Page Updated 05 August

Vocational qualifications –
Assessment arrangements 2021

We are continuing to work closely with the Government and regulators to overcome the ongoing challenges posed by Covid-19 to ensure that we can issue valid results for our Vocational Qualifications.

Update 15 July – TAG submission reminder

Thank you to all those centres who have submitted their TAG results (where required) by Friday 18 June. For centres that have submitted after this date, we will make every effort to release results for these submissions on the results dates below.

For those centres who haven’t submitted TAGs yet (where eligible), please may we remind you that learner evidence can continue to be generated only up until Tuesday 31 August, and submission of results by Friday 17 September.

External Quality Assurance

As part of our External Quality Assurance process, we have selected centres and qualifications to be sampled by our EQAs. For VRQs these activities are still underway. We are however experiencing a small number of cases where centres have not uploaded the required evidence or are not responding to additional requests for information. We need to remind centres that we can only process results once we have successfully concluded our quality assurance processes. Where these activities remain outstanding, and it is due to the centre, we are now unlikely to be able to release results within our published timeframe. Learners will also need to be informed if this is the case.

If you have been contacted by either one of our EQAs or our Quality team, please ensure you action any outstanding requests as a matter of urgency to ensure there is no further delay.

Results

As a reminder VRQ TAG results will be published on Walled Garden on the following dates (where correct submissions were received by the ‘Window 1’ deadline and we are satisfied that they are valid and reliable).

  • Level 3 and above TAG results released to centre: 9 August
  • Level 2 and below TAG results released to centre: 11 August

Please note these dates are when you as a centre will receive the results and these must not be shared with learners, or anyone else, until the following dates:

  • Level 3 and above TAG results released to centre: 10 August
  • Level 2 and below TAG results released to centre: 12 August

Ofqual surveys

Now that Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) have been submitted to exam boards and awarding organisations, Ofqual is surveying students and staff in schools, colleges and training providers to understand their views and experiences of this important process.

This week Ofqual launched two surveys:

TAG Teacher Survey

TAG Student Survey

Please do take the time to look at the surveys and to submit your views to Ofqual.

Academic year 2021/2022

Ofqual have this week published the consultation “Arrangements for the assessment and awarding of vocational, technical and other general qualifications: 2021 to 2022”. The consultation runs for two weeks and City & Guilds is currently preparing its response.  As such, and in conjunction with the consultation, we will shortly be providing a communication to centres regarding the arrangements for our PTQs for the next academic year.

Help and support

Our Quality team is on hand to support you with any queries or questions you have about submitting results and/or uploading evidence. Please call or email us with any questions you may have, and our team will be happy to help.

0300 303 53 52

vrq.quality@cityandguilds.com


Updated 19 April - Vocational Qualifications - Teacher Assessed Grades Centre Guidance

Please find our centre guidance, timeline and category lists for Vocational Qualifications on the determination and submission of Teacher Assessed Grades (TAG) for summer 2021.

Download the guidance

Access our timeline

On Tuesday 27 April, we hosted a support webinar to take you through the guidance and answer any questions that you may have. Please access the recording below.

Watch the recording

Download the slides

View the qualification category list on this page.

Further information and webinars will be published shortly to support you with the process, with regular updates to this page.

Approach for Vocational Qualifications

Following Government guidelines issued on Thursday 25 February 2021, and the subsequent publication of the new Vocational and technical qualifications contingency regulatory framework on 24 March, we are able to offer further guidance for Vocational Qualifications below. 

As we work through the new arrangements and process we are committed to supporting you, our customers, with guidance and support for you and your learners.

The approach for Vocational Qualifications – assess as normal or via adaptations

The expectation from the Department for Education and Ofqual is that delivery of learning and training should continue during this time and, on-demand assessments can and should continue to take place safely.

It is only in exceptional cases, where all other options to complete assessments are not possible (including using permitted adaptations or delaying assessments),should  alternative arrangements such as Teacher Assessed Grades (TAG) be considered. Therefore, our guidance, following Government direction, will have an emphasis on undertaking assessments in the usual way, or using adaptations.

Support webinars

On Tuesday 27 April, we hosted a support webinar to take you through the guidance and answer any questions that you may have. Please access the recording below.

Watch the recording

Download the slides

We have further webinars coming up that focus on specific sector arrangements. Please find details below.

