Vocational and technical qualifications account for 80% of the qualifications that Ofqual regulates and its annual report outlines how it continues to dedicate more resources to this area.

Ofqual’s annual report sets out how it has delivered against all its goals and objectives for 2018-2019 when it regulated 15,000 qualifications and 156 awarding organisations. The report covers Ofqual’s performance across multiple programmes of reform including A Levels, GCSEs, vocational and technical qualifications, functional skills qualifications and apprenticeships.

Performance highlights include:

1. Standards were maintained in summer 2018, when 62 new GCSEs, AS and A Levels were awarded for the first time, in addition to the 32 qualifications awarded for the first time in summer 2017.
2. Action was taken to prevent around 9,000 GCSE combined science students from being ungraded and another 11,000-15,000 students taking Applied General Qualifications were protected from missing out on certification. 
3. The third National Reference Test was successfully conducted in spring 2019 and results from the test will be used to inform GCSE awarding for the first time in summer 2019.
4. Ofqual’s role in the regulation of technical qualifications within T Levels was confirmed.
5. Ofqual agreed to be the external quality assurer for 61 new apprenticeship assessment standards by the end of March 2019.
6. Evidence of grade inflation was identified in some vocational and technical qualifications and awarding organisations were called on to strengthen their controls around internal assessment.
7. The extensive review of the arrangements awarding organisations have in place with centres continued and Ofqual took regulatory action when non-compliance was identified.
8. Ofqual issued fines totalling more than £350,000 on 17 occasions – the largest annual sum.

Much of Ofqual’s work will extend into next year as its programme of regulatory work reflects the education and skills landscape.