An Introduction to NCFE

NCFE is a national awarding body. Awarding bodies design and award qualifications which recognise the skills, knowledge and understanding achieved by a learner at a particular level and in a particular subject.

We can trace our origins to 1848 when the Northern Union of Mechanics’ Institutes was established with the aim of becoming a centre of learning in the north of England. By the 1920s the Northern Union had been renamed as the Northern Counties Technical Examinations Council, affectionately known as ‘Northern Counties’, and provided exams for colleges, schools and other centres.

In 1981 Northern Counties merged with the Northern Advisory Council for Further Education to become the Northern Council for Further Education. However, by the early 1990s our new and independent national presence required a less regional focus, and we are now known simply as NCFE.

We are also a registered educational charity and a company limited by guarantee. Our charitable aim is ‘to promote and advance the education and training of young persons and adults’.
 
NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in England, the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland, and the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority
for Wales (DELLS).

Page author Tim Dawkins timdawkins@ncfe.org.uk Dec 07