VQ Bulletin - July edition
Welcome to the latest edition of the VQ Bulletin.
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who submitted their full award claims for your summer BTEC results by the 5 July deadline. Eligible claims made by the deadline will receive qualification results on our published results date(s).
We are in contact with any schools and colleges where they still have outstanding actions, and are doing everything we can to help resolve these. For claims submitted after the 5 July, unfortunately we can’t guarantee these learner registrations will receive a result on results day. We will be seeking to mitigate any impact on learners and will be working hard to provide your results, although we can’t guarantee this.
As we fast approach the end of the academic year, I know you will be looking forward to a well-earned break. I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has worked hard this year to prepare and support learners through teaching, learning and assessment. We can now look ahead to results day(s) in August, and we have included in this edition some important detail about the earlier embargoed results release for BTEC Level 3 and Level 2, and what this means for you, your centre and your learners.
Kind regards,
Managing your embargoed BTEC results
This year we will be releasing Level 3 National results and BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016) to schools and colleges a week earlier under embargo (9 August and 16 August). We received feedback from schools and colleges that you would like more time to conduct final checks and resolve outstanding issues before releasing results to learners.
The embargo relates specifically to registrations that are pending an external assessment result from summer 2023. Qualifications that are 100% internally assessed or are not awaiting an external assessment result from summer 2023 are not embargoed and can be released at the discretion of centres.
The embargo applies to our ‘in scope’ qualifications. There are many Level 2 and 3 vocational qualifications where the embargo doesn't apply, which means you must ensure that all relevant grades and claims are submitted for all learners expecting results for any Pearson vocational qualification, as you would normally.
Which results and supporting documents will be available, and when?
You should expect to receive your results in the usual way. If you are expecting an EDI file, then you will receive this as normal if you’ve sent us your 7B results file. Otherwise, you can download your results directly from Edexcel Online.
- 9 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Results released to centres under embargo
- 9 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Grade boundaries uploaded to Exams Officer, Exams Assistant, Exams Manager and Head of Centre Edexcel Online mailboxes
- 16 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Lead examiner reports and mark schemes available on our website under gold padlock
- 16 August - BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016) - Results released to centres under embargo
- 16 August - BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016) - Grade boundaries uploaded to Exams Officer, Exams Assistant, Exams Manager and Head of Centre Edexcel Online mailboxes
- 17 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Results released to learners
- 17 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Grade boundaries and lead examiner reports available on our website under silver padlock
- 17 August - BTEC Level 3 Nationals - Post-results services available
- 23 August - BTEC Tech Awards (2022) - Results released to centres under embargo
- 23 August - BTEC Tech Awards (2022) - Grade boundaries uploaded to Exams Officer, Exams Assistant, Exams Manager and Head of Centre Edexcel Online mailboxes
- 23 August - BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016) - Lead examiner reports and mark schemes available on our website under gold padlock
- 24 August - BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016), Tech Awards (2022) - Results released to learners
- 24 August - BTEC Level 2 Firsts, Technicals, Tech Awards (2016), Tech Awards (2022) - Post-results services available
Who can access results under embargo?
Exams Officers, Head of Centres and senior teaching staff only should have access to learners’ results on the earlier embargoed results day. You should ensure that your Edexcel Online accounts have the correct permissions ahead of results day, with the “results” profile ticked only for these roles.
Read our guide to updating Edexcel Online profiles
Can I share learner results with higher education institutions, such as universities before learner results day?
No, you shouldn’t share learner results with any other institutions during the embargo. We will send any non-embargoed results to UCAS in July ahead of results day.
How should I use this extra time?
The purpose of this embargo is to release results to centres only, and for Exams Officers to review the completeness of results. Although it is not compulsory to access your results on the earlier embargo day, we encourage you to make the most of this extra time by conducting some final checks.
Have all the learners who are expecting a qualification result received one?
Have you received any contact from us where we are asking you to take action?
If you have any questions about results during the embargo, it’s essential that you contact us immediately so we can resolve any issues before learner results. We will be ready to help, and you can contact us through the Pearson Support Portal.
We will be in touch again the week of the Level 3 embargo results day to ensure you have all the information you need, but as we are nearing the end of term, we can share some useful resources to help you prepare for August.
Check all your learners who are expecting a result are on track to receive one
We will continue to send learner details to schools and colleges where you have outstanding actions. You will receive a report tomorrow which lists any learners who are currently not on track to receive a result in August. If you need help to complete any outstanding actions, please contact us; we are ready to help. If these outstanding actions are not completed, these learners will not receive an overall qualification result.
Find out more about the BTEC learner tracking reports
Notify learners that won’t receive a result
We understand that sometimes plans change, and that learners that were expecting a result in August 2023 may be completing later, or not at all. Where this is the case, it’s essential that learners know not to expect a result on results day. You can use our draft learner letter template to do this. You should also change their estimated completion date so we’re aware you don’t need a result issuing in August.
Access our training
We have 2 modules available to get you results ready which you can access now on the Pearson Development Hub.
BTEC Getting Ready for Results: explains how the BTEC results embargo works this year and takes you through some final checks to complete before the end of term.
BTEC Understanding Results: provides step-by-step instructions on how to access your results in August and understand them.
Book onto our live training. You can also enrol on one of our live training sessions taking place in August, where our BTEC experts will be on hand to answer your questions.
Access training modules and book live events on Pearson Development Hub
Review your Edexcel Online access
Edexcel Online accounts should only have the Results option ticked where these users will be accessing results on the embargoed results days. Please take time to review this before the end of term and ensure everyone who needs access can log in on results day. We have introduced multi-factor authentication this year, and some users may not have logged in since last results day. Please ask colleagues to log in to Edexcel Online ahead of results day to make sure they can access Edexcel Online using multi-factor authentication.
