FAQs

We are often asked lots of questions on the Primary Quality Mark award. Therefore to help you with common questions we have created this section. If we have not covered your question here, please get in touch.

What is the Primary Quality Mark award?
How much does it cost to apply for the Primary Quality Mark?
How can I apply for the Primary Quality Mark?
How can I find out if my LA is in the Partnership?
What happens if my LA is NOT part of the Partnership?
What is the Application Procedure?
What are the Ten Elements?
How long will it take to gain the Primary Quality Mark award?
For how long is the award valid?
What happens if I want to renew the Quality Mark award?
My school isn't grant maintained/is independent - can we still apply for the Quality Mark?
Can Pupil Referral Units [PRUs] apply for the Quality Mark?
I work in a middle school -should we apply for the Primary or the Secondary Quality Mark?
I work at a Special school - which Quality Mark should we apply for?
What materials will I receive, once I gain the Primary Quality Mark?
How much are the Quality Mark materials?
How do we order more materials?
I would like to receive an additional Quality Mark plaque - is this possible?
Can I use the Quality Mark logo on my letterhead?
Is there a limit to the size the logo can be displayed?

What is the Primary Quality Mark award?

For the initial stage of finding out about the Primary Quality Mark, you can contact our Quality Mark team at the agency who will send you out the relevant information. This will include the Primary Quality Mark information booklet, the latest newsletter, a copy of the latest survey and so on. (See contact details section)

How much does it cost to apply for the Primary Quality Mark?

There is no charge.

How can I apply for the Primary Quality Mark?

All primary schools need to apply through their Local Authority (LA) who would carry out the assessment process. The important point to remember here is that, the LA taking over the assessment should be in partnership with The Basic Skills Agency.

How can I find out if my LA is in the Partnership?

All you would need to do in this case is to contact us at the agency, where we keep a record of all the LAs who are in our Primary Quality Mark Partnership. We will give you the contact details of the person in charge at the LA and you take it from there.

What happens if my LA is NOT part of the Partnership?

This is not a major problem and your school should still be able to apply for the Quality Mark. In this case, we have 51 LA's who have agreed to assess schools outside their region. To find out the list of LA's who are willing to do this, contact us. We can provide you with the list, it is then up to you to contact the LA.

However in these circumstances, financial arrangements between schools whose LAs are not involved in our partnership and LAs in the partnership are made at their own discretion.

What is the Application Procedure?

You need to contact the relevant LA and go through the application process, which involves meeting the Ten Elements (more about that further down). Once the LA is satisfied that you meet all the requirements, they will send us a completed and approved recommendation form. We will then set up records for you on our database and send you out the relevant correspondence letters, informing you on whether your application has been successful or not.

So what are the Ten Elements?

View the Ten Elements. You must meet them all in order to successfully qualify for the award.

How long will it take to gain the Primary Quality Mark award?

On average it takes about five to six months, for each of the awards, but can take as little as two months or as long as eighteen months depending on how far you already meet the Elements and how long it takes you to prepare the evidence.

For how long is the award valid?

Three years, during which time the school/organisation will be monitored on an annual basis by the Agency or the LA with the renewal process taking place in the third year.

What happens if I want to renew the Quality Mark award?

Considering that your school still meets the Ten Elements, then all you would need to do is let your LA know. The LAs will have copies of the renewal application form and will assess your school for renewal. Any completed renewal applications would then come to us and we would update our database and send out the relevant material to you.

My school isn't grant maintained/is independent - can we still apply for the Quality Mark?

Yes, though it is up to the discretion of the LA region in which you are based as to whether or not they choose to assess you.

Can Pupil Referral Units [PRUs] apply for the Quality Mark?

Yes, they can. The Quality Mark, which you apply for, is dependent on the age group of the pupils.

I work in a middle school -should we apply for the Primary or the Secondary Quality Mark?

You can apply for either; dependent on whether you are classified as a Primary or Secondary school.

I work at a Special school - which Quality Mark should we apply for?

The Quality Mark[s] you apply for depend on the age range of the pupils in your school, you can [and some schools have] applied for all three of the Quality Marks, when their students have ranged in age from 2 - 19. Your LA can assess you for all three of the awards on the same day if appropriate.

What materials will I receive, once I gain the Primary Quality Mark?

We have produced a selection of materials to support the Quality Mark for Primary Schools. These include bookmarks and badges for schools, which have won the Quality Mark, as well as guidance leaflets for schools working towards the award.

Also, all schools that are awarded the Primary Quality Mark will receive a plaque in recognition of their achievements.

How much are the Quality Mark materials?

Free - with the exception of additional plaques, which are sold at cost price.

How do we order more materials?

There is an additional materials order form included with the certificate and congratulations letter sent to every successful school. You need to complete it and return it to us. Alternatively, you can contact our distribution centre to order more materials. Contact details of our distribution centre will be specified in the letters we send out.

I would like to receive an additional Quality Mark plaque - is this possible?

When schools initially receive the Quality Mark they receive a plaque free of charge, they can order additional plaques at cost price via our distributors for a cost of £18 for the Primary Quality Mark.

Can I use the logo on my letterhead?

Yes, you can. The logo should be used in the colours specified, or in black and white and can also be used on your school prospectus, in job advertisements, on your Intranet system or website. We have also produced a CD-ROM for the Primary and Secondary Quality Marks containing the logos in a variety of formats for both PCs and Apple Macs, which are automatically sent to new schools/organisations when they are awarded the Quality Mark.

Is there a limit to the size the logo can be displayed at?

The logo can used at any size - provided the dimensions are maintained.