Annual monitoring review FAQs

The AMR is a yearly review to check that a centre’s management systems and administration procedures continue to meet our approval criteria. AMRs do not involve sampling learners’ work as this is covered through external quality assurance or moderation reviews. Each centre is allocated a Quality Reviewer (QR), who will review the centre’s systems and procedures against all internally assessed qualifications. Centres only need to submit evidence about their management systems and administration once a year. 

Following the AMR, centres will receive a report with actions and an overall risk rating (low, medium, or high). Low/medium risk actions will be checked at the next AMR, while high-risk actions will be followed up on during an interim review before the end of the session. Full details of the criteria, required evidence, and how risk ratings are calculated can be found in the User Guide to the Annual Monitoring Review.  

AMRs take place once per academic year (August to July). For T Level providers, the AMRs must take place between September and February. 

Risk ratings form part of our Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny (CASS) strategy and support compliance with Ofqual’s conditions of recognition (H2). They allow us to take a risk-based approach to quality assurance, tailoring our sampling plans, training and support to each centre. 

All required evidence must be uploaded at least two working days before your AMR. If this is not provided, the review will be cancelled, and a charge may apply in line with our published fees and pricing lists. A new date will then be arranged, subject to your Quality Reviewer’s availability. Guidance on required evidence is available in the User Guide to the Annual Monitoring Review.  

If the Quality Reviewer identifies missing evidence during the review, this will be requested on the day. If this is not provided, the missing evidence will be recorded as an action in the report, and an additional review (chargeable) may be required.   

If you need to cancel an AMR, at least 10 working days’ notice is required. The Head of Centre or Programme Contact must inform both the Quality Reviewer (QR) and the External Quality Assurance team by email [email protected], copying in the QR’s email address (available on the Portal).

Cancellations with less than 10 working days’ notice may incur a charge, in line with our published fees. 

Responsibility for the AMR rests with the Head of Centre. While they do not need to attend the review, they must ensure the nominated contact has detailed knowledge of the centre’s internal management and administration processes relating to NCFE qualifications. 

If you had an AMR in the previous session, your Quality Reviewer (QR) will send you a link to complete a self-assessment form before the next review. This asks whether you have made any changes to your policies or procedures. If nothing has changed, you will not need to re-upload documents as your QR has already reviewed them. 

Further information, including guidance documents and a breakdown of the AMR report, can be found on our website and in the User Guide to the AMR.