Webinar title

Date

Access the recording

VRQ Assessment Arrangements 2021 – BSE

Thursday 6 May, 15.30PM BST

Access the webinar recording >

VRQ Assessment Arrangements 2021 Hospitality & Catering

Friday 7 May 2021, 10.00AM BST

Access the webinar recording >

VRQ Assessment Arrangements 2021 (Transport)

Friday 7 May 2021, 14.30PM BST

Access the webinar recording >

Bringing you up to speed with summer 2021 assessment options (Scotland)

Monday 10 May, 16.00PM BST

Access the webinar recording >

Construction Alternative (including VRQs) Assessment Arrangements 2021

Tuesday 11 May, 13.00 PM BST

Access the webinar recording >

Hair & Beauty VRQs

Tuesday 11 May

Access the webinar recording >

 

Centre guidance

We have developed specific information for all Heads of Centre, Heads of Department and tutors on the determination and submission of Teacher Assessed Grades (TAG) for summer 2021.

It’s important to distinguish the approach this year (Teacher Assessed Grades) will be different to the process adopted in 2020 (Centre Assessed Grades).

TAG – Vocational Qualifications Centre Guidance

We have also published advice and guidance for centres on the key aspects of effective internal quality assurance for the TAG process.

TAG – Internal Quality Assurance guidance

We have created a set of template forms centres can use for the TAG process and when submitting evidence to City & Guilds. You can download the forms below

Download template forms

For guidance on accessing candidate results, please refer to our handy quick reference guide.

Timeline

Centre Policy & Approach (CPA) form

Centres are required to provide further detail around their process for determination of TAGs and their internal quality assurance (IQA) procedures via our ‘Centre Policy and Approach’ (CPA) form.

The form covers your approach for all Category B1 VRQs being delivered this year. One form must be completed for each centre / sub-centre (suffix) number. You can download a copy of the form content in advance here.

Where centres intend to submit TAGs in Submission Window 1 (01 June – 18 June) the CPA form must be completed no later than Friday 21 May.

Complete VRQ CPA form

Qualification category lists

You can find detailed information on qualification categories on our Assessment arrangements for 2021 page.

Access the list

Updated 26 May - Exams

Exam series arrangements

Please find information below regarding exam series arrangement for June and July below.

The following dated entry exams will take place as normal following our published timetables. Candidate entries should be booked through the Walled Garden as per normal.


June

2396-402 Level 4 Design, Construction Management and Initial Verification of Electrical Installations

3415-399 Level 3 Certificate of Professional Competence for Transport Managers (Road Haulage) (Written Case Study Exam)

5519-220/5528-265 Level 2 Medical Terminology

5519-330 Level 3 Medical Terminology

5519-223/5528-268 Level 2 Working in the National Health Service

5519-335/5528-364 Level 3 Medical Principles for the Administrator

5519-336/5528-365 Level 3 Legal Aspects of Medical Administration

7863-03 Diploma in Dog Grooming (7863-032 Synoptic exam (written paper))

7457-33 Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Veterinary Nursing (400/600, 401/601, 402/602)

7457-43 Level 3 Diploma in Equine Veterinary Nursing (405/605, 406/606, 407/607)

Veterinary Nursing (7457) customers must ensure that only arrangements approved by City & Guilds are used for assessments. The option to take on-demand exams in the workplace is not permitted for Veterinary Nursing and must not be used and Remote Invigilation is not permitted for dated entry examinations.


July

0344-04 Higher Diploma in Floristry (ICSF) (344-411 Practical exam)

0344-04 Higher Diploma in Floristry (ICSF) (0344-412 Written exam)

0344-05 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry (NDSF) (0344-511 Practical exam)

0344-05 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry (NDSF) (0344-512 Written exam)

It is important that examinations should only take place where:

  • they can be delivered safely by centres and in line with public health information and guidance
  • candidates feel that they have had sufficient teaching and learning and feel well prepared to take the exam
  • candidates feel comfortable and safe taking the examination and are not putting themselves or others at risk.

If it is not possible for examinations to take place or candidates are not able to do so, future dates are available.

Please also note that this only relates to dated (fixed date) examinations, not on demand examinations such as ESOL and Functional Skills which can be scheduled to be taken on any date. 

Existing adaptations guidance 2021

Access our adaptations guides by sector on the adaptations page.

Contact us 

If you have any questions please contact our Customer Support team:
E: centresupport@cityandguilds.com
T: 0192 4930 800


For queries relating to quality assurance please contact:
E: VRQ.Quality@cityandguilds.com
T: 0300 303 53 52