Some BTEC Schools and Colleges have raised questions with their BTEC Standards Verifiers regarding sampling. In order to help support you in working together during the standards verification window, we hope the following question and answers provides the clarification you need:
A programme in our centre has been allocated for Enhanced Control sampling but we cannot provide two units this year. What will my Standards Verifier (SV) sample?
If certification is required in summer 2022 and you are delivering a second unit this year outside of the sampling window, then permission for a late sample may be granted, providing this can take place by 30 June 2022. The SV can also sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme, providing it has not been certificated, previously sampled in 2020/21, or subject to U-TAG Quality Assurance.
If certification is required in summer 2022 and there is only one unit available to sample due to the qualification size, then the SV will sample that unit.
If certification is not required in summer 2022, the SV will sample what is available as an ‘Not Yet Fully Sampled’ (NYFS) sample.
Due to our assessment plan, we are unable to provide a full unit for sampling until after the sampling window. Will a sample still need to take place?
Firstly, the SV will enquire as to whether you can amend your assessment plan to ensure a full unit is available within the sampling window. This is the best way for us to ensure secure certification for your learners, and your consideration is appreciated. Understandably, this may not be possible and the SV will not insist that you do so.
The SV can also sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme providing it has not been certificated, previously sampled in 2020/21, or subject to a U-TAG.
In exceptional circumstances, and only where possible, permission for a late sample may be granted, providing this can take place by 30 June 2022. Any sampling undertaken past this date may result in delays to certification.
We are running the first year of the programme (so no certificating learners) but are assigned Enhanced Control. There is only one component/unit available for sampling. What will the SV sample?
If it is the first year of the programme and no certification is required, the SV will sample the one unit/component available and set the report to ‘Not Yet Fully Sampled’ (NYFS) .
We do not have any units available for sampling due to U-TAGs and/or streamlined assessment. What will the SV sample?
This scenario would only occur on smaller sized qualifications. If certification is not required, sampling will be deferred until next year. Centres in this situation will have had Pearson Quality Assurance of their U-TAG judgements earlier this academic year.
If certification is required, the SV can sample a unit from Year 1 of the programme providing it has not been certificated or previously fully sampled in 2020/21. They are also able to sample the streamlined component/unit if a Year 1 unit is unavailable.
