V Cert service messages

Your monthly update (June 2026) 

[03/06/2026]

Below you’ll find your monthly update for June 2026, including important reminders for the non-exam assessment (NEA) and assessment variation requests, how you can join us for our V Cert drop-in Q&A and a link to listen to the latest episodes of our podcast. 

You can also find a handy A-Z of support on our website. 

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External assessments 

Invigilation reminders and returning papers 

When administering and returning assessment papers, please familiarise yourself with the instructions on the Invigilator’s Register provided. Your cooperation helps us maintain a smooth and accurate process for all learners. 

You should ensure that: 

• The invigilator(s) signs the front of the register in the relevant box. 
• If learners use any extra pages, the learner number is clearly indicated on each additional page, and the register shows how many extra pages were used. 
• Learners should only be given the assessment paper with their name printed on the front. 
• You do not photocopy assessment papers. Blank copies for printing are available via the portal. 
• You record any access arrangements that were used on the register. 
• Every candidate listed has an attendance status recorded, and only one status is selected per candidate. 
• You must only return papers that have been completed by a learner. You don’t need to return blank copies. 

Thank you for your continued support and attention to these requirements. Following these steps helps us maintain consistency and compliance across all assessments.  

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Special considerations – important reminders  

As we approach the upcoming assessment window, please ensure that all staff responsible for submitting special consideration requests review the information below carefully. The deadline for submitting special consideration requests for V Cert external assessments is Wednesday 1 July 2026.  

Please note that: 

• Our Special Consideration process is now aligned with JCQ requirements. Please ensure that all staff read and follow the official guidance, available here. 
• You must submit all requests through this webpage. 
• You must ensure all learner details submitted are accurate and up to date, as incorrect information can delay processing and impact learner outcomes. 

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NEA: moderation and next steps 

Missing or incomplete evidence 

Please ensure that all required evidence has been uploaded in full for the learners on your sampling plan. If evidence is missing or incomplete, we will contact your centre via email to highlight any gaps and request clarification or additional materials. It is essential that you monitor your email accounts closely during this period and respond as a matter of urgency to any communication received. 

If we’ve already attempted to contact your centre before Wednesday 15 July and have not received a response by this date, we won’t continue to pursue a response. In this case, any moderation decisions will be made based solely on the evidence available at that time. 

Supporting  you and your learners  

To help you understand the outcome of moderation, please visit our Moderation page where you can find a comprehensive guide on: 

• moderation of centre assessed work and how marks are applied  
• the regression process and how adjustments are made  
• results  
• the final Moderation Report  
• the Chief Moderator Report  
• and certification – this is automated for V Cert learners who achieve sufficient marks to pass the qualification.  

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Looking ahead to results 

Results will be released to centres on Monday 17 August and will be embargoed until Thursday 20 August when you can share them with your learners.  

Once results have been released to learners, our post‑results services will become available. Please note that learner consent is required before any post‑results enquiries can be submitted. 

Please visit our assessment results and queries page where you can find further information on: 

• enquiries about results and assessment decisions 
• access to scripts service. 

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Training and events 

New V Cert Assessor and IQA training 

Starting in October 2026, we have Assessor and IQA training specifically for V Cert qualifications available to book.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the assessment and IQA processes related to the NEA through a virtual meeting of subject teachers. This event will allow you to:   

• explore the general principles of the assessment and IQA process in relation to the NEA  

• understand what we expect from Assessors and IQAs  

• get to know our paperwork and processes  

• highlight and share good practice  

• meet and network with other practitioners. 

Please note that discussion will not relate to current live NEA assessment materials.   

This training is suitable for anyone involved in the assessment and IQA of the qualification, whether you’re assessing our qualifications for the first time or you’re an experienced assessor who requires CPD.  

Book here 

Assessor and IQA training  

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the assessment and IQA processes related to the NEA through a virtual meeting of subject teachers. These events will allow you to:  

• explore the general principles of the assessment and IQA process in relation to the NEA 
• understand what we expect from Assessors and IQAs 
• get to know our paperwork and processes 
• highlight and share good practice 
• meet and network with other practitioners 

Please note that discussion will not relate to current live NEA assessment materials.  

This training is suitable for anyone involved in the assessment and IQA of the qualification, whether assessing our qualifications for the first time; or even experienced Assessors who require CPD. 

Book now via our website  

V Cert drop-in Q&A events  

Our V Cert drop-in sessions are free to attend and delivered by our dedicated Provider Development team and subject experts. You can sign up to upcoming events and access our playlist of previous events on our webpage. Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.  

