Service messages

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!

Page last updated: 21/03/2024

March 2024

Important updates

• VTQ term-time checks reminder: The first VTQ term-time checkpoint is now closed, and we want to thank you for submitting your information to us. If you haven’t yet completed your check, our team will have been in contact with you. The window for the second term-time checkpoint will open on 15 April 2024 and the deadline will be 3 May 2024. You can also access Ofqual’s VTQ information hub for further support. 
  
  
• Aspiration Awards: Nominations for our Aspiration Awards are closing this Friday (22 March), and we want to hear from you! Thank you to everyone who's already submitted a nomination – we’ve loved reading your inspiring stories. If you haven’t had the chance to submit a nomination yet, there’s still time, find out more about how to enter, browse the categories and submit your nominations. 

Assessments and reviews

• Model 5 (NEW) V Cert assessment support: As we approach the final stages of the assessment window for our Level 1/2 Technical Award qualifications, we want to remind you of some key dates and guidance. It’s important to meet all deadlines outlined to ensure your learners receive accurate and timely results. Visit our new V Cert assessment support webpage for more information on deadlines, how to access assessment materials, moderation and uploading of learner evidence, the benefits of online assessment and sources of support. 
  
  You can also sign up for our new V Cert Assessor and Internal Quality Assurer Training, a training opportunity for practitioners involved in the delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance of our V Cert technical awards. This training will provide the chance to expand your knowledge and understanding of the Model 5 qualifications. Find out more and sign up here.
   
• Model 4 V Certs internal assessments: We wanted to share information about booking your learners onto the Model 4 V Certs non-examined assessment, withdrawing learners and upcoming submission dates. Please note that Model 4 V Certs require an external quality assurance review (Model 5 V Certs don’t require EQA reviews). To book this, please contact your External Quality Assurer as soon as possible. As a reminder, EQA reviews must be completed by 31 July 2024 to ensure timely results.

Qualification updates

• Horizons qualification updates document: View our recent qualification updates and maintenance information, such as qualification withdrawals, new qualifications and qualification amendments.
  
  
• Graded qualifications and External Quality Assurer (EQA) reviews: We wanted to remind you that EQAs must receive grades for at least one completed unit ahead of your EQA review, to select learners for sampling and make a judgement on whether the grading criteria has been applied in line with the qualification specification. These grades must be submitted via the Portal prior to your EQA review.
  
  Following the review, the unit grades will either be accepted and banked by your EQA or, if they disagree with the grades, they’ll be rejected. If a grade is rejected, you must reassess, re-grade, internally quality assure and resubmit the new unit grade in line with EQA actions.   
  
  
• V Certs approved for 2026 performance tables: 11 of our V Certs will continue to be approved by the Department for Education (DfE) and count towards Key Stage 4 performance tables for 2026. This is great news for year 10 learners considering their options from September 2024. 

Resources and support 

• Functional Skills – a guide to compliance: Register for our upcoming webinar on 15 April, designed for all staff involved in maths and English Functional Skills assessments, where we’ll discuss regulations and how to ensure compliance. 
   
• Functional Skills onboarding: Catch up on our latest monthly onboarding webinar for information on our Functional Skills qualifications for new centres and staff. You can also find out more about all upcoming Functional Skills maths and English training events.
  
  
• Have your say – V Cert in Business and Enterprise: To continue to improve our support package, we need your feedback on our tutor guidance for the NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Business and Enterprise (603/7004/X). Have your say in our short survey before 12 April.
  
  
• Sign up your learners for our first Health student conference: Taking place on 25 June from 10am-12pm, this student conference will focus on ‘Digital Healthcare Revolution: Transforming Healthcare with Technology’. Your students will delve into the dynamic realm of technology in healthcare and explore how healthcare professionals are using technology to enhance patient outcomes. 
  
  
• Education and Early Years teaching assistant forum events: Our free TA forum events offer interactive CPD opportunities, to help teaching assistants to build on their existing knowledge and skills in supporting children and young people within teaching and learning environments. Sign up for the next event in May, which will focus on supporting literacy skills. 
  
  
• Monthly exams officer update: View this month’s update which includes important reminders specifically for exams officers, upcoming events and resources to help you.  

Reforms 

Reminder: we’re here to support you through the post-16 reforms: As other awarding organisations look to stop provision after the post-16 reforms, we’re supporting you with a positive future. We’re working with industry specialists to develop a suite of new qualifications and ensure no learner is left behind. 

If you have concerns about the future, here’s what you can do:  

• Talk to our experts who can offer you hands-on support and continuity for your learners. 
• Stay informed about the post-16 reforms through our dedicated webpage. 

Approvals 

The T Level approval window is now open: If you’d like to deliver T Levels for the first time from September 2024, or deliver additional T Levels, you’ll need to apply for approval via our website before 28 June 2024. 

Horizons archive

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