Delivery of results for vocational and technical qualifications

Following the success of the term-time checkpoints that Ofqual introduced in 2023 to make sure results for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) were issued on time, this work will continue into 2024 and beyond.

Ofqual has built on these measures based on feedback from schools and colleges.

From 2024 this will include:

• Level 3 qualifications with a minimum of 180 guided learning hours (equivalent to AS level) and minimum 16 UCAS points (equivalent to A at A-level), taken instead of or alongside AS and A-levels and used for progression to further or higher education or training
• Level 1/2 and Level 2 performance table qualifications with a minimum of 120 guided learning hours, taken alongside GCSEs at KS4 and used for progression.

For AQA qualifications, this will apply to Applied General in Business, Applied General in Science and AQA Certificate Level 3 Mathematical Studies.

The measures include:

• term-time checkpoints before exams begin in early May – this is for schools and colleges to confirm which students need a result in August to progress to higher or further education. We’ll send you certification warning reports for all modular qualifications to let you know which learners do not have sufficient units to achieve and award, or have sufficient units but no award code entered
• a senior designated contact – exam boards will continue to keep details of your school or college’s senior designated contact up to date, and we’ll escalate any issues as necessary both during and outside term time. This does not necessarily need to be the principal/headteacher, and we’ll be in touch to ask for this information later the year.

As we did in summer 2023, we’ll issue our Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 results in line with our GCSE and A-level results. You can find results dates and deadlines for entries on our key dates page. For further support with entries, visit our entries page.

In addition, you can find key dates on Ofqual’s VTQ Information Hub to support you and your colleagues administer and deliver these qualifications.

Please remember, there will be consequences for any schools or colleges who do not meet these deadlines. This may be investigated as malpractice/maladministration, and learners will not be able to receive their results on time.