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: preparing for 2026/27 – key information for approved centres

Wednesday 10 June, 3:30-4:30pm 

Join Provider Development Officers Rachel and Beth for a focused Q&A session designed for existing centres preparing to deliver V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards in 2026/27. If you're continuing with V Certs and want clarity on what’s coming up, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and stay informed.  

Sign up now 

Have your say: help shape future V Cert subject specific training    

We’d like your input to help shape future training for assessors and IQAs. Please take two minutes to complete the form and share your availability for CPD in the 2026/27 session. Your feedback will help us plan and deliver relevant training opportunities.  

Provider Development (NCFE) Level 1/2 Technical Awards: All about V Certs Podcast 

Hosted by our experienced Provider Development officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs. Stay up to date with the latest insights, updates, and expert discussions around V Certs by following our official NCFE Provider Development Podcast on Podbean.  

Find out more 

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Your monthly update (May 2026) 

Below you’ll find your monthly update for May 2026, including important reminders for the non-exam assessment (NEA) and assessment variation requests, how you can join us for our V Cert drop-in Q&A and a link to listen to the latest episodes of our podcast. 

You can also find a handy A-Z of support on our website. 

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Next steps for the non-exam assessment (NEA) 

If you haven't yet submitted marks or uploaded evidence, please do this immediately as it is past the deadline (30 April).  

A green tick will be displayed next to the learner’s name in the marks submission screen once you’ve submitted all marks for that learner. If some marks are missing, a grey cross will be displayed. You can view an example of this in our portal user guide, on page 105. 

You can view our new ‘how to submit marks for moderation’ video here for further support.  

What to do if you’ve entered incorrect marks for a learner 

If you’ve entered the incorrect marks and you’ve already ticked the declaration which means you can’t amend any, please submit our incorrect mark submission notification form as soon as possible. 

Sampling plans 

If you’ve entered all your learners’ marks in the Portal, you’ll have received an email to inform you that the sampling plan has been generated. You should upload evidence for all learners on the sampling plan. 

If you have a cohort of 15 or fewer learners, all learners will be selected for moderation and you can upload evidence immediately, you don’t need to wait for a sampling plan. 

For instructions on how to find your sampling plan please view page 107 of our portal user guide. 

How to upload evidence 

• Click on the upload icon next to the learner details. 
• Click browse.  
• Search for the learner files to be uploaded.  
•  Upload evidence 

Please see our Portal User guide for guidance on how to upload evidence (page 94). 

What should we upload? 

Learner evidence upload checklists are included within every assessment materials pack detailing exactly what evidence we require for moderation to take place. The evidence upload requirements differ per qualification so please ensure you are using the checklist for the specific NEA you are delivering.  

Missing evidence:  

• If you haven’t submitted your evidence in full by the deadline, we’ll email the programme contacts and your head of centre to request this to be completed. Following this email, you’ll have two working days to provide the missing evidence.  
•  If we identify missing or incomplete evidence for any learners, we’ll contact you by email and ask you to review all learners included in the sampling plan to avoid repeated requests. 
• If there are any issues with a learner’s evidence, please indicate this in the evidence upload checklist and upload the checklist alongside the learner’s evidence. 
• You must inform us if any learner evidence is incomplete, difficult to locate (for example, within another file), or provided in an alternative format (not what is asked for within the brief/upload checklist). 

Please note that missing evidence may delay the release of results and may be referred to our Provider Assurance team for potential maladministration.  

Preparing for next steps 

Please view our Moderation webpage for more information on: 

• how the sampling plan list is generated 
• presenting evidence 
• uploading evidence 
• moderation and how marks are applied 
• the regression process and how adjustments are made 
• results and support and 
• final Moderation Reports. 

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Assessments: key reminders 

Assessment variation requests: deadline reminder 

We want to remind you that you need to make sure any assessment variation requests get to us no later than 20 working days before the external assessment.  

You can submit an assessment variation if, for any assessment detailed in our assessment timetable, you want our approval to:  

• vary the published assessment date  
• vary the published assessment time (beyond the permitted 30 minutes)  
• change (or extend) the assessment site from your current approved location.  

Please refer to the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) for guidance on when we typically will/will not accept a variation.  

To request an Assessment Variation please fill in this form. 

