Here’s list of things to consider before you take a well-earned break this Easter:

• Make sure your learners have the correct ‘planned completion date’ - Exams Officers have been alerted to this step in previous VQ Bulletins. This is vital as only learners with a completion date between 2-April and 31- August will appear for a Q-TAG submission.   We will be contacting the named Point of Contact or the Exams Officer listed on Edexcel online after the Easter break with details of all learners that have a planned completion within this period to enable centres to check the correct learners are visible and make the necessary amendments ahead of the QTAG Portal going live.
• Check your qualification is eligible for a Q-TAG – only qualifications most similar to GQs (Ofqual category ‘B1’) are permitted to have a Q-TAG this summer. Some qualifications (Ofqual category ‘B2’) are also permitted, but only as a last resort.
  
• Read the Centre guidance for Q-TAGs – this guidance includes all the information you need to successfully manage the process Q-TAG process this year.
  
• Make sure all staff are aware of the BTEC Q-TAG centre policy – centres will confirm the steps outlined have been followed, via the Head of Centre Declaration.
• Make sure you consider your centre’s historical outcome data – the VCRF requires that any significantly higher or lower outcomes must be supported by evidence. We will be looking to ensure that all centres make objective and fair judgements, based on the evidence available. You must not look to increase grades by giving ‘benefit of doubt’ or ‘predictions’, which are not objective judgements. We have released further information on the use of data in our guidance document.
  
• Standardise your subject/teaching team (similar to how you would for ‘normal’ assessment’)  on the Q-TAG policy/process and using the qualification’s Assessment Objectives and Grade Descriptors from across the specification – this will help build a standardised view for the holistic Q-TAG, which the relevant senior managers and Head of Centre can endorse.
  
• Start to gather (and document) evidence – remember – you are making a holistic judgement, using assessment evidence, but also alternative evidence. Identify learners at risk of low or no evidence and possible interventions. We will provide a template after the Easter break outlining how you should document this evidence.
  
• Consider the timeframes – you will need to have full endorsement from the teaching team and Head of Department before the Q-TAG can be submitted. Although internal assessment can continue – you will need to use incomplete assessment or alternative evidence if assignments are not due until after the 18 June.
  
• Internal assessment can continue – you must ensure that units that are important or identified for progression for HEI admissions continue to be taught and wherever possible assessed. This will support your learners to be sufficiently prepared when going to HEIs that require certain units to have been delivered.
  
• Remember- for certificating learners – you are looking to make a holistic judgement at qualification-level - this means you will not be looking at unit-level outcomes alone, but the evidence overall. We know this is tricky – and we plan to share examples for the beginning of the new term to support you in evaluating evidence in a holistic way.
  
• If in doubt contact us – if you are worried or need support- we are here to help you get it right.
  

We recommend continuing to prioritise the delivery of key BTEC units at Level 3 needed for progression to Higher Education and employment. For example, maths and science-related units needed for progression onto STEM and health-related degrees. This will help aid your learners’ progression into HE and employment and give them the best possible chance of success at the next level. 

Whilst we recognise it will not be possible to assess all units, we do recommend teaching the key units at Level 3 often needed for progression purposes. The Head of Centre declaration (when Q-TAGs are submitted) will require confirmation that this teaching has occurred.

We are pleased to announce that Linking London in conjunction with some of their university members are making available some support to help you support your first year BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma learners in making choices about HE progression. They are creating free resources for schools and colleges, and will be running pre-recorded events for students. Please see below for more information from them.

Linking London’s Uni Connect Outreach Hub invites you to register to receive our BTEC Extended Diploma Support Package which will consist of pre-recorded videos produced by five of our HE partners – you can register here and the package will emailed directly to everyone who completes the form on April 19th. The videos will be tailored to BTEC Extended Diploma Year 1 students who are beginning to research their university options and we will also be including various resources to support students with the decision-making process. Please see below a list of the different topics and the contributing university partners. Please contact us if you have any questions.

• How to research different courses & universities – University of Westminster
• Deciding on the right course area – University of Greenwich
• Narrowing down options (variety of subjects)
  • Business – University of Westminster
  • Health and Social Care/Science – Kingston University
  • Sport – St Mary’s
  • Creative Arts – UAL
• Beginning your personal statement – St Mary’s

We have updated our guidance with additions clearly highlighted. This includes confirmation of the use of centre policies for Q-TAGs, and how to use of data when determining your Q-TAG judgements. We are still finalising information in relation to appeals, and will keep you updated.

As previously announced, we have released ‘performance indicators’ for every sector, covering the different qualification suites, which we hope will support you with a holistic sense check of your Q-TAGs before submission. Please use the relevant sector-specific guidance, available on our main Q-TAG webpage under ‘Qualification-level sector performance indicators’.

Please note: not all grades are covered within this guidance and centres are free to provide Q-TAGs from the whole range of grades available. For example, if a learner’s performance is stronger than the indicators for grade D, you should consider awarding a grade D*.

We have a number of unused packs of question papers left in stock which may be of use to you. In the interests of both sustainability as well as saving you time printing your own copies, we’re making these papers available for all centres.

You'll be able to order papers via a new portal that will be live from 19 April. Papers will be available on a first come first served basis until they are exhausted.

Subject to availability, question papers can be ordered in denominations of 5, 10 or 20. There will be a small charge to cover the administration and courier costs per order. Charges will be calculated at a rate of 20p per paper for orders up to £40 and then at a rate of 10p per paper for orders over £40. Question papers will be available from the January and February 2021 series.

