Supporting our International partners during COVID-19

Pearson is committed to supporting our international partners through the challenges presented by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and, as a valued customer, we wanted to share an update on how we intend to support you as an organisation during this challenging time.

We have been closely following public health recommendations concerning the spread of this virus and we are working closely with governments and local public health authorities to ensure we are always able to act in the best interests of our colleagues and our customers.

We wanted to let you know, we are working closely with Ofqual (our qualifications regulator) with regards to assessment and awarding and are monitoring the situation closely. We want to ensure we can support you in the best way possible over the coming weeks and months. 

The education community has not faced this level of disruption in generations but, unlike any time in the past, we are able to support you through a range of digital learning resources. We are also working swiftly to make these resources available as soon as possible. As soon as these become available we will be in direct contact with you.

Please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to ensure we can best support you and your learners at this time.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your Pearson Representative.

I’d like to share an update with you as, following close discussions with the Department for Education, awarding bodies and other stakeholders, Ofqual has today announced further information about how some vocational and technical qualifications will be awarded in 2020.

BTEC Nationals

Ofqual recognises that BTEC qualifications offer learners similar progression opportunities as level 2 and 3 General Qualifications (GCSEs and A levels) and, therefore, the approach that will be taken with these qualifications is similar to the one being used for General Qualifications.

Standards Verification and External Examination for internally assessed units will continue where arrangements have already been made. However, if sampling hasn't been possible, we'll be following UK guidance and will not be continuing to sample in the usual way.

We expect the approach will involve input from teachers and tutors, at qualification and unit level, to contribute to a calculated result and we'll follow up with teachers and tutors to capture this information when we have more information and guidance from Ofqual. In the meantime, please refer to  today’s published advice from Ofqual for more information.

Higher Nationals (Level 4 and Level 5)

We recognise that some providers around the world are continuing their Higher National delivery online and are continuing to teach and assess where they can. As such, in some situations, it will be possible for certification to continue through remote sampling. Where there are units or learning outcomes that are unsuitable for online delivery, advice and guidance will be provided regarding ways to adjust assessments or how to select suitable alternative units. If it's not possible for assessment to continue using the above approaches, we'll ask tutors to calculate grades using their professional judgment and supporting evidence. We will make guidance available to centres on the process to follow in terms of grade calculation.  

The same assessment and certification approach will be followed for Higher Nationals whether they are delivered in the UK or internationally.

Support and resources offer

I'm sure you'll have many questions and we have a Q&A section with more details on what the Ofqual decisions mean for you and your learners.

We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to best support you and your learners at this time. We have dedicated this webpage where you'll find:

• News, advice and guidance and our free online support offer 
• Online webinars with guidance to support the move from face-to-face teaching to remote learning
• Direct access to our free online support offer of ebooks available until August, which you can choose to share with your learners
• Assessment updates for BTEC.
  

Thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. We'll continue to keep you updated. If, in the meantime, you have any questions, please contact your Pearson Representative.

Best Wishes

Cindy Rampersaud
Senior Vice President BTEC and Apprenticeships

Following our 9 April update about the Ofqual announcement that calculated results will be issued in summer for vocational, technical and other general qualifications that lead to further or higher education, Ofqual has today published its consultation on how these qualifications will be graded and awarded.

The consultation covers many of Pearson’s qualifications, which are delivered internationally, including the BTEC Level 3 Nationals (QCF) and BTEC HNC/HND. Ofqual’s proposal is for Awarding Organisations, including Pearson, to decide how to award grades for vocational qualifications being delivered internationally. 

Our priority remains to help learners progress to the next stage in their lives, and we will endeavour to award to as many learners as possible within best practice from Ofqual guidelines, as well as taking account of local regulations. Please see our updated FAQs for vocational and technical qualifications here for further details. 

We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to best support you and your learners at this time. Our website is updated daily with the latest news, advice and guidance and our free online resource offers to enable learning to continue for the rest of the academic year. If you have any further questions, please contact your Pearson representative.

Thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. We will continue to keep you updated.

Best wishes,

Cindy Rampersaud
Senior Vice President, BTEC and Apprenticeships