Reminders on invigilation - returning papers 

When administering and returning assessment papers, please familiarise yourself with the instructions on the Invigilator’s Register provided, particularly: 

• Please make sure the invigilator(s) has signed the front of the register in the relevant box. 

• If learners use any extra pages, the learner number must be clearly indicated on each additional page, and the register should note how many extra pages were used. 

• Each learner must only be given the assessment paper with their name printed on the front. 

• Do not photocopy assessment papers – blank copies for printing are available from the Portal. 

• The invigilator(s) must record any access arrangements that were used on the register. 

• Every candidate listed must have an attendance status recorded, and only one status should be selected per candidate. 

• Invigilator(s) should only return papers that have been completed by a learner – blank copies don’t need to be returned. 

Thank you for your continued support and attention to these requirements. Following these steps helps us maintain consistency and compliance across all assessments. 

Special consideration requests 

Please refer to JCQ’s guide to the special consideration process for more information. 

You must submit any applications through this webpage.   

If the both the external assessment and the non-examined assessment (NEA) have been affected, then two separate forms must be completed, one for each component. Please ensure all learner details submitted are accurate and up to date, as incorrect information can delay processing and impact learner outcomes. 

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Preparing for online assessments  

Please make sure you take time to check the right arrangements are in place before online assessments taking place online through our Surpass  

Platform. Follow our five steps below for a successful online assessment. 

1. Confirm booking

Please ensure your learners are booked correctly by visiting the Portal and  selecting the Bookings > View external assessment and then enter your batch  number(s). Here, you can see whether bookings are online or paper based. If you have booked the incorrect method, please contact our Customer Support team as soon as possible before the date of the external assessment.  If you’ve booked an online assessment, your booking will appear in the Surpass  platform, on the Invigilation tab, 120 hours (5 days) before the assessment start date  and time. 

2. Support and guidance

It’s important that you read through the guidance documents we have in place to support you with delivering the online assessment to your learners on Surpass. Our guidance documents explain how to set your devices up in advance of the assessment so it runs smoothly on the day. You can also contact our Customer Support team to support you with this. 

3. Learner interface installation and testing

You need to install and open the learner interface (SecureClient) on each device ahead of the assessment; guidance on this can be found on the above support page. You should do this ahead of the assessment date in case any issues arise or you need further support. Doing this well in advance will also allow for any important 

updates to take place on the software. On the morning of the assessment, please have SecureClient already opened on the devices, before the learners arrive, so they can be ready to just enter the key codes  and start their assessment. 

4. Additional time 

You may need additional time for a learner to sit their assessment. This should have been requested at the point that they were booked in for the assessment, on the Portal.  

You can check and confirm that your learner has had their additional time added in Surpass, once the booking appears on Surpass (120 hours (5 days) before the assessment). You will need to go to the ‘Invigilate’ screen and check the duration column. The standard duration for most assessments is 90 minutes, therefore if you have requested up to 25% extra time for your learner, the duration will show as 112 minutes, or if up to 50%, the duration will show as 135 minutes. 

If your additional time hasn’t been added on, you will need to add it directly into Surpass. To do this, highlight the learner’s assessment, and click the ‘modify duration’ button at the bottom of the screen. This will bring up the edit exam duration box where you can apply the additional time. 

5. Technical support

If you experience any difficulties or technical issues when preparing your devices before the assessment, or during the assessment, we have troubleshooting guidance on the support pages, or you can contact our Customer Support team. However, you should also ensure the availability of technical support on site to respond to issues arising during online assessments, in line with our Regulations for the Conduct of Assessment. 

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Training and events 

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: holistic marking - Wednesday 13 May – 3:30-4:30pm  

Join Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, for an informal Q&A session designed to support your delivery of V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards. Whether you're new to V Certs or looking for clarification on specific areas, this is a chance to ask questions and get practical advice. 

Sign up now 

Provider Development (NCFE) Level 1/2 Technical Awards: All about V Certs Podcast 

Hosted by our experienced Provider Development officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs. Stay up to date with the latest insights, updates, and expert discussions around V Certs by following our official NCFE Provider Development Podcast on Podbean.  

Find out more 

V Cert Drop-in Q&A events 

Our V Cert Drop-In sessions are free to attend and delivered by our dedicated Provider Development team and subject experts. You can sign up to upcoming events and access our playlist of previous events on our webpage. 

Places are limited, so early booking is recommended. 

Have your say: Help shape future V Cert subject specific training   

We’d like your input to help shape future training for assessors and IQAs. Please take two minutes to complete this form and share your availability for CPD in the 2026/27 session.  

