BTEC Approach to Adaptation to Delivery and Assessment in 20-21
Please note: This information is now out of date. Please refer to our new Teaching, learning and assessment 2021/2022 pages for the latest updates.
Following discussions with Ofqual and the Department for Education, we are now able to give you a further update on our adaptation approach for vocational assessments in the 2020/21 academic year.
Below is a summary of the adaptations permitted for BTEC qualifications.
Summary of adaptations
In order to mitigate against future disruptions to assessment delivery, we ask that centres ‘bank’ learners’ internal assessment grades within our systems throughout course delivery (using the ‘Interim claim’ function), rather than waiting to submit grades at the end of the academic year.
To support the above adaptations, we are encouraging centres to teach and assess all mandatory content first, working towards completing as many assessments as possible, and to make use of the January/February exam series, if learners are ready to be assessed.
Please refer to the following documents on our 2020/21 Support page for further guidance:
- BTEC Tech Award Adaptations (PDF | 437 KB)
- Exams timetables (you can still provide feedback on the draft summer timetable for BTEC, until 6 November)
- BTEC External Assessment Adaptations (PDF | 263 KB)
- Employer Engagement and Work experience requirements (PDF | 398 KB)
- FAQS
- Teaching and Learning Guides
There is also adaptation information for Work-Based Learning and Functional skills.
Further adaptations may be implemented if disruption to teaching, learning and assessment increases regionally and nationally. We are currently working with Ofqual and the Department for Education on contingency arrangements to further mitigate the impact of increased disruptions, and will let you know about these as soon as decisions are made.
As always, please contact us via our Support Portal if you have any questions and a member of the team will be happy to help. You can also find our Frequently Asked Questions section on the website, which is regularly updated. Further support will be made available through webinars or via your Senior Partnership Manager (for schools), and Curriculum Development Managers (Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges).
Thank you for your continued support and patience, we will continue to keep you updated.
Best wishes,
Cindy Rampersaud
Senior Vice-President
BTEC & Apprenticeships