Quality assurance principles

Quality assurance is a continuous, structured process used to set, maintain and monitor standards so that products reliably meet user expectations and defined requirements.

In the context of educational resources, it involves assessing the accuracy, relevance, design, and overall effectiveness of teaching and learning materials enabling us to deliver:

Overarching principles

We’ve developed ten overarching principles to support suppliers in creating and reviewing resources. These provide a shared foundation that keeps quality consistent across all projects, formats and partners.

1.  Research‑informed and needs‑based design  

• Use research, user insights and practitioner feedback to inform your understanding of learner and practitioner needs.

• Show how this insight shapes the purpose, structure, content, and format of the resource.

• Use specific methods and tools (e.g. surveys, interviews, testing, desk research) and ensure each informs key decisions.

Evidence of success: A clear link between user needs, design decisions and the final resource.

 

2.  Learner‑centred approach  

• Demonstrate careful consideration of learners’ contexts, motivations, stages of progression and varied learning pathways.

• Minimise cognitive load through clear language, thoughtful layout, logical structure and simple, intuitive interactions.

• Consider how the resource will be used in real learning settings to support and inspire effective teaching and learning.

Evidence of success: A resource that feels purposeful, clear and genuinely designed with learners in mind. 

 

3.  Curriculum relevance and learning purpose  

• Align content clearly and accurately with the Curriculum for Wales, including relevant Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE), progression steps, intended learning outcomes, and cross-curricular skills.

• Justify the selection of themes and topics so they are purposeful, meaningful and appropriate for the intended learning context.

• Ensure content supports progression and reflects the principles of effective curriculum design.

Evidence of success: Content that is explicitly tied to the Curriculum for Wales and supports purposeful, progressive learning.

 

4.  Language quality and learner appropriateness  

• Use language appropriate to the target age group, avoiding unnecessary complexity, overly formal phrasing, unfamiliar terms or unintended colloquialisms.

• Maintain a consistent tone, structure and style across all written, spoken and interactive elements.

• Prioritise clear, concise language to support comprehension and reduce cognitive load for learners.

• Ensure terminology, cultural references and representations are accurate and respectful.

Evidence of success: Language that is accessible, well‑pitched and promotes learner understanding in both Welsh and English.

 

5.  Visual design and content accuracy  

• Apply visual design and illustration styles appropriate for the intended age range.

• Ensure artwork and visuals are inclusive, diverse and reflective of learners and communities in Wales.

• Use typesetting, layouts, typography and colour choices that support accessibility and enhance the user experience.

• Ensure accuracy across all formats (text, visuals, audio, video, closed captions), removing factual, grammatical and technical errors.

• Ground content in the Welsh context where relevant, including public policy, people, communities and lived experiences, so that it feels authentic and meaningful to learners in Wales.

• Complete thorough editing, proofreading and quality checks to ensure consistency, clarity and an error‑free final product, in both Welsh and English.

Evidence of success: High quality, inclusive, accurate content and visuals that users can trust and that enhance the learning experience.

 

6.  Usability, intuitiveness, and consistency  

• Provide clear navigation and interactions that learners and practitioners can quickly understand.

• Maintain a consistent and coherent look, feel, and overall behaviour throughout the resource.

• Ensure parity of experience across Welsh and English versions, including layout, navigation and overall usability.

Evidence of success: A resource that is easy to use, requires minimal instruction, and is consistent in both languages.

 

7.  Inclusivity, accessibility, and representation  

• Demonstrate compliance with recognised accessibility standards (e.g. WCAG 2.2 AA) across all resource components, including multimedia, language, interaction design and layout.

• Design for equality, diversity and Additional Learning Needs (ALN), so that all learners, regardless of ability or background, can engage meaningfully.

• Provide diverse and relatable representations that reflect learners in Wales.

• Plan bilingual design from the outset to ensure equivalent functionality, quality and usability across languages.

Evidence of success: A resource that every learner can access and relate to, both practically and culturally.

 

8.  Safeguarding, privacy, and well‑being  

• Protect learner safety, privacy and well‑being across all aspects of the resource, both online and offline.

• Embed safeguarding measures within content, interactivity, data handling and user pathways.

• Control access and interactions so learners engage safely, appropriately and without exposure to harmful material.

• Apply the highest safeguarding standards to content, interaction design and data practices, supporting safe and respectful engagement.

Evidence of success: A resource that is safe by design and protects learners at every stage.

 

9.  Technical reliability and real‑world performance  

• Ensure the resource functions reliably in real‑world school conditions, including varied devices, operating systems, browsers, screen sizes and levels of connectivity.

• Provide equitable access so that learners experience consistent functionality and quality regardless of technical constraints.

Evidence of success: A resource that works smoothly in real school environments, not just ideal ones.

 

10.  Ongoing user‑centred (UX) process  

• Embed user research, testing and feedback from the outset and sustain throughout development, so that the user voice remains central.

• Use feedback from learners, practitioners and stakeholders to iteratively improve content, tone, accessibility and usability.

• Design resources to be editable, flexible and adaptable for varied delivery contexts, teaching approaches and learner needs.

• Plan for continuous evaluation and refinement. Design for durability and re‑use, so materials can be refreshed and updated without full redevelopment.

Evidence of success: Clear evidence that users shaped the resource continuously and measurably.