Updated 4.09.2020 13:07
Performance Table Qualifications (PTQs)
Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs)
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
End-point Assessments (EPA)
New VTCT Infection Prevention Qualifications
Information on our suite of sector-specific Infection Prevention Qualifications can be found here.
VTCT and iTEC Beauty and Massage Therapies Announcement
Important Notice for Centres Offering VTCT or iTEC qualifications in beauty therapy, nail services, make-up services, and massage therapies.
Restrictions on close contact services have now been lifted in regions of the UK. VTCT ask their centres to ensure they keep up to date on this position by visiting the Government’s website, due to local lock-downs being in place in some areas.
VTCT Statement on the issue of Summer 2020 Results for Performance Table Qualifications
VTCT is pleased to confirm that all results for VTCT performance table qualifications have been issued on time. VTCT used a quality assurance model to standardise Centre Assessed Grades (CAG), and all component grades and qualifications awarded by VTCT under the Extraordinary Regulatory Framework (ERF) remain valid and reliable, enjoying full public and stakeholder confidence.
Updated Policy Documents
To access the following documents, please click here and go to the Additional Downloads section”
- COVID-19 Appeals Policy and Procedures Addendum
- COVID-19 Complaints Policy and Procedure Addendum
- COVID-19 Malpractice Policy and Procedure Addendum
Centre Re-opening Information
Following the release of the Government guidelines ‘Keeping workers and clients safe during COVID-19 in close contact services’ on 23 June 2020, it has been confirmed that Hairdressing and Barbering services are now permitted to be undertaken.
VTCT want to support centres in re-opening safely and have produced guidance information for centres to follow.
It will be the responsibility of the centre and training provider to ensure that the information is adhered to when preparing for internal practical assessments within the training environment.
VTQ 2020 Extraordinary Regulatory Framework (ERF)
Following the Ofqual Consultation between 24th April and 8th May for ‘VTQ 2020 Extraordinary Regulatory Framework (ERF)’, Ofqual has now launched the ERF and published the changes that they have made to the ERF as a result of feedback received.
The final documentation on the ERF can be accessed here. We strongly encourage you to read this to understand what it means for you.
To support, Ofqual has developed an interactive tool which can be accessed here. This will provide you with clarity around whether your qualifications fall in or out of the scope of the ERF and what the primary mitigation approach would be for the qualification.
Further documentation that Ofqual have put together for guidance can be found here:
• Guidance for centres – the collection of guidance they have created for schools, students and parents on how vocational and technical qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020.
• Video: Update for Centres 22 May – information for schools and colleges submitting centre assessment grades in summer 2020
• Contingency plan for England, Wales and Northern Ireland – Guidance on what schools, colleges and other centres should do if exams or other assessments are seriously disrupted
• AoC webinar on Technical and vocational assessment in summer 2020 – recording of the webinar held on 21 April 2020 looking at key areas on VTQ assessment in summer 2020
Performance Table Qualifications (PTQs)
VTCT has been working closely with our regulators to ensure the most appropriate way forward is in place for learners to progress with their vocational and technical qualifications. VTCT has been working through each of the qualifications in our portfolio and aligning them to a mitigation approach. The approach to awarding will depend on the qualification’s primary purpose.
VTCT has identified that our performance table qualifications (PTQs) are appropriate for the estimation mitigation approach.
If you are not sure if your qualification is a PTQ please check with this list of qualifications
We have put together a number of guidance resources to support and explain what this means for your further. Please see the documentation and webinars below.
Documentation
• Ofqual guidance on objectivity in grading and ranking
• Technical Award Grade Estimation and Centre guidance
• Technical Certificate and Technical Level Grade Estimation Centre Guidance
• Applied General Grade Estimation Centre Guidance
• Guide to completing the learner profile PTQ grade estimation data collection (phase 1) (centre login required)
• Employer Engagement Declaration
• Head of Centre Declaration
• Technical Certificate and Technical Level Qualifications centre estimated grades
• Technical Award centre estimated grades for assessment components
• Applied General Qualifications centre estimated grades for assessment components
• PTQ Grade Estimation Infogram
Webinars
• Recording of the PTQ webinar
• PTQ Webinar presentation slides
• FAQs collated from PTQ webinar
• Recording of the PTQ Phase 2 Webinar
• PTQ Webinar Phase 2 presentation slides
• FAQs collated from PTQ Phase 2 webinar
• VTCT Performance Table Qualification Webinar Part 3– FAQs
• Recording of the Malpractice and maladministration webinar
• Malpractice and maladministration Webinar presentation slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar recording
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 collated FAQs
VTCT wish to support graduating learners in completing their qualifications in order to support learner progression.
The additional assessment series, which will be available throughout the year, will give the flexibility that is needed in these uncertain times. Centres are now able to schedule learners in the e-testing system for these contingency assessment series. All of the assessment series are open and we have been flexible with the deadlines to schedule learners. The default delivery method of these examinations will be online only. This is necessary so VTCT is able to issue results within the turnaround period published.
The Contingency Key Dates Document is available to access here and on our qualification pages. In addition, the synoptic assessment briefs and assignment briefs that VTCT published for 2019-2020 will remain valid for all assessments up until the 31 December 2020.
