Enhanced rules for technical qualifications announced

Ofqual has confirmed how it is enhancing its regulation of Level 1 and 2 Technical Awards that will in future be listed by the Department for Education (DfE) in Key Stage 4 performance tables.

The changes are being made so that students who take vocational and technical qualifications that count in Key Stage 4 performance tables can be confident that their results provide a reliable reflection of their abilities and are valuable in progressing their education and career.

The changes also enhance the validity of Technical Awards used for school and college accountability purposes and better align our regulation with the DfE’s requirements for such qualifications.

The improvements include requiring awarding organisations to develop an assessment strategy for each qualification that they intend to submit to DfE’s Technical Awards approvals process, so that there is reliable evidence that students have attained the knowledge, skills and understanding expected through the qualification.

It requires at least 40% of the marks to be made available through assessment that must be set and marked by the awarding organisation, and that this be taken in the assessment series immediately prior to certificating for the qualification.

The changes ensure that the remaining marks that are made available through non-exam assessment are achieved under conditions set by awarding organisations that ensure authenticity and confidence in the results.

Ensuring that the approaches awarding organisations use to set standards promote consistency over time, and with other qualifications in similar subject areas is also needed.

Ofqual has taken these decisions to address weaknesses in existing vocational and technical qualifications that could undermine the maintenance of standards and confidence in these qualifications, which are under particular pressure because of their inclusion in performance tables.