Apprentices: Assessments

(asked on 19th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate teacher-assessed grades for functional skills tests where apprentices cannot travel to a test centre safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Answered by
Baroness Berridge Portrait
Baroness Berridge
This question was answered on 2nd February 2021

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has meant that it was not always viable for external exams and assessments to go ahead for some vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) this year, this includes Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs).

The department and Ofqual launched a consultation on 15 January 2021, seeking views by 29 January 2021, on the department’s position that Functional Skills qualification assessments should continue to take place remotely or in line with public health guidelines where possible, and that alternative arrangements should be introduced for those learners, including apprentices, who are unable to access assessments. The consultation on alternative arrangements for the award of VTQs and other general qualifications is published here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/953003/6743-2_2021_VTQ_alternative_arrangements_consultation_15JAN21.pdf .

The approach for providing Functional Skills learners, including apprentices, with a result through alternative arrangements will be determined in light of the consultation. Until the outcome of the consultation is known, we can confirm that active apprentices who are deemed ready to take their FSQ assessments can still do so if it is in line with public health guidelines. This means apprentices can take their assessment at work or remotely, using flexibilities made available by their awarding organisation.

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