We have released an Evidence Record template, to enable you to record the evidence you have used in making your Q-TAG judgements. You can find the guidance here, and excel template (editable version) here.

Our sector experts have compiled some examples of the evidence you might use to make holistic Q-TAG judgements.

They are not meant to be prescriptive and are provided as examples of how a teacher might approach grading the performance of a particular learner. The examples are intended to guide you, showing the judgements teachers might make in specific circumstances.

Teachers are not making such decisions in isolation. The grades assigned are then subject to the centre’s internal quality assurance processes and signed-off by the Head of Centre.

We have heard from some centres on the use of, or need for, a centre-devised policy for the Q-TAG process this year.

As outlined in our guidance we can confirm that centres will use existing policies that are in place to ensure the internal verification of Q-TAGs. An additional Q-TAG Centre Policy is shared in Section 15 of the guidance and must be adhered to when your centre commences determining the holistic QTAG for learners. This means you will not need to devise your own, but you will be required to confirm you have followed the process we have set out in the guidance, at the point of Q-TAG submission via the Head of Centre Declaration.  

If you are running General Qualifications, you will be following the JCQ QA process using the JCQ CAP.

The JCQ policy process will not include your BTEC qualifications.

The TAG process for Functional Skills Qualifications is now live.

• Find out more about TAGs, evidence and eligibility
• Find out more about the Functional Skills application process

The end certification date for the Legacy Functional Skills Qualifications in English and Maths is fast approaching. The last certification is 31 July 2021.

In order to facilitate this the last external assessment date is 18 June 2021. Please be aware that paper-based assessments need to be booked 14 days in advance of this date, so the last paper-based booking date is 4 June 2021.

If you wish to apply for a TAG for a learner on a legacy qualification, Pearson still needs to certificate this before 31 July 2021. To ensure that this is the case please submit TAGs in the May and June window for Legacy Functional Skills English and Maths learners.

Following further discussions with Ofqual we have been able to confirm more details regarding our category ‘B2’ qualifications. Category ‘B2’ are qualifications that might be used to support progression to further or higher study but do not have the same characteristics as GCSEs, AS or A levels and are not only delivered in schools and colleges. Many of the vocational qualifications in this category are shorter courses, delivered flexibly. Being categorised as ‘B2’ means this flexibility can continue. 

This group of qualifications currently includes the Functional Skills suite, Personal and Workskills, Entry Level and Introductory Level 1 qualifications. Please note there have been some category changes following discussion with Ofqual and other Awarding Organisations, the updated list of qualifications can be found here.

For B2 qualifications, the primary approach for this group will be to continue with teaching, learning and assessment where possible and safe to do so.

All content must be taught and opportunities for assessment must be provided.   

The option of reduced assessment also remains in place for some ‘B2’ qualifications, you can find out more on our teaching and learning webpages. However, if learners are unable to safely complete assessments and need to progress this summer, centres may at that point apply for a Q-TAG as a last resort.  We will contact centres directly on how to advise us of reduced unit assessment for ‘B2’ qualifications, which will be slightly different to the way it is reported for ‘B1’ qualifications.

Quality assurance and claims for B2 qualifications

Quality assurance should be completed in line with the normal (pre-Covid 19) quality assurance requirements. Claims should also be made as normal. Please refer to the relevant quality assurance handbook for your qualification(s). We will maintain this year’s BTEC sampling regime of 1 unit and 3 learners per programme; successful sampling is required before certification can be claimed. In line with normal practice, and subject to risk or standards not being met, second sampling (BTEC QA) or additional samples (WBL QA) may be required to ensure valid and reliable results (as per our normal sampling requirements).

Guidance and instructions  

Guidance and instructions on eligibility and how to access a Q-TAG with the relevant evidence requirements will be provided at a later stage to support centres this summer. Please note the Q-TAG portal will not be used for these qualifications.

For the Functional Skills suite, please see our guidance and instructions on applying for a Q-TAG. In the meantime, if you have an allocated Standards Verifier or External Examiner, you should alert them as soon as possible if you need to access a Q-TAG otherwise, please contact us directly via our contact portal. In line with other ‘B2’ qualifications, the eligiblity window will be until 31 August 2021.

Please note: centres with eligible learners on programmes required for progression onto Higher Education will still need to apply by 18 June 2021 to ensure the timely release of results.

We are creating a flowchart to support your understanding of the options available to you for BTEC qualifications categorised as ‘B2’ and will share this with you as soon as possible.   

In the last bulletin we released guidance for delivery and assessment of BTEC Higher Nationals for Summer 2021, which explains the use of Unit Level Teacher Assessed Grades where unit assessments are incomplete.

If you'd like to learn more about the guidance or have any questions about the process, we would encourage UK centres to register and attend our live session on Thursday, 22 April at 2pm.

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.

We’re providing a wide range of support documents so please make sure all your teachers and departments have accessed the subject support guides which are available on our website.

Do visit the Pearson Professional Development Academy to access the support documents that are relevant for your role and be sure to sign up to the live subject events we have coming up throughout April and May.