UK: Consultation on approach to regulating Technical Qualifications

Ofqual launches consultation on its approach to regulating the new Technical Qualifications that will sit within T Levels.

On 10 Jul 2018, Ofqual launched “a consultation on our approach to regulating the new Technical Qualifications that will sit within T Levels. Ofqual’s consultation provides an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the new Technical Qualifications to shape our thinking on how we will frame our rules, including on issues such as how assessments should be set and marked, when assessments and retakes can be taken, and certification requirements”. The consultation will run for 4 weeks, until 6 August.

On the government website press release, Chief Regulator, Sally Collier says:

“It is important that the new Technical Qualifications play their part in delivering what employers need. To do this they need to be high quality, reliable, comparable, of the right level of demand and trusted. This consultation will help ensure that Technical Qualifications, and the T Levels of which they form a part, are set up to succeed. I would encourage anyone with an interest in these new qualifications to give us their views on the proposals we have set out.”

Ofqual states they are particularly interested in views on:

• Setting and marking assessments (page 38)
• Results and certification (page 30)
• Retakes (page 24)

There are three events planned in support of the consultation to give an opportunity for people to hear about Ofqual’s proposals, albeit with rather little notice, for people to ask any questions and provide their views. These are:

• 23 July 2018, 10:30 to 3:30 – Park Plaza County Hall, London, SE1 7RY
• 24 July 2018, 11:30 to 16:30 – The Village, Coventry, CV4 9GZ
• 31 July 2018, 10:30 to 15:30 – Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, M1 4PH

The new release on the government website goes on to explain

“You can book your place on our event page. Please note, depending on the level of interest, we may need to restrict attendance to a maximum of 2 representatives from each organisation.

Following this policy consultation we will analyse responses in collaboration with the Institute and consult on the wording of the rules we will apply to Technical Qualifications. We anticipate running an 8-week technical consultation, beginning in early September.”

The e-Assessment Association is interested to hear from any of its members ahead of the consultation event on 23 Jul, where one of the Board will be attending. Please send your comments to Karen at [email protected]