Ofqual & DfE Consultation on Ensuring the resilience of the qualifications system

Ofqual and the Department for Education (DfE) are consulting on the resilience of the qualifications system.

Exams and formal assessments went ahead in 2022 for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and are expected to continue, as normal, from now on. The government does not expect to be in the situation again where exams do not go ahead. However, it remains good public policy to have contingency arrangements, even for extremely unlikely scenarios.

For GCSEs, AS and A levels, Project Qualifications, and AEA in maths, we propose to provide guidance for schools, colleges and other exam centres about the collection and retention of evidence of student performance.

For VTQs used alongside or instead of GCSEs, AS and A levels for progression to further or higher study, we propose that similar arrangements should be put in place, but these would need to be set by awarding organisations to allow the arrangements to reflect the design of their qualifications. We propose that it should be for awarding organisations to determine if and/or what such guidance might be, noting the need for them to take into account the proposed approach for GCSEs and A levels. This would include Technical Qualifications within T Levels. For other VTQs, which assess occupational or professional competence, proficiency, or act as a licence to practise, these resilience arrangements would not apply.

Ofqual proposes to require all awarding organisations to consider whether it is necessary to have resilience arrangements in place for their particular qualifications, and, where necessary, for those awarding organisations to issue guidance to schools and colleges on collecting evidence of student performance.

CIOB submitted a short response to the consultation over email. If you would like to see our response, please contact policy@ciob.org.uk