It’s the BTEC January results day(s) this week, with learners receiving their results this Thursday 24 March! 

Learners have worked incredibly hard, supported by teachers, tutors and their wider school and college community, we want to pass on our congratulations to everyone this week, and set out some reminders of what services to expect this week.

Reminder - Learners’ Results Embargo: Results Days for the Jan/Feb/March series

In November last year, we let you know about the alignment of future results days with equivalent GCSE and A-Level results days.   

As you can see from the table below, although centres will have access to the results on the preceding Wednesday (day before), these results must be embargoed until the following day, in line with how A Level and GCSE results are issued.

Grade Boundaries and Lead Examiner Reports 

You will be able to access grade boundary information and Lead Examiner reports. These will be published via gold padlock to Exams Officers only on Wednesday 23 March, and more widely accessible on the website on Thursday 24 March. You can use this information to understand more about how the assessment was received by learners, and to inform future teaching and learning. 

Question Papers and Mark Schemes 

These documents will also be published via gold padlock to Exams Officers only on Wednesday 23 March and on the website on Thursday 24 March. 

Results Plus 

As part of our assessment feedback services, ResultsPlus will be available to you and your learners, from Learner Results Day on Thursday 24 March. 

ResultsPlus is a free online results analysis tool for teachers that gives you a detailed breakdown of your students’ performance in Pearson Edexcel exams and BTEC external assessments. You can find more information and how to login by visiting our ResultsPlus support page.

Post Results Services  

Our post results services will be available as usual, from Learner Results Day on Thursday 24 March. You will be able to submit 'reviews of marking and moderation' (RoMM) and 'access to scripts' (ATS) requests, as well as appeals. If you want to review the services that are available to you, please take a look at our post results services support page.

Standards Setting  

We updated centres in Issue 38 of the VQ Bulletin with information from Ofqual on the expected approaches to standards setting in 2022.  Earlier this month, they released a student guide to exams and formal assessments in 2021 to 2022 which explains what is in place to support learners in taking exams and assessments, as well as providing other information about this year’s arrangements. We have also created guidance for students, should they have questions about Pearson’s approach, and we would be grateful if you could share this information with them. 

In addition, we have created this guide for centres, which sets out how BTEC qualification grades will be awarded by Pearson in 2021/22.

Do you know an exceptional BTEC learner, teacher or tutor? Do you want to recognise their consistent hard work and achievements? Nominate them for a BTEC Award!
 
We know there will be lots of exceptional BTEC stories to celebrate in 2022 and we want to hear them all. Nominate your outstanding BTEC learners and educators who went above and beyond and really stood out.

Visit our website to nominate and for our handy guide on how to nominate, terms and conditions and award criteria. 

Some BTEC Schools and Colleges have raised questions with their BTEC Standards Verifiers regarding sampling. In order to help support you in working together during the standards verification window, we hope the following question and answers provides the clarification you need:

A programme in our centre has been allocated for Enhanced Control sampling but we cannot provide two units this year. What will my Standards Verifier (SV) sample? 

If certification is required in summer 2022 and you are delivering a second unit this year outside of the sampling window, then permission for a late sample may be granted, providing this can take place by 30 June 2022. The SV can also sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme, providing it has not been certificated, previously sampled in 2020/21, or subject to U-TAG Quality Assurance. 

If certification is required in summer 2022 and there is only one unit available to sample due to the qualification size, then the SV will sample that unit. 

If certification is not required in summer 2022, the SV will sample what is available as an ‘Not Yet Fully Sampled’ (NYFS) sample.  

Due to our assessment plan, we are unable to provide a full unit for sampling until after the sampling window. Will a sample still need to take place? 

Firstly, the SV will enquire as to whether you can amend your assessment plan to ensure a full unit is available within the sampling window. This is the best way for us to ensure secure certification for your learners, and your consideration is appreciated. Understandably, this may not be possible and the SV will not insist that you do so.  

The SV can also sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme providing it has not been certificated, previously sampled in 2020/21, or subject to a U-TAG. 

