Adaptations to the assessment of our vocational and other general qualifications (non-GCE and GCSEs) in Summer 2021 - Updated 12 October 2020
We are aware that centres are awaiting information on Adaptations to the assessment of vocational and other general qualifications for Summer 2021.
We have now published on our secure website, updated details of the Adaptations we intend to make to the assessment of our suite of Entry Level Certificates, Level 1/2 Vocational Awards, Level 3 Applied Certificates and Diplomas, and our other general qualifications in Summer 2021. These Adaptations have been designed in line with the requirements published in Ofqual’s Second Draft Extended Extraordinary Framework (Extended ERF) for Vocational and Technical Qualifications and (where relevant) guidance issued by DfE on the requirements for qualifications contributing to performance tables in 2021.
The high-level principles underpinning our approach are:
- all content must still be taught
- adaptations should be similar in scale and design for suites of qualifications
- the level of demand of the qualification will be maintained (adaptations are intended to make the delivery and assessment of the qualification more manageable, not easier)
- assessments still target all grades
- adaptations consider guidance around social distancing, particularly in relation to group work and practical tasks.
- consideration has been given to the order in which centres generally approach the teaching of the qualification and if there is a logical pattern to what will be taught first (and therefore already completed), such as commencing with unit 1 content or following a linear approach to the knowledge-based content.
The types of Adaptations we have made include:
- reducing the amount of content being assessed, whilst still validly and reliably measuring the knowledge, understanding and skills, or practical competence, signalled in the qualification
- reducing or combining assessments, whilst assessing the same or similar content
- reviewing the conditions under which some assessments are taken
- making assessments available to centres earlier or more flexibly
Centres can access the Adaptations though our secure website at www.wjecservices.co.uk. The Adaptations have been published pending feedback from Ofqual and DfE.