Centre Recognition & Qualification Approval

Thinking of delivering a new qualification with us?

Whether you are new to us or already a recognised Centre we will support you in the appropriate approval process.

Existing Centres can start the process of applying for the qualification straight away using Prism.  If you haven’t used Prism before please complete this form and we will get in touch to help you.

New customers will need to become a recognised Centre and apply for qualification approval at the same time as this is a combined process. You should read our guide to Becoming a Recognised Centre before starting the application process.

I always find the help and support from the staff at Gateway Qualifications to be courteous, professional, extremely helpful, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable. We will continue to work with Gateway Qualifications as their customer service is amazing.

Provider feedback on Qualification Approval feedback survey
Existing Centres
Gaining approval for additional qualifications

If you’ve completed the process before you will know that you can do this through using Prism. You’ll just need to login and start a new Qualification Approval Application.

If you haven’t used Prism before to request additional approval, please complete this form and we will get in touch to support you.

When can I start delivery of a new qualification?

You must not begin to deliver a qualification until your application has been approved by Gateway Qualifications.

Centre Recognition & Qualification Approval Withdrawal

Should you wish to withdraw centre recognition or qualification approval please refer to the Centre Recognition Withdrawal Policy and Procedure. In the first instance please notify us by email to quality@gatewayqualifications.org.uk with details of your intention to withdraw or request to withdraw qualification approval. We will write back to you to confirm next steps and actions required.

We may also withdraw centre recognition if you have had no registrations within 12 months or qualification approval if you have not had registrations on selected qualifications for 2 years. In this case we will write to the named centre contact to confirm this and you will be given opportunity to respond.

New to Gateway Qualifications
Contact Gateway Qualifications

New customers can complete the Apply to run a Qualification form.

We will then get in touch with you to discuss the range of qualifications you would be able to access and our requirements.

Apply for Centre Recognition

To go ahead, you will need to read our Centre Recognition Policy and complete a Centre Recognition Application.

Before Centre Recognition can be completed you will be visited by one of our External Quality Assurers (EQAs) at a time that is convenient to all.

To finalise centre recognition you will be asked to accept our Centre Recognition Terms and Conditions. On confirmation of Centre Recognition an invoice for the Annual Centre fee will be sent to the named finance contact in the application.

Satellite Sites, Venues and Subcontracting or Partnership Arrangements

Some Centres may deliver and assess qualifications across multiple locations.

Guidance has been supplied below to help new and existing Centres understand the requirements when using satellite sites, venues, sub-contracting or partnership arrangements.

The centre that registers the learner is responsible for the learner. This statement applies regardless of the satellite site, venue, partnership or sub-contracting relationship in place.

Satellite Sites

Satellite site means part of the Recognised Centre which operates from a location separate from the primary Recognised Centre and at which delivery and/or assessment of qualifications is undertaken.

If you are a centre delivering and/or assessing qualifications across satellite sites, whether in England or in countries outside of England*, you will need to tell us about the additional satellite sites you are using.

For all satellite sites, you will need to have a single Quality Assurance contact who is accountable for all delivery and quality assurance activities across all satellite sites. Our centre agreement terms and conditions apply equally to all satellite sites and the main site.

A serious quality issue found at any satellite site will potentially impact across all satellite sites and the main site.

If satellite sites act autonomously or wish to be treated as separate Centres, then separate centre recognition applications will be required.

Where there is a change in ownership or management control at a centre, we reserve the right to end centre approval and request that the centre submits a new centre recognition form, which will be treated as a new application and will be subject to the same quality assurance scrutiny.

*Please note, not all qualifications are available to be delivered outside England. Always check the qualification specification.

Venues

Venue means a location at which the Recognised Centre delivers the qualifications and any assessments of the qualifications, and which is not part of the Recognised Centre.

Centres are required to notify Gateway Qualifications of venues if:

  • the qualification is externally assessed, and delivery takes place at different venues (regardless of country delivery)
  • qualification delivery/assessment (regardless of assessment method) is taking place in a different country* to that of the registered Centre address

*Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland require notification as there are different regulators in these countries

Subcontracting or Partnership Arrangements

A sub-contracting or partnership arrangement means where the Recognised Centre collaborates with and puts in place arrangements with a third party for the delivery of all or part of a qualification or qualifications.

  • If there is a subcontracting or partnership relationship in place, there should be a written agreement or contract outlining each party’s responsibilities.
  • The agreement or contract should be made available to Gateway Qualifications on request.

If you have a contract or partnership agreement in place, and have not already told Gateway Qualifications about this, you will need to seek formal approval first, by completing our change to details form in Prism.

 

Remote learning

If you are delivering or assessing qualifications remotely, and have not already told Gateway Qualifications about this, you will need to seek formal approval first by completing our change to details form.

Change to Details form

To request approval to deliver and/or assess at a satellite site or venue or to declare a subcontracting or partnership arrangement, please complete a change to details form. All change to details forms must be completed and submitted through Prism.

You will receive a response to your form submission. We may undertake quality assurance monitoring activities according to the change, to confirm that centres continue to meet our centre quality assurance criteria.

Monitoring

To quality assure delivery and assessment, we need to know which satellite sites or venues are being used. This is to ensure our quality assurance activity includes samples across all satellite sites over time.

Failure to effectively manage the quality assurance of delivery, assessment and record keeping at alternative locations and/or third parties will affect your centre’s risk rating and may result in sanctions being placed on the centre.

Satellite sites and partnerships

Arrangements surrounding satellite sites and partnership working will be checked as part of our recognition procedure and monitored through ongoing quality assurance activity.

In all instances where subcontractors or partnerships are used, our quality assurance standards must continue to be maintained. During your centre monitoring visit, your Centre EQA will request copies of partnership agreements and confirm that all partnerships have been recorded.