Guides
What is an awarding body?
· 5 min read
Awarding bodies design, assess and certify qualifications — but they don't teach. Here's how the system fits together.
The short answer
An awarding body develops qualifications, sets the standards learners must meet, and issues certificates when those standards are met. Teaching is carried out by approved centres.
Where centres fit in
Accredited centres recruit learners, deliver the programme and carry out internal assessment against the awarding body's guidance. The awarding body then verifies those outcomes.
Why it matters to learners
Because every centre is held to the same framework, a qualification means the same thing wherever it was studied.