October 1997 through a merger of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) and the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA). QCA have additional powers and duties compared to the two organisations that it was created from. These were granted by the Education Act of 1997, which established the role of the QCA. Under Section 24 of this Act, QCA were granted the right to regulate all external qualifications in England.
External qualifications in Wales are regulated by ACCAC, the Welsh equivalent of QCA. The exception is for NVQs, which QCA are responsible for. In Northern Ireland, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) may award exams but must submitt exam papers to QCA for the equating of standards. Exam boards must comply with the code of practice which QCA lays down.
QCA claims to be a "guardian of standards in education and training". They are based in Piccadilly, London.