Top-ups for qualifications awarded via the ‘Q-TAG’ process
In order to facilitate the Appeals process this year, certificates will start to be printed in mid-September, where an appeal has not been logged.
All remaining certificates for qualifications that received results via the ‘Q-TAG’ process will be in centres by 7 November 2021, following the completion of the Appeals process.
In light of this (as certification is required before Top-ups can be made) if you are intending to Top-up learners, who certificated under the Q-TAG process, onto a larger sized qualification, we can confirm it will be possible to do this after certification has happened from mid-September. Once certificates are issued, you can Top-up learners through Edexcel Online as in previous years. There are no late fees associated with this, and your understanding is appreciated.
If you have learners who certificated prior to summer 2021 you can complete the Top-ups now through Edexcel Online. Guidance for this can be found on our website.
For our QCF Public Services qualifications expiring on 31 August 2021, there is a different process (due to the earlier end date), if you offer this qualification, we will be communicating with your Examinations Office and Quality Nominee separately.
Funding
There are no implications for funding for qualifications as you will be able to Top-up learners on the ILR after you receive your certificates. You may wish to Top-up learners on the ILR earlier.
Drop-downs
In more normal years, you may have learners that might choose a different course of study after their first year, and not go on to complete the second year of their course. We have previously offered a ‘Drop-down’ service to support you to certificate on smaller qualifications, where the relevant unit achievement has been met.
Our alternative arrangements, approved by Ofqual, extended to all learners due to be assessed between 1 August 2020 – 31 August 2021, in light of this you may now find that you have an eligible learner due to the need to ‘Drop-down’ onto a smaller qualification.
To be fair to these learners, they can be considered eligible for the ‘Q-TAG’ process, though we would expect for only a few learners to be in this situation, we will facilitate the processing of ‘Q-TAG’ judgements for them. It may be that you have full unit assessment, but in most cases where the external assessment was cancelled, you may find that you do not. You should follow last year’s Q-TAG guidance to confirm your centre’s Q-TAG judgement for these learners.
We will be publishing administration guidance to facilitate these Drop-down requests on our new page as soon as the processing arrangements are confirmed.