Service messages

Updated on [14/11/2024]

Welcome to our service messages area. This area is regularly updated with the latest information about our products, qualifications, processes and more.

We’ll also send you a monthly newsletter where we’ll highlight any key updates, and you can click through to this webpage to read the full details. We recommend bookmarking this page so that you can check back regularly for any updates!

November 2024

VTQ timely delivery of results

• We recently shared our arrangements to ensure the timely delivery of vocational technical qualifications (VTQ) results for learners in 2024-25. Take a look at our webpage to find out everything you need to know about our two term-time checkpoints this academic year, the qualifications in scope of these arrangements, information we need from you and when, and the consequences of failure to meet deadlines for information requests.

Key dates and timetables

• Remember that you must register your learners within 90 days of their start date to avoid late registration fees. Please ensure you add your learners’ correct planned end dates at the point of registration.
• We wanted to remind you that from summer 2025 onwards, we’ll be bringing forward the completion date for EQA reviews to 30 June. Please contact your External Quality Assurer if you have any queries on this.

Qualification updates and withdrawals

• View our latest Horizons document, featuring qualification updates and maintenance information including qualification withdrawals, new qualifications, and qualification amendments.
• We’ve updated our Regulations for the Conduct of External Assessments for 2024-25. View all the updates and access the latest version of the regulations.

Exams officers’ update

• View this month's update.

Functional Skills

• Look at the latest information on Functional Skills bookings over the festive break, including paper-based and online assessments.
• To support your planning, view our schedule for introducing new assessments into the live assessment paper bank for the remainder of the 2025 session, as during these periods our usual 6 working day turnaround will be paused.
• Sign up for our November maths, English and Digital Skills CPD events, including angles and coordinates, effective communication skills and being safe and responsible online.

T Levels

• View our latest T Level communications.

V Certs

• View our V Cert service messages.

Supporting your delivery

• Sign up now for our upcoming Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance training events to meet virtually with other professionals and expand your knowledge and understanding. If you have any questions on this training, please contact the team at [email protected].

• If any contact details have changed at your centre such as programme contact, head of centre, finance or exams contact, it’s important to let us know. It’s quick and easy to notify us by filling in this form: change of centre contact details form, and this will allow us to continue communicating important updates to the correct individuals.
• Our Professional Development Week is back from 16-20 December to support teachers, assessors, senior leaders and support staff with their teaching and learning, improving confidence and enhancing learner engagement. Find out more and sign up now.

Our impact

• Read our newly launched Social Impact Report 2024, to explore how we’re making a difference to learners, educators, institutions, the wider community and society, through our qualifications and investments.

Horizons archive

Explore our Horizons portfolio update from 2024 and beyond below to learn more about our current offer.