CENTRE APPROVAL

Coloured Folders Centres wishing to deliver any area of OCNW provision must become an OCNW full member or approved centre.

Criteria for Full Membership

There are 3 categories:

Centres offering Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)-recognised Access to HE
Centres which agree to select OCNW qualifications where such qualifications are available and which agree to register in total at least 1000 learners per year.
Centres that agree to register a minimum of 2,000 learners per year.

Approved Centre Status

Centres can become an approved centre if they do not opt to become a full member. This means that the centre will be able to deliver the qualifications that the centre has been approved to deliver but will not receive the benefits of full membership, for example a discount on student registrations.

The process is quite straightforward for Full Membership and Approved Centre Status and involves completion of centre approval documentation and normally an OCNW officer visit to the centre. A free staff development session can be arranged at the same time as the visit at the centres request.

Once the visit has taken place a recommendation is made by the OCNW officer to the OCNW Chief Executive who is then responsible for the final approval of a centre OR if the centre is seeking full membership status then final approval rests with the OCNW Board.

Step by Step Process

A declaration of intent to become an OCNW centre must be made to the Accreditation Unit by email: accreditation@ocnw.com or by telephone: 01524 845046
Centre approval documentation will be forwarded to the centre for completion
The completed centre approval document should be returned to the OCNW Accreditation Unit
The relevant Chief Moderator scrutinises the completed centre approval document and decides if a visit should take place
Arrangements will be made for a delegated OCNW officer to complete the centre approval visit and at the same time conducts a staff development session for the centre staff at the centre’s request
The visiting officer and the Chief Moderator will make a recommendation to the OCNW Chief Executive
The Chief Executive or Board makes the final decision of approval
A certificate of approval, relevant registration documents and an information file will be issued to the centre contact
An invoice will be raised for any costs incurred
The centre can deliver the approved range of programmes

If you wish to discuss the process or have any further questions please contact the OCNW Operations Manager accreditation@ocnw.com or call the Accreditation unit at OCNW 01524 84504.