Corporate plan highlights Ofqual priorities for 2021-22
20 May 2021
Ofqual’s corporate plan for 2021 to 2022 continues its priority to put in place alternative arrangements for qualifications following the disruption caused by the pandemic.
The plan sets out Ofqual’s commitment to secure the fairest possible way for students to achieve grades and progress to the next stages of their lives. Promising an evaluation of current arrangements, the plan also includes work already underway to look ahead to 2022 and beyond, looking for opportunities to improve the resilience of the qualifications system and its capacity to respond to the impact of highly unusual events such as pandemics. Ofqual anticipates a greater use of technology by Awarding Organisations in the delivery of qualifications in the future.
Ofqual priorities for 2021-22 include:
GCSEs and A/AS Levels
- Oversee exam boards’ compliance with the regulations around teacher assessed grades, quality assurance, support for schools and colleges, delivery of results and appeals arrangements
- Engage closely with all stakeholders involved in the determining of grades and proactively communicate with students and parents
- Evaluate the arrangements for awarding GCSEs and A/AS in 2021
- Put in place new regulations for an additional exam series in autumn 2021 and monitor its delivery
- Consult and put in place measures for GCSEs and A/AS Levels in 2022 and monitor delivery
- Investigate learning loss through national and international reviews of research.
Vocational and Technical Qualifications and other general qualifications
- Implement the VTQ Contingency Regulatory Framework (VCRF). Coordinate and monitor the delivery of qualifications
- Engage closely with employers to ensure the approach is informed by their views
- Proactively communicate with centres, students and parents and monitor information and guidance provided by Awarding Organisations
- Evaluate the impact of the VCRF and any adjustments required for 2022
- Work with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on apprenticeship end-point assessments.
The plan also outlines Ofqual’s role within the reform of the technical education landscape: regulating technical qualifications within T level programmes; providing external quality assurance of apprenticeship end-point assessments; and supporting the introduction of Higher Technical Qualifications at Levels 4 and 5. Ofqual will also be actively involved in introducing qualifications following the DfE’s post-16 qualifications review.
Other Ofqual plans for 2021-22 include:
- Evaluate how Awarding Organisations have strengthened assessments in VTQs at Key Stage 4 to inform the DfE’s review of qualifications to be used within performance tables from 2024
- Publish new guidance on developing accessible assessments and further develop engagement with stakeholders representing students with particular protected characteristics.