Ofqual consultation on arrangements for Vocational and Technical, and Other General Qualifications in Summer 2021 – Part 2

Ofqual consultation on arrangements for Vocational and Technical, and Other General Qualifications in Summer 2021 – Part 2

Ofqual has today launched the second stage of its consultation into arrangements for the assessment and awarding of Vocational and Technical, and Other General Qualifications in 2020/21.  The proposed arrangements for 2020 to 2021 will apply to all regulated qualifications apart from GCSEs, AS and A levels, and end-point assessments, and seek to assist in mitigating disruption to teaching, learning and assessments so that, as far as possible, learners have the opportunity to receive fair results in 2020 to 2021 and are not disadvantaged by the longer term impacts of the pandemic. 

The first stage of the consultation ran from 3 to 14 August. Ofqual consulted on the introduction of a second version of the Extraordinary Regulatory Framework (ERF), the Extended ERF, which would permit awarding organisations to mitigate the impact of disruptions to teaching, learning and assessment arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, through the adaptation of assessments and qualifications.  The outcomes of this consultation have been published today and Ofqual has confirmed that the proposals will be implemented in full. 

In the second stage, Ofqual are consulting on a further draft version of the Extended ERF to put the arrangements in to effect. It includes revised principles, statutory guidance developed to guide awarding organisations’ decisions around adaptation, and statutory guidance on Special Consideration.  

This consultation may be of particular interest to: 

  • awarding organisations and their representative bodies 
  • learners who are expecting to be awarded a vocational or technical qualification, or other general qualification, in 2021 
  • the family, parents or carers of these learners 
  • teachers, tutors, exam staff and other representatives from schools, colleges, training providers and other places where the relevant qualifications are delivered 
  • higher education institutions, further education colleges and training providers that may be making offers to learners for future academic years 
  • education representative bodies 
  • employers who might be receiving job applications from learners taking these qualifications, or who might already employ these learners 
  • professional bodies, regulators and industry groups 

 

The consultation documents can be found here. The consultation closes on 11:45pm on 20 September 2020 and we encourage all stakeholders to respond.