Read more about multi-factor authentication
Bookmark our teaching, learning and assessment page
This year, you will be able to find our results FAQs for schools and colleges on our teaching, learning and assessment 2023 webpage. Bookmark this page now so you can refer to this in August when your results are released.
Explore our support on our teaching, learning and assessment 2023 web page
Results for May/June series internal assessments
Results for the May/June series will be issued to centres on 23 August and can be released to learners on the 24 August. You will also have access to the final moderator reports (on Edexcel Online), which include feedback on your marking, and you’ll be able to download Principal Moderator reports from the relevant subject qualification pages, detailing outcomes of the series overall and giving helpful guidance for future series.
If you have concerns about your results after having reviewed your moderator report and final marks, you can request a review of moderation (Service 3) (RoM) from results day until 28 September. Post-results service requests cannot be submitted until all learners have received their results.
You can refer to our support articles for information on how to access learner results, moderator reports and request post-results services:
BTEC Tech Awards 2022: Search for Results
BTEC Tech Awards 2022: Results Reports (Bulk Download)
BTEC Tech Awards 2022: Post-Results Services (PRS)
BTEC Tech Awards 2022: Accessing & Downloading Moderator Reports
If you have any questions or need further support, please contact us.
Key dates for the 2023/24 academic year
We’ve put all the key dates you’ll need for the next academic year of the Tech Awards into one handy reference document, including registration dates for new learners, release dates for PSAs, entry deadlines, external exam timetables and results dates.
Earlier release of Art and Designs Practice PSA from September
We are happy to announce that the release date of PSA for Component 1 of Art and Design Practice is being brought forward. We will release the PSA on 1 September to give you more time to administer the PSA prior to the release of the external assessment. Please note that this is the PSA for the May/June series, and there is no submission opportunity in December/January. Entries for the May/June assessment open on 23 November. You can refer to the Key Dates Schedule 2023/24 for further dates.
More time to teach
This May/June series, you told us that there is a need for more time to effectively mark learner work. We understand the pressures you and your learners have been under in adopting the new qualifications this year, the ongoing importance of thorough evaluation and the impact it can have on learner success.
In response to your feedback, we extended the marking submission deadline for the May/June 2023 assessment series. You have told us that extension provided you with the necessary time and flexibility to deliver accurate assessments, without compromising the delivery of results this August.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that your learners receive their results on time and can hold on to their retake opportunities. We know that timely results are critical as they allow students to confidently progress and understand how to improve.
We also recognise that teachers require ample time to prepare and deliver the BTEC Tech Awards effectively. To maintain this additional time to prepare, deliver and mark going forward, we will be releasing all Pearson-Set Assignments* one month earlier from September 2023.
*This does not apply to Performing Arts.
The BTEC summer 2024 external assessment timetable is now available to download on our website.
Updates from your Quality Assurance team
A range of live and on-demand CPD sessions are now available for registration on the Quality Nominee Hub, including the Annual Quality Declaration walk-throughs to help prepare for the next academic year. Please take a look at the options and share with colleagues that may benefit from joining a session or using the on-demand materials.
As many of you are already looking to next year and planning teaching and learning activities, we would like to remind you to factor in the Standards Verification (SV) process when designing your programme assessment plans. Please work towards having internally assessed units available by the spring term to facilitate a smooth and timely SV activity. We will be working hard to support centres with this and will update colleagues in the new academic year, but in the meantime, please do ensure that internally assessed units are ready in the spring.
HTE Skills Injection Fund
The Government has recently launched an HTE Skills Injection Fund 2 to support all eligible providers in England with additional capacity to grow and deliver high quality Level 4/5 provision and HTQs.
The HTE Skills Injection Fund is being launched with a total budget of up to £48.8 million and the deadline for submitting your application is Friday 21 July 2023. If you want to find out more, or would like to discuss how we can support your application, visit our website.
Making your UCAS claims
As the BTEC Level 3 results day on 17 August 2023 approaches, if you have UCAS Higher National students, we would encourage you to align with that date. Here is some general guidance regarding making claims:
Please ensure that you have received a sampling outcome & held an Assessment Board(s) before making claims.
Certificates print weekly and take approximately two weeks to arrive.
Please ensure your centre can support with any UCAS claims.
We would encourage you to make your UCAS claims for Higher National students by the second week of July.
2023–2024 Higher Nationals quality handbooks
In response to feedback in the 2021–2022 Annual Programme Monitoring Review, we have finalised the Higher National quality handbooks earlier and are available from the links below. Changes that have been made are highlighted in yellow.
BTEC Higher Nationals Centre Guide to Quality Assurance & Assessment
BTEC Higher Nationals Centre Guide to External Examination
Assignment Checking Service
The Assignment Checking Service (ACS) is available to you if you require feedback on your Assignment Briefs. To access the ACS, please make a request via the Pearson Support Portal.
Stay up to date with the latest on T Levels and read the July T Levels newsletter on our website.
New test player: Rogo
From 1 July 2023, we are using a new test player called Rogo. This system allows you to make test bookings within ACE360 without the need for registering learners on Edexcel Online. You must book the onscreen EPA knowledge test component separately from the other components of the apprenticeship standard.
For further support, take a look at the Rogo section of the EPA Delivery index.
Gateway date reminder
As we are close to the end of the academic year, please ensure that you review and update any apprentices gateway dates. Having accurate gateway dates supports our forecasting of assessments at the time which you, the apprentice and the employer require.
For further information on how to do this, please see our dedicated support article: End-point Assessment: Updating Expected Gateway Dates.