Who is AQA?
AQA is an independent education charity that sets and marks over half of all A-level courses and GCSE courses sat in the UK every year. As well as AQA A-level courses and AQA GCSE courses, they offer a range of qualifications such as AS-levels, Tech-levels (now known as T-Levels), and Technical Awards. These qualifications are highly valued by employers and universities around the world.
AQA qualifications support learning providers, like Oxbridge, to help students chase their dreams, and reach their full potential. This includes adult A-Level courses and adult GCSE courses. It also funds cutting-edge research in to various educational initiatives. They are also, of course, regulated and approved by Ofqual, the government body who is respobsible for regulated awarding bodies.
The History of AQA
Prior to the 20th century, the assessment system as we know it today did not exist. Exams were not offered to most people, and educational success was often determined by social class and gender as opposed to ability. From its outset, the AQA exam board sought to change that.
The AQA have appeared in UK education history since the early 1900s, having been known by a few different names. In 1903, Manchester, Leeds & Liverpool universities created the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB) to become public exam providers. This was the first iteration of the examination board.
By 1953, the Associated Examining Board (AEB) was established to provide the new General Certificate of Education (GCE) to all secondary schools. In 1992, the JMB merged with the Northern Examining Association to form the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB), and in April 2000 a merger with the AEB created the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, the largest exam board in England. Today this is known as AQA.