In exceptional circumstances, and only where possible, permission for a late sample may be granted, providing this can take place by 30 June 2022. Any sampling undertaken past this date may result in delays to certification. 

We are running the first year of the programme (so no certificating learners) but are assigned Enhanced Control. There is only one component/unit available for sampling. What will the SV sample? 

If it is the first year of the programme and no certification is required, the SV will sample the one unit/component available and set the report to ‘Not Yet Fully Sampled’ (NYFS). 

We do not have any units available for sampling due to U-TAGs and/or streamlined assessment. What will the SV sample? 

This scenario would only occur on smaller sized qualifications. If certification is not required, sampling will be deferred until next year. Centres in this situation will have had Pearson Quality Assurance of their U-TAG judgements earlier this academic year.  

If certification is required, the SV can sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme providing it has not been certificated or previously fully sampled in 2020/21. They are also able to sample the streamlined component/unit if a Year 1 unit is unavailable. 

In order to minimise your administration workload later this year, you may find it useful to check BTEC learners' completion dates in EOL to ensure that they accurately reflect when your learners will certificate. We would expect for learners certificating in summer 2022 to have a completion date between 1 June and 31 August 2022. Our 'Update Learner Detail' support article shows how you can amend these dates in EOL through each learner's record.  

It is helpful to keep all learner data accurate; please withdraw BTEC learners via EOL that are no longer planning to complete the course they are registered on. It may be possible that these learners are eligible for a smaller sized qualification based on the units they have achieved so far. If so, please transfer to these smaller qualifications and claim a full award instead. You can find further information about these processes in our 'Edexcel Online: Withdrawing Learner Registrations' and 'Registrations: Transfers' support articles.

England’s Department for Education have recently published updated guidance to Level 3 providers about the Level 3 Reform to aid planning. Key changes include: 

• The updated timeline for the defunding of qualifications and the introduction of new ones.
• Reference to the removal of the English and Maths exit requirements for T Levels. 

The current suite of BTEC Tech Awards has recently been redeveloped, and the final registration opportunity will be 31 December 2022.  

They will be replaced with the new suite of Tech Awards qualifications for First Teach September 2022. Please refer to this dedicated page, with regards last registration, assessment, certification and performance tables. 

The approval window is not yet open for all applications for the Tech Award qualifications, we will contact centres as soon as this functionality becomes available.  

For centres in Northern Ireland, as a reminder in line with DE policy, new qualifications must be approved in advance of first teaching to enable inclusion in the EF Audit data. Any school wishing to offer one of the new BTEC Tech Awards, for first teaching from September 2022, will therefore need to complete a qualification approval request form and return it to DE by 29 April 2022. 

'Getting Started’ training events  

We are running a series of free training events to provide you with an overview of the revised BTEC Tech Awards specifications for first teach September 2022. The sessions will count as 2 hours of CPD. 

These events will give you an overview of the course, alongside assessment and grading. In addition, you will have an opportunity to interact with the presenter and ask questions.

Events are available for each sector – just select BTEC Tech Awards and your sector, or type Getting Started in the keyword search on our training portal. 

Book onto an event for your sector 

Following feedback from Exam Officers, Notifications of Performance (NOP) will no longer print automatically when you submit an interim claim through Edexcel Online. We understand that learners often do not require NOPs until they have completed their course, and managing the receipt of unwanted NOPs creates additional and unnecessary administrative work for centres.  

From 9 March 2022, instead of generating a NOP automatically, Edexcel Online will give you the option to select "Do you require a Notification of Performance to be printed? Yes/No", with the default setting being "No". 

For more information, including preview screenshots of how this new option will appear, please take a look at our support article on making interim claims. 

We have made this change to give you more control over these documents, and hope you find it helpful. 

Free on-demand eLearning for Exams Officers | New BTEC modules   

In September, we launched our new on-demand eLearning service for exams officers on our website. This is a fully interactive service, with pre-recorded guidance from our training team with mock webpages and systems so you can go through processes from start to finish. 
 
You can find our newly released BTEC bitesize modules on BTEC amendments and modified papers on our website. 