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Updates to our website 

To help you find the support you need quickly, we’ve introduced an A-Z of support topics on our website. 

We’ve also updated our V Cert FAQs webpage. 

Your monthly update (April 2026) 

Below you’ll find your monthly update for April 2026, including important reminders for the non-exam assessment (NEA), assessment variation requests, updated external assessment dates, how you can join us for our V Cert drop-in Q&A, a link to listen to the latest episodes of our podcast, and much more!

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Uploading non-exam assessment (NEA) evidence

NEA mark submission deadline

You must submit marks for all learners by Thursday 30 April. Failure to meet this deadline may result in delays to moderation and the release of results

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Sampling plan list

Your sampling plan list (showing learners selected for remote moderation) will be generated on Friday 1 May, as long as all marks for the cohort have been submitted by Thursday 30 April. Once available, you’ll have three working days to upload evidence for all learners in the sample. The timely submission of learner marks is critical to avoid delays in the moderation and results release processes.

Please note that your sampling plan list will only generate once all the marks have been submitted on the Portal.

How to view your sampling plan list:

1. Log in to the Portal.
2. Navigate to the ‘Bookings’ menu, then select ‘Upload learner submissions’.
   
3. Search for your learners by entering the batch number or product code.
   
   
4. Filter by the correct assessment series
   
5. On the left side of the black ribbon at the top of the screen, you’ll see a dropdown box labelled ‘All learners’.
   
6. Click the dropdown arrow to expand the list.
7. Look for 'Sampling Plan' in the expanded list. A number in brackets will show how many learners have been selected for remote moderation.
   
8. For each learner on the sampling plan list, there will be a bold upload icon next to their details. This icon indicates that evidence is expected from them. 

How to upload evidence:

Once you’ve found your learners on the sampling plan list, you’ll then be able to upload evidence.

1. Click on the ‘Upload’ icon next to the learner details.
   
2. Click ‘Browse’.
   
3. Search for the learner files to be uploaded.

Please note, you can only upload 15 files at a time. For further guidance, please refer to the ‘Digital Learner Evidence’ section of the Portal User Guide.

Missing evidence:

If evidence isn’t submitted in full by the deadline, we’ll request this by sending an email to programme contacts and the Head of Centre. You’ll have two working days to provide the missing evidence and please note that missing evidence may delay the release of results.

If we identify missing evidence or tasks, in our email we'll ask you to upload all required documents for all learners on the sampling plan list (not just the initial identified learner). This ensures evidence is available if additional learners are selected during moderation.

If there are any issues with a learner’s evidence, please indicate this in the evidence upload checklist and upload the checklist alongside the learner’s evidence.

You must inform us if any learner evidence is incomplete, difficult to locate (for example, within another file), or provided in an alternative format (not what is asked for within the brief/upload checklist).

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Administration support

Stay on track with key tasks and deadlines using our key dates and support document. You should also refer to the key dates and timetables page  to manage upcoming requirements and ensure all administrative tasks are completed on time. 

You can access admin training on our moderation webpage, designed to guide you through required processes and help ensure tasks are completed correctly and efficiently. 

Here are a few key things to keep in mind:

1. Keep contact details up to date

Please ensure we have the correct information for staff at your centre (exams officer, programme contact, finance contacts and head of centre). You can make any updates via this form.

2. Check learner name accuracy

Learner names on evidence submissions must match those you used when registering the learners with us.

3. Reasonable adjustments

• If we select a learner for moderation who has a reasonable adjustment, you should indicate this using the tick box on the checklist in the assessment materials pack. This ensures that adjustments are properly documented and accounted for.
• Submit the checklist alongside learner evidence.
• Record all reasonable adjustments in the Reasonable Adjustment Tracking Document (available on our webpage).
• Keep this document for inspection purposes (you don’t need to send it unless we request it).

4. Upload limits

Be aware of the 2GB file sizes and upload limits when submitting evidence. Refer to our guide for details.

5. Read our Portal User guide for guidance on:

• How to access assessment materials (page 89)
• How to submit centre marks for moderation (page 105)
• How to view students selected for moderation and upload evidence (page 94)

Understanding our approach to moderation 

We aim to ensure consistent marking standards across all centres. Visit our moderation webpage for guidance on:

• sample sizes 
• moderating centre-assessed work and how marks are applied 
• the regression process – how adjustments are made 

Reminder on invigilation and paper return best practice

When administering and returning assessment papers, please familiarise yourself with the instructions on the Invigilator’s Register provided.  Following these processes helps us maintain accuracy, quality, and a consistent experience for all learners.

