DfE guidance on vocational contingencies published
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its guidance on contingencies for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) and other general qualifications.
It has retained the provisions in the VTQ Contingency Regulatory Framework (VCRF) which would enable awarding organisations to issue results based on alternative evidence, including teacher assessed grades (TAGs), should that become necessary. These provisions are not currently needed as exams and other formal assessments are able to go ahead. If the government decided that it was not viable for exams and other formal assessments to take place at any point in the future because of COVID-19, Ofqual would be able to put these provisions back into effect quickly.
Building on the research Ofqual undertook this summer, it is also working with awarding organisations to review their approach to teacher assessed grades (TAGs). This includes where it might be appropriate to implement the improvements proposed for GCSEs, AS and A levels, should it be necessary to introduce them in the future.
Read moreLatest News
24/04/2026 - 12:32
A survey by Save My Exams has found that 40% of students are regularly disrupted by noise at home.
23/04/2026 - 10:13
A survey of 1,105 teachers reveals many senior leaders reporting cuts to teaching assistants (71%), support staff (49%) and teaching staff (30%).
23/04/2026 - 09:30
A report from the Digital Poverty Alliance show that while digital tools are now embedded across school routines, access and usability remain deeply uneven.
22/04/2026 - 09:28
School food improvement programme Nourish is set to launch in Cumberland in 2026, working with schools to improve the quality and culture of food throughout the school day
21/04/2026 - 07:18
The government has announced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening freedom of speech and academic freedom across universities