Centres with queries about this contingency planning for Performance Tables Qualifications should contact customersupport@vtct.org.uk
Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs)
VTCT has been working closely with our regulators, to ensure the most appropriate way forward is in place for learners to progress with their vocational and technical qualifications. VTCT has been working through each of the qualifications in our portfolio and aligning them to a mitigation approach. The approach to awarding will depend on the qualification’s primary purpose. VTCT has identified that a majority of our VRQs are appropriate for the adaptation mitigation approach. There are a handful of VRQs that are appropriate for estimation. Please see the list of VRQ qualifications to find out the mitigation approach for your qualification.
VTCT has put together a number of guidance resources to support and explain what this means for you. Please see the documentation and webinars below.
Documentation
• Guidance document that you will need to carry out adaptations
• Guide to completing the Quality Assurance Notification Form (centre login required)
• Quality Assurance Notification form (centre login to access required)
• VRQ Mitigation Amendments, 2nd July 2020
• Checklist for re-opening VRQ and NVQ Hairdressing and Barbering
• Sample Risk assessment
Webinars
• Recording of the VRQ webinar
• VRQ webinar presentation slides
• Malpractice and maladministration webinar
• Malpractice and maladministration slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar recording
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 collated FAQs
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
Documentation
• NVQ Webinar presentation slides
• Adaptation Guidance for NVQs
Webinars
End-point Assessment services
Re-scheduling of EPAs
Following the recent Government guidelines which stated that the personal care service sector will potentially reopen on 4 July 2020, VTCT is now scheduling bookings for End-point Assessments for Hairdressing from the 29 July and Barbering and Beauty Therapy from 17th August. Please be aware, however, that this is dependent on further government guidelines and therefore may be subject to change.
If you have any questions regarding this please contact epa@vtct.org.uk or customersupport@vtct.org.uk.
VTCT (ITEC) Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention (COVID-19) for Hairdressing and Barbering Services
In order to help embed best practice and assist with building the confidence of both our Training Providers/employers, apprentices and their clients on how to “return back” safely, VTCT have released the Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention (COVID-19) for Hairdressing and Barbering Services.
This is a regulated qualification and will be made available for registration from Wednesday 10th June 2020.
VTCT has drawn upon a wide variety of reference materials applicable to the personal services sector which include the World Health Organisation (WHO) and national authorities in the UK and around the world, as well as from our experiences through our International activities in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore where we have seen the reopening of businesses since the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Each qualification will allow learners to develop knowledge on the causes, transmission and effects of COVID-19, the importance of social responsibility and the methods used to control transmission such as correct hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They will also gain an understanding of the safe working practices required to protect themselves and their clients.
Documentation
• Checklist for Apprenticeship Assessors (Step 8 of the 10 step process for Hair and Step 10 of the 12 Step process for Beauty)
• Checklist for Re-opening Hairdressers and Barbers
• Hair Professional and Beauty Professional End-point Assessment Guidance Document for COVID-19 (coming soon)
• Sample Risk Assessment form
• Hair and Barbering Apprentice Health Declaration form
• Beauty Therapy Apprentice Health Declaration form
• Hair and Barbering Client Health Declaration form which includes client guidance for End-point Assessments
• Beauty Therapy Client Health Declaration form which includes client guidance for End-point Assessments
• Hair and Barbering Generic Health Declaration form
• Beauty Therapy Generic Health Declaration form
Webinars
• End-point Assessment Guidance during COVID-19 webinar recording
• End-point Assessment Guidance during COVID-19 webinar slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar recording
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 webinar slides
• Exceptional arrangements for Technical and Vocational qualifications in 2020 collated FAQs
Customer support
Given the Government’s recent announcement on non-essential travel and contact, VTCT staff have been asked to cancel all non-essential travel as of Tuesday 17 March. The VTCT Customer Support team will be running with a reduced line capacity. As a result, if you have a non-urgent query, please contact Customer Support via email on CustomerSupport@vtct.org.uk.
If your query is urgent, please call VTCT Customer Support on 023 8068 4500. If we are unable to answer your call, due to high call volumes, please do call back again later. Customer Support will then take your contact details and a representative will call you back within two hours.
Thank you for your understanding, commitment and support during these unprecedented times, where our focus must be on preserving public health and wellbeing, whilst retaining capability to provide effective support to centres.
Business Continuity
VTCT has an established business continuity process, supported by a designated Covid-19 Task Force (C-19TF). The latter is drawn from senior representation from across the organisation, all with a strong understanding of the key processes and systems, and the needs of our employees, centres and stakeholders. Business continuity arrangements are being reviewed and managed in line with the latest government advice regarding Covid-19 and as the situation evolves. The C-19TF will continue to meet frequently to review the ongoing situation and latest UK Government and World Health Organisation (WHO) official advice. This team is responding to queries and preparing and issuing guidance, ensuring the organisation is prepared to respond to the changing situation.
Working together with, and guided by the qualification regulators, VTCT is monitoring the ongoing Covid-19 situation. We understand that centres may have queries or concerns as to how this may impact the delivery of any VTCT qualifications and any upcoming assessments.
Irish centres please visit the iTEC Ireland website for specific information related to Ireland