Some key points to highlight are:

• Please make sure the invigilator(s) has signed the front of the register in the relevant box.
• If learners use additional pages, each page must clearly display the learner’s number, and the total number of extra pages must be recorded on the register.
• Each learner must be issued only with the assessment paper that displays their own name.
• Assessment papers must not be photocopied. Blank printable versions are available via the portal to support with access arrangements if needed.
• Please record any access arrangements used during the assessment on the register.
• An attendance status must be recorded for every candidate listed, with only one status selected per learner.
• Only completed assessment papers should be returned. Unused papers do not need to be returned but must not be released to any individual until 24 hours after our published finishing time for the assessment.

Following these steps helps us maintain consistency and compliance across all assessments. Thank you for your continued support and attention to these requirements.

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External Assessments 

Checking bookings

As we prepare for the summer external assessments, please check that all your learners are booked on the correct assessments, including the correct assessment mode and that all required paper modifications have been requested.

You can review your bookings on the Portal under ‘Bookings – View Assessments’. Here you can search by batch, learner, or qualification and view both the External Assessment Bookings Confirmation report and the Invigilator’s Register. For assessment dates and times please refer to our assessment timetable.

If you need any assistance with this, please contact our Customer Support team via email at [email protected].

Yellow Label collection

As a reminder, the Yellow Label service, for which all NCFE V Cert external assessments are eligible, is moving towards a combined parcel network with Royal Mail, meaning some small changes to arrangements in summer 2026, however NCFE’s guidance and requirements remain otherwise unchanged.

Scheduled collections will still take place during summer 2026, with daily collection slots for centres that have at least 3 exam sittings in any week between April and late June.

Centres must ensure papers are always stored and handled securely, including any period post-exam whilst waiting for the next available Yellow Label collection. For exams immediately before the summer half term, where you cannot facilitate a collection during the break, you must plan for collections to be made at the earliest opportunity and ensure papers are stored securely until collected.

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Reminder on changes to external assessment dates

In September 2025, we let you know that we’d made changes to three V Cert external assessment dates for summer 2026, following the release of the JCQ common timetable of GCSE/GCE examinations for the 2025/26 series.

We publish our dates 12 months ahead of the JCQ common timetable, however, we understand how challenging exam season can be, especially when several exams fall on the same day. Therefore based on previous feedback, we’ve moved these three exams to try to make administration easier at an already busy time.  

We reflected this in our published assessment timetable and in some supporting external assessment documentation including Invigilators’ Registers. However, we’ve now also updated this in the External Assessment Booking Confirmation Report, following feedback If you downloaded and/or printed this document before Friday 27 March, please ensure you replace it with the latest version so that it contains all the correct dates. You can download the updated version from the Portal.

As a reminder, the updated external assessment dates and times are below, and all summer 2026 exam dates and deadlines can be found in our assessment timetable.

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Assessment variation requests

You should submit any assessment variation requests no later than 20 working days before the external assessment. You can submit an assessment variation if, for any assessment detailed in our assessment timetable, you want our approval to:

• vary the published assessment date
• vary the published assessment time (beyond the permitted 30 minutes)
• change (or extend) the assessment site from your current approved location.

Please refer to the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) for guidance on the sorts of requests we typically accept/ do not accept .

To request an assessment variation, please fill in this form.

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Term-time checkpoint open until Thursday 30 April

The term-time checkpoint opened on Monday 23 March and your centre must take action if you deliver any of the qualifications in scope of this year’s arrangements to ensure the timely delivery of vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results in 2025-26. You’ll need to complete this checkpoint by Thursday 30 April. Visit our timely delivery of VTQ results webpage for more information on the actions you’ll need to take, and where to find support. 

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Training and events

Sign up for our internal quality assurance (IQA) training events

These events are a great opportunity to meet with internal quality assurance (IQA) professionals and like-minded practitioners to learn about or expand your knowledge of IQA and our qualifications. We are now sold out for April’s event, so please join the waitlist, or we also have events running in May and June. Sign up now.

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: holistic marking, Wednesday 13 May 2026, 3:30-4:30pm

Join Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, for an informal Q&A session designed to support your delivery of V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards. Whether you're new to V Certs or looking for clarification on specific areas, this is a chance to ask questions and get practical advice.

Sign up now.