Pearson Quality Advisor Events 

We have a range of live events to support you with the BTEC Quality Assurance cycle alongside a selection of on-demand CPD opportunities for teams to access when they wish. Don’t forget the weekly QA catch up sessions as well; drop in and ask any questions you or your teams might have – we're here to help. 

Please check out our BTEC page on the Home of Quality Assurance for more details and to book a place on the forthcoming events.

BTEC Higher Nationals in Construction awarded HTQ status 

We are excited to announce that four of our BTEC Higher National qualifications in Construction have been awarded Higher Technical Qualification status.  

These qualifications are available for first teach in September 2023 and will help develop students into skilled professionals, equipped to meet the evolving needs of the construction sector. 

You can find out more about our new qualifications on our website. 

Are you thinking about submitting a qualification for HTQ approval? 

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are new qualifications which require approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE). Higher education providers with and without validating powers can be involved in the approval and delivery of Higher Technical Qualifications. 

We have written a guide outlining your options and when to speak to Pearson about your submission.

Delivering the new HTQ in Computing 

Pearson Higher National Diploma in Computing was awarded HTQ status last year and is available for first teach from September 2022. The HNs in Computing (2017) will expire in August 2022, and centres wishing to deliver the new specification will need to seek re-approval.  

We encourage centres to apply for approval as soon as possible, the current approval window closes in April 2022. 

Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Providers will recently have received an email from us letting you know of a change that we are making to the Occupational Specialist Project assessment window for summer 2022.  

To ensure students have equal access to the assessment and there is comparability across all Providers we have moved the window back by a full week, so assessment will now commence on Monday 25 April 2022.

This has been reflected in our Construction Key Dates schedule.  

Missed our latest TQ newsletter? Pearson’s February e-Bulletin was published and included the following:  

• Legal Services announcement and expressions of interest to join our Provider Panel 
• Q&A Networks and Training events for the Spring term 
• Entries 
• 2022 Provider Approval window 

Read the 9 February Bulletin

New standard approved – Outdoor Learning Specialist 

Pearson has just been approved to deliver to the Outdoor Learning Specialist EPA. Should you be interested in delivering against this standard, please contact your Business/Curriculum Development Manager. 

Vendor Qualifications – Digital Marketer (ST0122) 

The EQA provider (NSAR) has provided guidance on the use of vendor qualifications for this standard. Training providers are expected to confirm with Pearson at the earliest opportunity which option they will be using to support apprentices through the gateway process.

Pharmacy EPA Dispensation Webinar 

We are holding a webinar on Thursday 7 April at 14:00-16:00 to discuss the Pharmacy Services Assistant EPA and updated Pharmacy Technician Integrated EPA assessment plan.

Reminder – ACE360 gateway dates 

To ensure we accurately forecast for future assessments, please ensure that any changes to apprentices' expected gateway dates are accurately recorded within ACE. For a helpful guide on how to do this, please refer to the “updating apprentice gateway end date” document, within ACE360 Knowledgebase. 

Recruitment of Independent end-point assessors 

We have a number of roles for Associates to be involved with End Point Assessment assessments. If you are interested, please take a look at our live vacancies page. 

On 2 March 2022, the DfE published the Post-16 Qualifications at Level 2 and Below Consultation. Alongside the changes to post-16 level 3 qualifications, they are looking to improve provision at level 2 and below. This consultation spells out their ambition to achieve this. We are currently working through the implications of the proposals and will share further details once we have them. 

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 27 April 2022.  

We have pulled together a summary of the proposals on our website. If you would like to share your views on the future of post-16 qualifications at Level 2, we would encourage you to respond to the consultation.

The ESFA are removing funding for Level 2 Functional Skills Qualifications in ICT and Level 2 ICT for Users qualifications from July 2022.  

For more information, and the specific qualifications affected and the replacement qualifications, please see our March 2022 update. 

For further information on our general qualifications for 2022, please visit our summer 2022 support page. We will be updating this page regularly. 

Please sign up to receive our regular Pearson Qualifications Bulletin on our website where you’ll also be able to read past issues.