Vocational qualifications results in summer 2023

Ofqual, which regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England, has conducted a review into the issuing of late results for some OCR and Pearson vocational qualifications in summer 2022. As part of the review, Ofqual has also published an action plan to prevent such delays from reoccurring.

Three new deadlines have been introduced to ensure that awarding bodies issue complete and correct level 3 vocational qualifications (VQ) results this summer. Ofqual has published a statement  following on from the action plan that was published earlier this year.  The deadlines will apply to VQs taken by learners in Wales that are used alongside or instead of A levels, for progression to further or higher education. that are used alongside or instead of A levels, for progression to further or higher education.  

The three deadlines are: 

• Friday 26 May 2023 – the latest date by which awarding bodies, schools and colleges agree which learners expect to receive a result by 17 August 2023 

• Friday 23 June 2023 – the latest date by which awarding bodies, schools and colleges agree the remaining information or evidence needed for each learner to receive a result 

• Monday 14 August 2023 – the latest date by which awarding bodies should issue results to schools and colleges (except for WJEC and AQA vocational qualifications, which will be issued alongside general qualifications results on 16 August 2023) 

The first two deadlines are designed to bring the eligibility checking process for awarding bodies, schools and colleges forward into term time, so that learners receive their results on time. They do not replace awarding bodies’ existing processes such as marking, moderation and verification.