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Have your say: shape future V Cert subject specific training

We’d like your input to help shape future training for assessors and IQAs. Please take two minutes to complete the form and share your availability for CPD in the 2026-27 session. Your feedback will help us plan and deliver relevant training opportunities. The deadline is Thursday 30 April.

____________________________________________________________________________ 

All about V Certs: the go-to podcast for busy teachers delivering NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Awards

Hosted by our experienced Provider Development officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs. Stay up to date with the latest insights, updates, and expert discussions around V Certs by following our official Provider Development Podcast on Podbean.

Your monthly update (March 2026) 

Below you’ll find your monthly update for March 2026, including important reminders for the non-exam assessment (NEA) and assessment variation requests, how you can join us for our V Cert drop-in Q&A and a link to listen to the latest episodes of our podcast.  

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Important reminders for the non-exam assessment (NEA) 

Reminder: NEA mark submission deadline is Thursday 30 April 

All learner marks for the NEA must be entered into the Portal by Thursday 30 April. 

Meeting this deadline is crucial to ensure accurate and timely results for your learners. You can submit marks as soon as your learners have completed the assessment and assessor marks have been internally quality assured. You can do this through the moderation section in the Portal. You should follow the instructions in our Portal user guide from page 103. 

Following the introduction of multi-factor authentication for logging into our Portal, please ensure you log in ahead of this deadline. For guidance on multi-factor authentication, please explore our FAQs page. 

Any late submissions may result in delayed results for your learners and could lead to potential maladministration issues. 

Additionally, please remember that your sampling plan indicating learners selected for remote moderation will be generated on Friday 1 May, provided that all marks for the cohort are submitted by Thursday 30 April. The sampling plan will indicate which learners we need you to submit assessment evidence for. 

The timely submission of your learners’ marks and evidence is critical to avoid delays in the moderation process.  

My learner didn’t attend the assessment and has only partially completed it – what do I do? 

If a learner has a booking but doesn’t attend or doesn’t fully complete the assessment, please follow the guidance below: 

• If the learner has attempted part of the NEA and produced evidence but achieved no awardable marks for a task, the mark entered should be 0. 

• If a task hasn’t been attempted at all, this should be recorded as DNA (did not attend). 

• If the learner did not attempt any of the NEA tasks, all tasks must be recorded as DNA, resulting in an overall mark of DNA for the assessment. 
• If a learner did not attend, this must also be reflected clearly on the Assessor Feedback to Learner document. 

Please note that once the assessment window is open, your learners are classed as entered for the assessment and cannot be withdrawn. Marks (including any DNA entries) must be submitted by the mark submission deadline. Failure to enter marks by the deadline will prevent the sampling plan from generating. 

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Checking bookings 

As we prepare for the summer external assessments, we recommend that you check that all your learners are booked on the relevant assessments. For assessment dates please refer to our assessment timetable. You can review your bookings on the Portal under Bookings – View Assessments. Here you can search by batch, learner or qualification and view both the External Assessment Bookings Confirmation report and the Invigilator’s Register. If you need any assistance with this, please contact our Customer Support team. 

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Assessment variation requests  

We wanted to remind you that assessment variation requests should be received no later than 20 working days prior to the external assessment. You can submit an assessment variation if, for any assessment detailed in our assessment timetable, you wish to request approval to: 

• vary the published assessment date 

• vary the published assessment time (beyond the permitted 30 minutes) 
• change (or extend) the assessment site from your current approved location. 

Please refer to the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) for guidance on examples for which we typically will/will not accept a variation. 

To request an assessment variation please fill in this form. 

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Term-time checkpoint opening soon 

We wanted to remind you that the term-time checkpoint is opening on Monday 23 March. Your centre must take action if you deliver any of the qualifications in scope of this year’s arrangements to ensure the timely delivery of vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results in 2025-26. You’ll need to complete this checkpoint by Thursday 30 April. Visit our timely delivery of VTQ results webpage for more information on the actions you’ll need to take, and where to find support.   

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Training and events 

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: key information for year 10 and year 11 delivery, Wednesday 11 March, 3:30-4:30pm 

Join Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, for an open Q&A session focused on delivering all V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards across both years 10 and 11. Whether you're teaching one group or managing delivery across both year groups, this session will help you feel more confident about what’s expected and how to stay on track. 

Book your place now  

Ensure to complete moderation administration training 

Administration training is available on our moderation webpage.  This training will support you through the activities associated with the delivery and moderation of internal assessments.  

