Our latest updates

April 2024 Updates: 

Last updated: 16/04/2024

Complete your second term-time checkpoint before Friday 3 May

Second term-time checkpoint now open: To ensure the timely delivery of vocational technical qualifications (VTQ) results for learners in 2024 and beyond, we have two term-time checkpoints this academic year that you must complete. The window for the second term-time checkpoint opened on Monday 15 April 2024 and the deadline is Friday 3 May 2024. Find out more. 

Summer assessment series – what you need to know

On Thursday 28 March, we emailed you with information on what you need to know ahead of the summer assessment series, and we followed up on this message with additional details on Occupational Specialisms (OS) and moderation on Tuesday 16 April, along with a link to our summer assessment series webpage. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with all the information on upcoming assessments by visiting this webpage.

Using AI in Summer 2024 external assessments 

As we approach our summer series, we want to reiterate expectations on the use of AI in external assessments. We particularly want to address: 

• the prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and risks 
• the overall approach of the JCQ guidance (students must submit work which is their own, and that submitting work which is not their own, and/or which shows other AI misuse, will be investigated for potential malpractice and could result in disqualification from an assessment, or qualification overall) 
• qualification specific guidance (for example, qualifications such as T Level Employer Set Project (ESP) and OS assessments, or CACHE Level 3 extended response essays, which allow access to the internet for some or all parts of the assessment). 

Read more on using AI in assessments

A reminder on social media sharing and the risk of malpractice

At all times, please remember that live assessment material, including project briefs, assessment materials and other related documents must not be shared or discussed on social media or through messaging apps or with individuals in other organisations that are not directly involved in the set-up of the assessment. Please review and take note of the JCQ guidelines on malpractice and maladministration (specifically looking at section 3.3.1). These guidelines outline the importance of maintaining the security of all external assessment materials, which is part of your centre agreement with us.

Booking cut-off dates 

The booking cut-off for all assessments, including resits, has now passed and any bookings made now will be subject to late booking fees. Please see the T Level fees section of our fees and pricing document, pages 17-18. 

T Level fees 2024-25

As we look ahead to the new academic year, we want to let you know about the changes we’re making to our T Level Technical Qualification fees for 2024-25. Read more.  

Key Dates Schedule consultation  

Have your say: We’d like your feedback on our proposed T Level Key Dates Schedule for 2024-25 and 2025-26, focusing on both the content and structure of this document. Please review our guidance and the proposed document before submitting your feedback. You can access these here.

The deadline for feedback is 10 May 2024. Following this, we’ll review your comments and publish a response to queries and feedback, before confirming a final version by 1 July 2024.

Supporting your delivery

We have a range of drop-in clinics, live CPD events and on-demand recordings to support your T Level delivery. This includes an interactive session ahead of the summer ESP, hosted by our Customer Support and Provider Development teams. We also have sector-specific support available, including sessions on ‘preparing students for debates and discussions’ and ‘legislative changes in early years’ for the Education and Early Years T Level, and ‘preparing for year two delivery’ for the Health and Science T Levels. Take a look at the support available.

Education and Early Years specific updates   

Update to Assignment 2 tutor and student guides: We wanted to make you aware of a small error in the Early Years Educator Assignment 2 tutor guide. On page 71, the criterion states ‘S4.24’ but this should be ‘S4.23’. The assessed skills description beneath is for the S4.23 criterion which is correct, and it’s only the number that is incorrect. You and your students shouldn’t be affected if following the skills on this page. The student guide also references ‘S4.24’ on page 6 where this should also be ‘S4.23’ in line with the tutor guide. We’re updating these guides for the next academic year to ensure the correct criterion number is shown, and we apologise for any confusion this may have caused. 

Heath, Healthcare Science and Science specific updates 

Entering marks for T Level Technical Qualification in Health (Level 3) (Delivered by NCFE) 603/7066/X: Please ensure that you enter your marks for all students before the assessment window deadlines, following the relevant deadlines below foreach part. You should also make sure you withdraw any inactive students before entering marks. 

For T Level Technical Qualification in Health (Level 3) (Delivered by NCFE) 603/7066/X, there are two separate assessment windows: 

• Part 1: Practical Activity Assessment (PAA) Core, 15 April 2024 – 26 April 2024 
• Part 2: Practical Activity Assessment (PAA) Option, 29 April 2024 – 17 May 2024. 

Your marks must be submitted to the Portal at the end of the assessment window: 

• For Part 1 (Core) the final submission deadline is midnight on 26 April 2024 
• For Part 2 (Option) the final submission deadline is midnight on 17 May 2024. 

Please follow this guidance when entering marks into the Portal.

Reminders on assessment materials and window dates for Health, Healthcare Science and Science 

• The assessment materials for the Healthcare Science OS – Assisting with Healthcare and Science OS – Science are now available to download.  
• The Health OS Core assessment window opened on 15 April 2024. 
• The Health OS Pathways assessment window will open on 29 April 2024. 

Please remember that the Portal will close at the end of the assessment window, as outlined in the Key Date Schedule (KDS). All student marks must be entered before the Portal closes and any inactive students must be withdrawn. 

Once the Portal closes, students selected for remote moderation will be displayed in the ‘Bookings’ area of the Portal the following day.  For information watch our ’view students selected for moderation and upload evidence’ video. You will need to log into the Portal to see which students have been selected for sampling.  

The required evidence for each student selected for sampling must be uploaded within three working days of the assessment window closing. Providers must ensure that adequate resource is available during this time to upload evidence required for moderation.   

The evidence upload checklist detailing what evidence  must be uploaded for each student is available within the assessment materials pack.   

Please refer to the TQ Portal and Online Assessment User Guide, for guidance about  how to view students selected for sampling and how to upload student evidence.   

Failure to submit evidence within the required timescales will result in delays to final moderation and student results. This will also affect your provider's risk rating following moderation. Failing to submit evidence may result in potential maladministration and will be referred to our Provider Assurance team for further review.