Further information about the subjects that will be included, details about how to access the past papers website and how to create an account will be shared prior to the website going live.

We recognise and anticipate that mid-flight learners due to certificate next year will have been impacted by a different level of disruption than those completing this year. We also understand that learners and centres are keen to know unit level results to make decisions, but as we do not yet know what the situation we will be next year, our decision is to ensure that we do the right thing by learners and take the time to review the situation next academic year, and take the impact into account at the point of certification for these learners.

In light of this we can confirm that we will request Qualification-level or Unit-level Teacher Assessed Grades for mid-flight learners, at the appropriate point of certification next academic year. We anticipate that this will be in January 2022 for March completers, and June 2022, for summer completers. Further detail will be confirmed closer to the time.

TAGs will only be permitted for those learners where there are ‘reduced assessment’ flags and/or external assessment entries in place this academic year (applicable between 30 August 2020 and 31 August 2021, in line with the eligibility window for the VCRF).

All other assessments for the relevant qualification will need to be taught and assessed, and evidence retained, so that it can be quality assured, and used to inform the TAG.

For some Vocational qualifications, in line with guidance from Ofqual, we have categorised these as 'B2’. This means they are qualifications that are not similar to GCSEs or A Levels, but are used for progression onto further education or employment. 

The option of reduced assessment has been made available for some of these qualifications, but all content for these qualifications must be taught, and centres should continue to make every effort to deliver and assess and submit evidence for the quality assurance process.

Should learners continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and are unable to complete assessment with reduction to assessment in place, you may as a last resort submit Qualification-level Teacher Assessed Grades (Q-TAGs ). We will provide additional guidance to centres who deliver these qualifications on this process after the Easter break.

Ofqual has published the requirements for the Vocational and Technical Qualifications Contingency Regulatory Framework (VCRF), and we can now share our detailed guidance for Delivery and Assessment for Summer 2021.

Wherever possible delivery and assessment should continue where safe to do so or via online delivery, using adaptations outlined in the Delivery and Assessment Guidance for BTEC Higher Nationals 2020-2021.

The primary mitigation for BTEC Higher National qualifications will be to 'Adapt' assessments, however, we understand that in some instances that will not be possible. Ofqual-regulated BTEC Higher Nationals are in Category B2 and are eligible for Unit Level Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGSs), with some exceptions detailed in the guidance.

Where unit assessments are incomplete, or have not taken place, centres are advised to use completed formative and summative assessments to make Teacher Assessed Grade decisions at unit level, as outlined in the Delivery and Assessment for Summer 2021 guidance.

What are the key things to know?

• Assessment Boards will continue to be integral to awarding grades this summer and we will request Assessment Board minutes and a completed Assessment Grade Tracker, which will contain a Grade Declaration, for all grades (even where Unit Level TAGs are not being used). Our guidance sets out the details for the Grade Declaration and who can sign it.
• As part of the VCRF requirements, once you’ve determined your Unit Level TAGs, you’ll need to complete a high-level check to ensure the grades are not overly lenient or unduly harsh compared to results in previous years.
  
• You can start to submit your Assessment Board Minutes, Grade Tracker and Grade Declaration to your External Examiner as soon as you are ready, as there is no set ‘results day’ for BTEC Higher Nationals, but if your students need to have their results by August 2021, please make your submissions no later than 9 July 2021.
  
• Remote ‘visits’ by External Examiners will take place this year as previously communicated. Please follow the guidance on remote EE sampling for UK or International centres, as required.
  
• Your External Examiner will carry out an external quality review of the grades in the Assessment Board Tracker, alongside the Assessment Board Minutes and the Grade Declaration.
  
• Certificates can be claimed via Edexcel Online in the usual way, but only once your External Examiner has released your programmes.
  

What additional support will be provided?

We will continue to review our FAQs regularly, adding more information when needed.

We will publish a video explaining the guidance to assessment and awarding for BTEC Higher Nationals in 2020/21 on our website by Wednesday 7 April.

You can also attend one of our live training sessions:

• International Centres – Wednesday 21 April at 7am (BST)
• UK Centres – Thursday 22 April at 2pm (BST)
  

Our support and guidance documents can also be accessed on our website and we will keep you up to date about any changes directly, or via the VQ Bulletin.

If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact us via Pearson Support.

You now have until Friday 16 April (midnight GMT) to submit a nomination for the BTEC Awards 2021.

We know this year has been filled with uncertainty and some challenges, and we’re keen to hear how your centre has supported staff and learners through it. It’s quick and easy to enter the BTEC Awards – and you might just be our next winner!

Why should you submit a nomination?

• Recognise exceptional achievement
  • There will be some extra special stories to celebrate in 2021 and we want to hear about those learners, educators, schools and colleges that lit the way during an extraordinary year.
    
• A great PR opportunity for your centre
  
  • BTEC Award winners will be offered many press opportunities and will also have a professional video case study created.
    
• Looks great on a CV
  • A BTEC Award offers kudos and recognition on an international level.
    

Our handy video has more information about why you should nominate!

If you'd like to find out the latest information about our general qualifications and see how we are supporting schools and colleges, teachers, learners, parents and carers for summer 2021, please visit our dedicated web page for further details.

On 31 March, we released Additional Assessment Materials for GCSE and A level subjects, along with further guidance to support teachers in determining fair grades for learners this summer.

We’re also providing live and pre-recorded support and guidance events via our Professional Development Academy as well as running optional Q&A sessions which we will record and make available. Many events are now live with more coming soon.