Ofqual has today (3 September 2018) published the outcomes
of a policy consultation on our approach to regulating the
new Technical Qualifications which will sit within T
Levels, including our analysis of
the responses we received and our decisions on how
to take the proposed rules forward.
We have discussed and agreed these decisions with the
Department for Education and Institute for Apprenticeships.
The government’s Invitation to
Tender for the development, delivery and award of
the first three T Levels from September 2020, published
earlier today, reflects the feedback we received.
We are now launching a further, technical
consultation, to give interested parties an opportunity
to feed back on the detail of Ofqual’s rules,
including drafts of the Conditions and Guidance we intend
to apply.
Key areas of comment on the policy consultation, and our
decisions relating to these, include:
- assessment availability and retakes. Following
feedback, we will amend our approach as set out in the
consultation to require an awarding organisation to provide
a minimum of one assessment series for the Core and the
Occupational Specialisms; with the option for an additional
assessment series, if appropriate.
- results and certification. Taking account of responses
received, we will dis-apply our Conditions, meaning
awarding organisations will not be required to issue
certificates for the Technical Qualifications. Instead,
certification will be for the overall T Level. However, a
statement of achievement will be implemented for students
who do not successfully pass all elements of the T Level,
to ensure students are not disadvantaged and that their
achievements are recognised.
- setting and marking assessments. Based on
feedback received, we will require that the core knowledge
and understanding elements are assessed by an examination
and marked by the awarding organisation. We would also
expect these to be marked by the respective awarding
organisation. However, in exceptional circumstances, our
rules will allow for centre marking of core skills
assessments and Occupational Specialism assessments. We
have published further guidance on this today.
- ‘working towards’ grade. We consulted on setting a
requirement for Occupational Specialisms to have a ‘Working
Towards’ grade below Pass. We have taken on board the
points raised by respondents. As there is felt to be
limited value in this grade, we will not proceed with this
proposal.
- Other proposals, including our approach on grading,
reviews of marking and accreditation, will be adopted
largely as outlined in the consultation. These are
described more fully in the decisions document.
Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, said:
Our decisions, along with the government’s Invitation to
Tender, mark a significant milestone in the delivery of T
Levels. We look forward to continuing our collaboration
with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Department for
Education on this important initiative.
The documents we have published today set out the next
stage in how Ofqual will play its part in the development
and delivery of high quality, reliable and comparable
Technical Qualifications which both learners and
employers can trust. The responses we received to our
policy consultation will help ensure these
qualifications, and the T Levels of which they are part,
are valid and robust, and meet the demands of the work
place. We have used the consultation feedback to support
our draft Conditions and Guidance, which we have set out
for further consultation, and we look forward to hearing
stakeholders’ views.
We are holding three events to support our technical
consultation, aimed at awarding organisations interested in
developing Technical Qualifications, or other bodies which
may have an interest in becoming recognised awarding
organisations to develop Technical Qualifications in the
future. You can book your place by clicking on the links
below. Please note, places are limited.
-
11 September 2018, 10.30am to 4.00pm, Holiday Inn,
Regent’s Park, London
-
13 September 2018, 10.30am to 4.00pm, The Midland
Hotel, Manchester
-
19 September 2018, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Webinar
Notes for editors
-
The Institute for Apprenticeships has overarching
responsibility for the T Level programme. Ofqual will
regulate the Technical Qualification component.
An exchange of
letters between the Rt Hon MP and Sally Collier
regarding Ofqual’s regulation of Technical
Qualifications within T Levels has also been published
today.
-
The policy consultation ran for 4 weeks between 10 July
and 6 August.
-
There were 53 responses to the consultation. Additional
feedback was received from people participating in 3
consultation events (98 attended) and a webinar (42
attended live).
-
The technical consultation will run for 8 weeks until
28 October 2018.
