Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with a) NCFE, b) Ofqual and c) the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on the results for T-Levels in (a) health, (b) healthcare science and (c) science in 2022.

The department has worked with Ofqual, the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE), and NCFE to determine the factors which contributed to students receiving grades for their first-year assessments which were lower than expected for T Levels in Health, Healthcare Science and Science.

Ofqual have now concluded, through an independent expert review, that the examination papers set by NCFE were flawed. New grades will be issued on the basis of other evidence, with an assurance that students’ grades will not be any lower than those originally issued. Students will also be able to retake assessments twice before the end of their course, should they choose to do so, and only the highest grade will count.

Training providers were briefed by the Chief Regulator at Ofqual and senior officials from the department and IfATE on 7th September, in order to provide clarity for students as rapidly as possible.