Arrangements for vocational and technical qualifications Our priority for summer 2020 awarding has been to ensure that students and adult learners taking vocational or technical qualifications (VTQs) could move on as planned, including starting university, college or sixth form courses, apprenticeships, or progressing in work. We know one approach to assessment of vocational and technical qualifications would not fit all, given the diversity of the VTQ landscape. Ofqual published the response to its consultation on VTQs and its framework for awarding results this summer on 22 May. The measures set out that qualifications used for progression to further or higher education, such as Applied General qualifications and Technical Awards would, wherever possible, be issued with a calculated result. For other vocational qualifications, such as those that are used for entry into employment where demonstration of practical competence is necessary, it would not have been appropriate to calculate a result. For these, adapted assessments have been delivered and Ofqual has worked with the awarding organisations and providers to deliver these assessments wherever possible this summer. Only as a last resort have assessments been delayed. Delayed assessments should be delivered as soon as is possible in 2020 to 2021. The calculation of results for VTQs was developed by individual awarding organisations and tended to take into account work that students had already completed in the course of their study, and centre assessment grades were often only used at unit level. There was not one single statistical approach applied to all VTQs. Following the announcement on 17 August, awarding organisations that deliver VTQs and used a similar statistical – algorithmic – moderation process to the A/AS level and GCSE process, were asked by Ofqual to review their approaches. Other awarding organisations also wanted to ensure parity of process with A levels and GCSEs so that students are treated fairly. As a result, some awarding organisations are now reissuing their results. Ofqual has confirmed that no learner’s result will go down as a consequence of regrading. We are working with Ofqual and awarding organisations to ensure results are reissued as soon as possible, and we encourage you to contact the relevant awarding organisation for further information. We, Ofqual and the awarding organisations are also working with colleges and other providers, as well as UCAS, so that no students’ admissions to further or higher education are affected by the delay to results. Students who do not feel their VTQ result reflects their ability will be able to sit an assessment at the next available opportunity. Ofqual has produced a summer and autumn 2020 qualification explainer tool that gives the next available assessment opportunity for VTQs. VTQ students are also able to appeal their result in line with the process set out by the relevant awarding organisation. Arrangements for summer 2020 appeals In light of the Secretary of State’s announcement on 17 August, appeals against A and AS level and GCSE grades will now only be accepted from schools or colleges where they think the exam board did not apply its procedures properly and fairly or where the data used by the exam board to calculate results contained an error. Examples of cases where an appeal might be appropriate are contained in the Ofqual guidance on appeals, malpractice and maladministration complaints for GCSE, AS and A level grades in England. A student cannot appeal because they disagree with their school’s or college’s professional judgement of the grade the student would most likely have achieved if exams had taken place. In addition, students cannot appeal on the basis of their mock exam results, as these will have been taken into account in arriving at the centre assessment grade. However, as set out in the section below, if a student has concerns that their school or college did not behave with care or integrity when determining their centre assessment grade they are able to raise a complaint. For VTQs, individual awarding organisations have their own appeals processes. Students should look at the individual websites for details of the relevant awarding organisation’s appeals process and their grounds for appeal. Bias and discrimination If a student has concerns about bias, discrimination or any other factor that suggests that their school or college did not behave with care or integrity when determining their centre assessment grade they should first raise these concerns with their school or college, which must have a procedure in place to deal with such complaints. If there is evidence of serious malpractice on the part of the school or college, it may be appropriate to bring those concerns directly to the exam board initially instead. Ofqual has published guidance for students on appeals, malpractice and maladministration complaints for summer 2020.