Timely delivery of VTQ results

If your centre runs one or more of the qualifications in scope of these arrangements, you must complete the actions listed below and you should share this information with your colleagues, including exams officers, curriculum teams and senior leaders. 

This year’s arrangements apply to any VTQs used for progression alongside or instead of GCSEs, AS and A levels. Take a look at the table below for more information and click the relevant links below to view the full list of NCFE qualifications in scope, depending on your centre’s location.  

England only

View the full list of qualifications in scope

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Northern Ireland and Wales

View the full list of qualifications in scope

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Checkpoint timelines

To identify which learners need a result on or before results days in August (see dates below) for progression to higher education or further education, we’ll ask you to complete two term-time checkpoints before the main exam season begins.  

• The window for the first term-time checkpoint was open from 2 January 2024 until 9 February 2024. 
• The window for the second term-time checkpoint will open on 15 April 2024 and the deadline will be 3 May 2024. 

Requirements for the second term-time checkpoint 

You, or the nominated person responsible in your centre, must follow the steps below to ensure your information is submitted before the second term-time checkpoint deadline on 3 May.

1. Log into the NCFE Portal. 

2. Go to the ‘my learners’ area and search for your learners. You can do this by using the batch number or qualification code alongside the current learner status; this will filter any learners you’ve withdrawn or who already have certificates.

3. Check that all learners currently studying an NCFE qualification at your centre are registered and the validity of their status. If you need to add any new learners, you can find instructions on how to do this in our Portal User Guide.

4. Remove any learners who have withdrawn or transferred to a qualification out of scope of these arrangements. If you need to withdraw any learners, you can find instructions on how to do this in our Portal User Guide.

5. Ensure that all learners registered have the planned end date column completed and that these are accurate, showing when they are due to complete the qualification. Planned end dates are now mandatory to add at the point of registration, but if you need to add or update any, you can find instructions on how to do this in our Portal User Guide.

6. Book all learners who are required to sit an external assessment for the summer series onto their assessment 

7. Ensure any required EQA reviews are booked to be completed no later than 31 July 2024 (for internally assessed qualifications, to guarantee results on result release days).

8. You should access and sign the declaration form to confirm you’ve completed the above actions. Once the term-time checkpoint window opens on Monday 15 April, you will find the declaration form in the banner at the top of each Portal page. Please note that the term-time checkpoint is not complete until this declaration form has been signed and submitted. 

Who can submit the declaration form? 

The declaration form can be submitted by the person who has completed the checks, it doesn’t need to be your head of centre. 

How can I check that the declaration form has been submitted by someone at my centre? 

Visit the Portal and click on the term-time checkpoint banner (which will appear on every page on the Portal). If the declaration form has already been submitted, the page will show who has submitted it and on what date. The submit button will no longer be visible.

In accordance with the centre agreement, you’re required to comply with all requirements for the provision of information to us within the specified timeframes. Failure to respond to term-time checkpoint requests for information within the specified period will be considered as a breach of the centre agreement and may constitute malpractice. Sanctions will be imposed, as failing to respond may compromise the timely delivery of vocational technical qualifications (VTQ) results. More information can be found in the JCQ Suspected Malpractice Policies and Procedures document.  

Results for many of the qualifications in scope will be released on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the exception of T Levels and Level 1/2 Technical Awards. Results for the qualifications in scope of the arrangements for the timely delivery of results (see above section) will be provided to centres in advance of results days, and in sufficient time for exams officers to check and prepare them for final release to learners. Results will be released by the following dates:   

• Results for Level 3 qualifications in scope (excluding T Levels) will be released to centres no later than Monday 12 August 2024 in preparation for learners receiving these by Thursday 15 August 2024. However, it should be noted that these are released on a rolling basis throughout the year and can be released to learners at any time.  
• Results for T Level technical qualifications will be released to providers on 14 August 2024, in preparation for students receiving these by 15 August 2024. These results are embargoed and can’t be released to students until 15 August 2024.  
• Results for Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualifications in scope will be released to centres no later than Wednesday 21 August 2024 in preparation for learners receiving these by Thursday 22 August 2024. However, it should be noted that these are released on a rolling basis throughout the year and can be released to learners at any time.   

If learners have queries about their grades, please view our post-results services for enquiries about results, access to scripts, a review of marking and more.