Here are a few key things to keep in mind:  

• Ensure name accuracy: the name on evidence submissions must match the name used to register the learner with NCFE.   
• Reasonable adjustments: if any learner selected for moderation has had a reasonable adjustment applied, this must be indicated on the tick box on the checklist in the assessment materials pack. This ensures that adjustments are properly documented and accounted for. The checklist must be submitted alongside learner evidence. You must also record any reasonable adjustments via our Reasonable Adjustment Tracking Document which you can find at the bottom of our Webpage. 
• Upload limits: be mindful of the upload limits for evidence. Make sure that files meet the specified size requirements to avoid any issues when submitting. Take a look at our upload guide. 

Remember to access our key dates schedule which outlines upcoming requirements and important actions for V Certs , making it easier to manage your administrative tasks and ensure everything runs smoothly.   

Sign up for our internal quality assurance (IQA) training events 

These events are a great opportunity to meet with internal quality assurance (IQA) professionals and like-minded practitioners to learn about or expand your knowledge and understanding of IQA and our qualifications. Our event in March is fully booked, but you can join the waitlist There are a few tickets left for our April event, and we also have events running in May and June. Sign up now. 

All About V Certs Podcast 

Hosted by our experienced Provider Development officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs. Stay up to date with the latest insights, updates, and expert discussions around V Certs by following our official Provider Development Podcast on Podbean.

Your monthly update (February 2026) 

Below you’ll find your monthly update for February 2026, including V Cert Drop-In Q&A and Qualifications updates and withdrawals.  

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V Certs and the non-exam assessment (NEA): key dates  

Please review our V Certs key dates document. It includes important dates for the summer 2026 assessment series, along with details of the activities required at each stage and guidance on where to find the support you need.   

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Updates from our Provider Development team 

Join our Provider Development team for upcoming events, including a drop-in Q&A next month. We’re also sharing details on how you can subscribe to the new V Certs podcast! 

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: key information for year 10 and year 11 delivery 

Join Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, for an open Q&A session focused on delivering  V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards across both years 10 and 11. Whether you're teaching one group or managing delivery across both year groups, this session will help you feel more confident about what’s expected and how to stay on track. 

Date and time: Wednesday 10 March, 3:30pm – 4:30pm 

Sign-up today 

Podcast: Welcome to All About V Certs 

The go-to podcast for busy teachers delivering NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Awards. Hosted by our experienced Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs.  

Subscribe and listen now   

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Service continuity 

 Thank you for your continued patience whilst we’ve been fully restoring our services following the cyber incident we experienced late last year. We’re pleased to share with you that the NCFE Portal will be available for you to use, with full functionality, from Monday 9 February. 

As you’re aware from our previous communications, we proactively closed access to the Portal as a precautionary measure as soon as we learned of the incident, and this enabled our IT team, working with specialist cyber security partners, to complete rigorous testing of the platform, putting in place additional security protocols for you to use the Portal with confidence. The only change that you may notice is that the Portal will only be available from 6am until 10pm GMT (rather than 24/7), to allow us to actively monitor the platform. This will be in place until at least September 2026 and we'll let you know if we make any changes to these hours. 

To support your use of the Portal please refer to the Portal User Guide or you can visit our service continuity webpage for further information and FAQs ahead of Monday 9 February. 

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Training 

Standardisation training 

Standardisation training materials are temporarily available to download from our service continuity web page.  

These resources provide delivery teams with the opportunity to: 

• review tutor guidance and marking bands 

• align assessment decisions across teams 

• reflect on Chief Examiner/Moderator Reports from summer 2025. 

We recommend all staff involved in assessment should complete this training as part of your annual standardisation activities.  

Administration training 

Administration training materials are available year-round on our moderation page to support your teams in preparing for the 2025-26 assessment window. 

The training consists of a series of short videos covering essential processes, including: 

• how to access assessment materials 

• how to submit provider marks for moderation 

• how to view students selected for moderation and upload evidence.  

We recommend all colleagues involved in assessment administration complete or revisit these videos regularly to ensure they remain confident and up to date with moderation requirements. 

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January 2026

Upcoming events  

Come along and join us for our Child Development and Care IQA training event, taking place on Friday 30 January, 1:30-4pm. 

This is an opportunity to explore the assessment and IQA processes related to the non-exam assessment (NEA) through a virtual meeting of subject teachers. In this event, we’ll:  

• explore the general principles of the assessment and IQA process in relation to the NEA 
• explain what we expect from Assessors and IQAs 
• describe know our paperwork and processes 
• highlight and share good practice  
• facilitate networking with other practitioners. 

