Coronavirus: Ofqual launches consultation on 2021 exams and assessments for vocational and technical qualifications

Ofqual has launched a consultation on the arrangements for the assessment and awarding of VTQs in England in 2020/21.

The consultation sets out a proposed approach which aims to mitigate disruption to teaching and learning time experienced by learners taking vocational and technical qualifications, and general qualifications other than GCSE, AS and A levels in 2020, as well as responding to any future health measures.

Qualifications Wales has confirmed that they will not be consulting separately on the arrangements for vocational qualifications in Wales in 2020/21 and have encouraged all stakeholders to respond to the Ofqual consultation. This is because most vocational qualifications taken by learners in Wales are also available in the other UK nations, so to ensure consistency Qualifications Wales works closely with their fellow regulators to align approaches across nations wherever possible.

The consultation opened 3 August 2020 and all responses must be submitted to Ofqual by 14 August 2020. Further information is available on Ofqual's website. 

WJEC welcomes this consultation and will take into account views of a range of stakeholders in Wales and England when submitting our response to Ofqual.

We recently surveyed centres on a range of proposals for adapting our vocational and other general qualifications and assessments for 2020/21 with the aim of freeing up additional time for teaching and learning. We are currently analysing the responses to our survey and will be considering these in light of the proposals and principles outlined in Ofqual’s consultation.