BTEC Tech Awards March 2022 update

BTEC Tech Awards, currently on Key Stage 4 Performance Tables 

As a reminder, the current suite of BTEC Tech Awards has recently been redeveloped, and the final registration opportunity will be 31st December 2022. They will be replaced with the new suite of Tech Awards qualifications for First Teach September 2022. See table for full details.

What does the withdrawal of these qualifications mean to your centre? 

The final registration date for the current version of the qualifications is 31 December 2022, with final certification 31 August 2023.  The final external assessment will be summer 2023.  

From September 2022:

• Learners who plan to certificate in summer 2023 can continued to be registered onto the current qualifications. 

• Learners who plan to certificate in 2024 onwards will need to be registered on the new 2022 versions of the qualifications.

The final registration and certification dates apply to centres in all nations.  

BTEC First Awards on Performance Tables in 2022 and 2023

The BTEC First Awards, will remain available for registration but will not be on Performance Tables after 2023. 

For September 2022, learners who plan to certificate in summer 2023, can continue to be registered on the current qualification. 

Learners who plan to certificate in 2024 onwards will need to be registered on the new 2022 versions of the BTEC Tech Awards qualifications if a Performance Measured qualification is needed.  

If performance measures are not important or relevant to your centre (for example in Northern Ireland and Wales), you will be able to continue to register on the First Award Qualification whilst they remain available for registrations. 

Registration and transition Guidance

Year 9 learners 

My year 9 learners have started on current BTEC Tech Awards or BTEC First Awards, and will certificate in 2024, what does my centre need to do?

• If you need your learner’s performance to be recorded in 2024 Key stage 4 Performance Tables, they will need to be transferred onto the new 2022 versions of the BTEC Tech Awards qualifications. These learners should not be completing any assessments on current Tech Awards or First Awards qualifications and should be withdrawn from assessments. Pearson will write to the exam officers to support you with this activity  

• Assessment for the new 2022 Tech Awards will be available from September 2022 onwards.  

• If you do not need leaners to achieve a performance table qualification, they can complete the qualification they are registered on. However, please be aware of final external assessment opportunities and certification dates.

Year 10 Learners

If your learners are registered on a current BTEC Tech Awards or BTEC First Awards, and will be certificating in 2023, their results will count in the 2023 Performance Tables, they should continue on the current qualifications. Please be aware of the final assessment opportunities and certification dates. 

Learners starting Year 10 in September 2022 and needing a qualification that will count in the 2024 Performance tables will need to be registered on the new 2022 versions of the BTEC Tech Awards.

Year 10 learners can be registered on a BTEC First Award in September 2022, however these qualifications will not count on 2024 Performance Tables.

Year 11 Learners registering in September 2022

Year 11 Learners who will complete the qualifications in one academic year starting from September 2022 may choose to register on the current Tech Awards, with a reminder that the final assessment opportunity is summer 2023.

Year 11 learners may register on the above First Awards but will need to be certificated in Summer 2023 to count in 2023 Performance tables.   

Pearson will review registration data and assessment entries and will contact centres where we think you might have made incorrect entries. We will support transition to the correct qualifications where necessary, however the responsibility remains with centres to ensure your learners are registered on the correct qualification.