Book your place now 

No communications for December 2025.

New Assessor and IQA training events available for booking in the 2025-26 session  

Sign up to attend one of our V Cert training events: These events are a fantastic opportunity to explore the assessment and IQA processes related to the NEA through a virtual meeting of subject teachers. Attending an event will allow you to:   

• explore the general principles of the assessment and IQA process in relation to the NEA  

• understand what we expect from Assessors and IQAs  

• get to know our paperwork and processes  

• highlight and share good practice  

• meet and network with other practitioners  

Please note that discussion will not relate to current live NEA assessment materials.   

This training is suitable for anyone involved in the assessment and IQA of the qualification, whether assessing our qualifications for the first time; or even experienced Assessors who require CPD.  

Engineering – Monday 8 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Engineering – Monday 12 January 2026 – 13:30-16:00  

Business and Enterprise – Wednesday 10 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Business and Enterprise – Wednesday 14 January 2026 – 10:00-12:30  

Health and Social Care – Thursday 4 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Health and Social Care – Thursday18 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Music Technology – Wednesday 3 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Music Technology – Friday 16 January 2026 – 13:30-16:00  

Food and Cookery – Monday 1 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Food and Cookery – Monday 15 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Health and Fitness – Tuesday 16 December 2025 – 16:00-18:30  

Health and Fitness – Tuesday 13 January 2026 – 13:30-16:00  

Assessor training  

Our assessor training events will provide you with an opportunity to:  

• explore the general principles of the assessment process  

• understand what we expect from Assessors  

• get to know our paperwork and processes  

• highlight and share good practice  

• meet and network with other practitioners.  

This training is suitable for anyone assessing our qualifications, whether you are new to assessment, assessing our qualifications for the first time, or even experienced Assessors who require CPD. If you attend this event, you’ll be eligible to receive a digital credential that you can add to your professional development portfolio.  

Assessor training – Tuesday 3 February 2026 – 09:30 – 12:30  

Assessor training – Tuesday 3 March 2026 – 09:30 – 12:30  

Assessor training – Wednesday 22 April 2026 – 09:30 – 12:30  

Assessor training – Wednesday 6 May 2026 – 09:30 – 12:30  

Assessor training – Wednesday 10 June 2026 – 09:30 – 12:30  

Functional Skills Assessor – Wednesday 13 May – 09:30 – 12:30  

Please note, this training is generic across our qualifications and not subject specific. Colleagues and trainers will be from a wide range of sectors. If you require subject specific training please see links to Support visits.  

IQA training  

Our internal quality assurance (IQA) events will provide you with an opportunity to:  

• explore the general principles of the internal quality assurance process  

• understand what we expect from you  

• get to know our paperwork and processes  

• review current practices and develop ideas for improvement  

• understand how to achieve and maintain Direct Claim Status (DCS)  

• meet and network with other IQA practitioners.  

This training is suitable for anyone involved in the IQA process of our qualifications, whether you’re new to IQA, applying it to our qualifications for the first time, or even if you’re an experienced internal quality assurer and require CPD. Delegates who attend this event will be eligible to receive a digital credential that you can add to your professional development portfolio.  

IQA training – Tuesday 17 February 2026 09:30 – 12:30  

IQA training – Tuesday 17 March 2026 09:30 – 12:30  

IQA training – Thursday 23 April 2026 09:30 – 12:30  

IQA training – Friday 8 May 2026 09:30 – 12:30  

IQA training – Thursday 11 June 2026 09:30 – 12:30  

Functional Skills IQA – Thursday 20 November – 09:30 – 12:30  

Functional Skills IQA – Wednesday 20 May – 09:30 – 12:30  

Functional Skills IQA – Wednesday 8 July – 09:30 – 12:30  

Please note, this training is generic across our qualifications and not subject specific. Colleagues and trainers will be from a wide range of sectors. If you require subject specific training please see links to Support visits.  

Event information  

Each booking is valid for one delegate only, and only the registered delegate will receive confirmation of attendance.  

Each event costs £75 per delegate and is delivered via Microsoft Teams as an interactive session.  

All the above events are delivered remotely via Microsoft Teams, please ensure you have a mic, camera and chat availability to partake in the discussions.  

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team on [email protected].  

No V Certs communication for October 2025.

No V Certs communication for September 2025.