Vocational Quality Assurance
Manager Newsletter
December 2025
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Dear colleague,
We are still welcoming new Quality Nominees to our community and so the content of this newsletter will continue to give details to ensure new QNs receive the amount of support necessary.
If you have any questions about quality assurance, please contact the team via live chat or the Pearson Support Portal. If you're not already a member, join our QN Community where we share the latest information, and you can network with other BTEC centres. |
- Share the Centre Guide for Standards Verification with programme teams.
- Share sampling control measures with the relevant Lead Internal Verifier.
- BTEC deletion deadline is 31 Dec – ensure all changes are made in good time to avoid any fees
- Review assessment plans to ensure the required sample will be available in the required time frame.
- Remember you can book in some time with your VQAM to discuss any BTEC quality assurance questions you may have.
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To help prepare for Standards verification, programme control measures (PCMs) were sent to the Quality Nominee last week via your Edexcel Online mailbox. Please remind teams that this is an annual activity, and all programmes must be sampled to ensure national standards are being met. For further guidance on PCMs, please review our Centre Guide to Standards Verification, page 8.
It is important that QNs share the Centre Guide to Standards Verification with programme teams so that they can fully understand the process, what documents are required to be sent to the standards verifier, the timelines and size of sample to be prepared.
Allocations for BTEC Level 1 QCF, BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 will commence in January 2026, and you can view who your standards verifier is by following our support article in the new year: BTEC: SV Allocation Details |
How are programme control measures decided?
Each programme's control measure is based on a range of data and quality indicators that together create a balanced view of your centre’s quality assurance profile. Because this process considers multiple factors, it’s not possible to isolate or explain the impact of any single element. What’s important to know is that the system is designed to be fair, consistent, and evidence-led. Sometimes, this means a programme might have an Enhanced control measure for more than one year. |
If I’m unhappy with the programme control measure assigned, can I appeal?
There’s no appeal process for programme control measures. This is because each measure is the result of a holistic review—a fair assessment that looks at many elements together rather than one in isolation. We understand you may want to know more, but this approach ensures equity and consistency for every centre. |
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You will have seen that we launched the first BTEC cohort declaration activity this week as part of the on-going preparation for a successful summer results period in 2026. As a quality nominee, you play a key role in ensuring the accuracy of BTEC learner registrations, so as the first term draws to a close, it’s a good idea to get together with both your Lead IVs and Exams Officer to carry out the checks and balances that will support accurate data for next summer.
Consider:
- assessment planning - are units are available for the standards verification window;
- are students on track and if not, have you got reasonable adjustments in place or can you amend their estimated completion date;
- Check class lists against EOL data – are students registered/withdrawn as appropriate?
On-going checks with curriculum teams and the exams officers will mean a smooth process by summer 2026 and timely results for those students completing next year. |
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Sally and Fiona (Country Manager for Ireland) were delighted to join our Quality Nominees in Northern Ireland on the 19 and 20 November to share curriculum and quality assurance updates. Across the two days, colleagues engaged in productive discussions, exchanged best practices, and collaboratively explored a range of scenarios and case studies. Look out for the summer networks in May, June and July across the UK and we look forward to meeting more of you there. |
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Liz from the VQAM team recently had the pleasure of attending an Exams Officer Network event at East Sussex College - Eastbourne, alongside representatives from AQA and OCR. It was fantastic to meet so many dedicated exams officers and witness the supportive atmosphere as everyone shared good practice and helpful tips to make their roles easier. During the event, we discussed the important ways exams officers can support the quality nominee within their centres and offered advice on how you can make a difference in helping them succeed.
Looking ahead, the VQAM team will be present at several exams officer conferences in January and February. We encourage your exams officers to come and say hello — we're always keen to hear from centres and continue sharing ideas to help make your job as smooth and successful as possible. |
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A reminder that the deadline for submission of BTEC Tech Award PSA marks and the sample is the 15 December. The Learner Work Transfer platform is available now for upload if you wish to submit early. Don’t forget the sample size has increased from this assessment series. |
Cohort size |
Sample size* |
| 1-15 |
All |
| 16-100 |
15 |
| 101-200 |
20 |
| >200 |
25 |
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Pearson - Vocational Quality Assurance is moving in (digitally speaking) with the rest of the family over on the @pearson channel.
Subscribe to @pearson so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll still get the same trusted tips, resources, inspiring stories, and support you rely on — now with even more content from across Pearson, all in one (bigger!) home. |
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Whether you’re new to the role of Quality Nominee or just want a refresher our Roles and Responsibilities of the QN event will support you, we have a range of dates available to suit your schedule.
Use our bitesize video library on our dedicated YouTube channel and on-demand materials to develop your staff CPD.
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Kind regards ,
Helen, Bill, Kieran, Liz & Sally
Vocational Quality Assurance Managers |
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