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Qualification Awarding in 2021:
Following the announcement by the Secretary of State for Education on 6 January, which confirmed that GCSEs, AS and A level exams will not go ahead this summer, Ofqual has been working at pace with the Department for Education to make arrangements that will enable results to be awarded to learners who are due to be taking exams and assessments this year.
The outcomes of Ofqual’s consultation on alternative arrangements for the award of VTQs and other general qualifications in 2021 were released on 25 February. For full details, please follow this link.
This has led to the proposed launch of the Vocational Contingency Regulatory Framework (VCRF), which incorporates the ERF and the EERF. This is currently under technical consultation until 11 March, and we anticipate that the VCRF will then be launched at the end of March. Learners registered to take assessments that would have led to the issuing of a result between 1st August 2020 and the 31st August 2021 are eligible to be awarded their qualification under the VCRF.
Qualifications will be categorised based on the following descriptions.
Category A qualifications:
Qualifications used to demonstrate occupational or professional competence to enter directly into employment.
For Active IQ, this will incorporate the majority of our qualifications – for example, gym instructing, personal training and all our work-based learning qualifications. Assessments will need to be completed in order for learners to be certificated, as these qualifications demonstrate competency and can lead to employment. However, it may be appropriate for the assessments to be adapted based on government guidance.
Category B qualifications:
Qualifications from entry level to Level 6 that support progression to further or higher study or into employment, and in which the issuing of results to learners should be prioritised. These have then been split into two sub-categories.
Category B1 qualifications:
Qualifications similar to GCSEs, AS and A levels, used for progression to further or higher education. This will include VTQs approved for performance tables including Applied General Qualifications, Tech Levels and Technical Awards.
For Active IQ, this will include our Technical Certificate and Tech Level qualifications. Once the full details of the VCRF are confirmed, we will provide detailed guidance on the requirements for awarding these qualifications this summer. We will be asking centres to gather evidence and provide judgements on their learners where assessments have not been able to take place. This evidence will need to be sent to Active IQ by 14 June to allow sufficient time for the external quality assurance and certification process to take place prior to results day. Results day has now been moved to 10 August for A levels and equivalent qualifications, and to 12 August for GCSEs and equivalent qualifications.
Category B2 qualifications:
These are qualifications that are not similar to GCSEs, AS or A levels, and which are used for mixed purposes. These tend to be smaller qualifications, they may not run to an academic timetable, and students only sit the assessments when they are ready to do so. They tend also to be at lower levels. This will include qualifications such as Functional Skills qualifications, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Skills for Life qualifications.
It is unlikely that Active IQ will have any qualifications in this category.
Ofqual has produced an explanatory document and infographic specifically for centres. Please click here to download these documents. Ofqual has also launched its ‘explainer tool’ again for this summer.
Performance table, category B qualifications
For Active IQ centres offering performance table qualifications we have developed specific guidance which details the information and evidence we will require in order for learners to receive a grade and certification of the following qualifications:
- Active IQ Level 2 Diploma in Physical Activity, Fitness and Exercise Science (601/6041/X)
- Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Physical Activity, Fitness and Exercise Science (601/6042/1)
- Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training for Health, Fitness and Performance (601/9003/6)
- Active IQ Level 3 Extended Diploma in Personal Training for Health, Fitness and Performance (601/9002/4)
- Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Physical Activity (603/1162/9)
Vocationally-related and competency-based qualifications:
For Active IQ centres offering vocationally-related and competency-based qualifications, we continue to recommend that remote delivery is used for the continuance of education.
Active IQ has a range of approved adaptations in place that can be used under the VCRF. We encourage all centres, where they can, to make use of the adaptations available and to bank assessments as soon as possible.
Technical Certificates and Tech Level qualifications:
Ofqual has now published its response to its consultation on the Vocational and Technical Qualifications Contingency Regulatory Framework (VCRF). This has been put in place in line with ministerial decisions for providing results to learners during the COVID-19 pandemic during the academic year 2020/2021.
For more information, please click here.
Useful links: