Types of institution
Applications may come from schools, colleges, universities, language schools, vocational and professional education providers, online academies, adult and continuing education organisations, and identifiable corporate training units.
The framework is applied in the context of the actual provision. Learner ages, the education offered, delivery methods and the institution’s responsibilities affect the evidence needed. A school serving children, for example, needs safeguarding arrangements appropriate to those learners; an online academy needs evidence of platform access, learner support and remote assessment integrity.
Minimum conditions before applying
- A verifiable legal identity, institutional website and any required operating permission.
- A named person responsible for the institution and quality.
- One representative teaching example from education already delivered, supported by a dated delivery or completion record.
- Clear learner terms, support and privacy information.
- One or two educator profiles and a genuine learner feedback sample or summary.
- A one-page plan with two improvements, owners and dates.
There is no requirement for 12 months of operation or a completed improvement cycle. Existing documents and public links are accepted. The reviewer must still be able to verify the evidence and determine that the six applicable areas are met.
Groups, campuses and training units
Identify the entity that contracts with learners and takes responsibility for delivery. Describe the relationship between any trading name, parent company, subsidiary and delivery partner. A group structure must be clear enough for reviewers to determine who is accountable.
List every location and delivery mode requested for the scope. The standard fee is based on a defined, proportionate remote review. A larger institution or more complex group may need a different sampling plan and written quotation before acceptance.
When membership may be the better starting point
A provider that has not yet delivered education may have clear public information and a credible plan but no teaching record or learner feedback. Membership is available at that stage against its own baseline requirements.
Membership does not guarantee later accreditation. Unverifiable identity, unavailable evidence or misleading public claims must be resolved before either route can proceed.