Ensuring timely delivery of Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) results

Gateway Qualifications is committed to issuing results and certificates as soon as possible following a successful claim from a Centre.

However, we recognise that in specific circumstances, such as learners awaiting results for GCSEs, A levels and Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs), learners will need results before a specific time to ensure progression to further or higher education the following academic year.

In 2022 Ofqual (the regulator for qualifications, examinations and assessments in England) set out actions to support the safe and timely delivery of awarding organisations’ (AOs’) results. Due to the successful delivery of Level 3 results of VTQs in 2023, Ofqual has set out measures to embed timely delivery of results in 2024 and beyond.

On this page you will find:

  • VTQ Requirements
  • Qualifications in scope of these measures
  • Key dates and Deadlines
  • Actions for Centres
VTQ exams officer - on demand

Exams Officer Training: Ensuring timely VTQ results for learners progressing to Further or Higher Education

Training for exam officers (administrators) focusing on the timely delivery of results for the Level 3 in scope Vocational Technical Qualifications (VTQ), for learners who are progressing onto Higher or Further Education courses.

The session covers:
1. A reminder of the qualifications and learners in scope
2. How to register learners
3. How to Identify relevant learners in Quartzweb, using reports and setting statuses
4. How to claim results
5. Key dates, including the submission of results and certification release

Catch up on demand 

Download the presentation slides

Video Guides

We have produced some short video guides to help you complete the following key actions:

  • Set a leaner destination – this can be done in MyQuartz and helps us identify those learners who will need a result alongside GCSE and A Level students in order to progress to HE or another FE course. Watch our Setting a Learner Destination video guide for detailed instructions.
  • Update your Senior Designated Contact – this can also be done in MyQuartz and ensures we have the contact details of the most relevant person close to exams and assessments who is used to being a point of escalation. Our Using Contact Management video guide will provide more guidance.
Gateway Qualifications VTQ Requirements

Ofqual has put in place measures to embed timely delivery of VTQ results which require us to:

  • Work with Centres in term time to identify which learners need a result to progress to further or higher education
    • We will provide further details to Centres on this process in due course.
  • Establish details of a Senior Designated Contact at the Centre.
    • This must be the most relevant person close to exams and assessments who is used to being a point of escalation.
    • We will issue an information request to Centres for this information.
  • Provide key dates on the delivery and administration of assessments and publish a final date for results where learners are seeking to progress to further and higher education in the following academic year.
    • These dates are set out below, and Ofqual will also make this information available on its VTQ Information Hub.
Qualifications in scope

Specific Level 3, Level 1/2 and Level 2 VTQs are in scope of Ofqual’s measures this year:

  1. Level 1/2 and Level 2 Performance Table qualifications
  2. Level 3 that are minimum of 180 guided learning hours and carry a minimum of 16 UCAS points.

None of Gateway Qualifications level 1/2 or level 2 qualifications meet these criteria. The Level 3 qualifications that meet the criteria are:

Care qualifications

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Digital qualifications

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Digital Business Solutions
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Digital Business Solutions
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Digital Engineering Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Digital Engineering Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Digital Product Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Digital Product Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Games Technologies
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Games Technologies
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Networking and Cybersecurity
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Networking and Cybersecurity
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Software Development
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Software Development
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Social Media for E-Commerce
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Social Media for E-Commerce
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Systems Infrastructure
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Systems Infrastructure

Garden Design qualifications

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Garden Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate In Principles and Practice of Garden Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma In Garden Design
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Landscape Construction
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Certificate In Plants and Planting Design

Logistics qualifications

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Logistics

For any learners who fall outside the scope of these measures, you should continue to claim results in the usual way.

Key dates and deadlines
  • December 2023 – Deadline for Centres to confirm whether or not there are learners that need results by the 9th August 2024 to progress to further learning or study.
  • February 2024 – Gateway Qualifications will issue an information request for centres to provide their Senior Designated Contact and confirm learners expecting to receive a result in August 2024.
  • 31st March 2024 – Checkpoint 1: Deadline to confirm which learners are expecting to receive a result in August 2024 and confirm Senior Designated Contact.
  • 30th April 2024 – Checkpoint 2: Confirmation of learners expecting a qualification result in August 2024.
  • 30th June 2024 – Deadline for submission of evidence for quality assurance of assessments
  • 9th August 2024 – Results and certificates issued.

In addition to publishing this information on this webpage, Ofqual will also make this information available on its VTQ Information Hub.

Actions for Centres

If you do have learners in scope:

If you have indicated that your learners do require results by 9th August 2024 to progress to HE or FE, you must:

    • Nominate an appropriate Senior Designated Contact – this is the name of the most relevant person close to exams and assessments who is used to being a point of escalation (this does not necessarily need to be the principal/headteacher)
  • Updating Contact Manager
    • Set the learner destination status to indicate a timely VTQ result is required for FE or HE Progression.
  • Setting Learner Destination Status
    • Respond to information requests and work to key dates and processes we set.
    • Indicate if you require training for Exams Officers
    • Submit results by the 30th June 2024 and ensure all records are available for sampling when requested.

If you confirm that you have learners who require results and fail to respond to our information requests or miss our deadlines for receiving information, this may be treated as malpractice or maladministration in accordance with our Malpractice and Maladministration Policy.

If you do not have learners in scope:

If you indicate that you do not have learners who need results by this date to progress to HE or FE this process will not apply to you. However, you must tell us immediately if that situation changes.

FAQs for Timely Results
Are any of your level 2 qualifications in scope for timely results for Vocational Technical Qualifications (VTQs)?

No, currently we only have level 3 qualifications in scope. For level 2 qualifications, please follow our standard process for claiming certificates as detailed on our Admin Hub

What do you mean by "timely results"?

In specific circumstances, such as learners awaiting results for GCSEs, A levels and Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs), learners will need results before a specific time to ensure progression to further or higher education the following academic year.

How do I record the learners that require results to progress to further or higher education (by 9 August)?

This is recorded by updating the learner status in MyQuartz. Please follow these video instructions:

Setting a Learner Destination (vimeo.com)

What do I do if not all learners within the registered cohort need results by 9 August?

You only need to update the individual learner’s statuses on MyQuartz if the results are needed by 9 August.

Our learners do not require results to progress to further or higher education (by 9 August). Do we need to provide the requested information?

No, but if you initially thought you had learners in scope but no longer do, please email VTQResults@gatewayqualifications.org.uk as soon as possible.

What if learners in scope complete the qualification earlier than the 30th June deadline?

Gateway Qualifications is committed to issuing results and certificates as soon as possible following a successful claim from a Centre. Please continue to submit learner results as per the usual process on MyQuartz.

What should I do if I am unable to submit learner evidence by 30th June?

This deadline is in place to ensure that learners requiring a timely result to progress onto higher or further education. External Quality Assurance checks may need to take place prior to these results being released. However, if you feel that you may not be able to meet this deadline, please get in touch with VTQResults@gatewayqualifications.org.uk as soon as you become aware.

How do I know who my Senior Designated Contact is ?

This should be the name of the most relevant people who are:

  • close to exams and assessments, and can be used as a point of escalation.
  • at a senior level within the organization (doesn’t necessarily need to be the principal/head teacher)
  • contactable outside of term time.
  • accountable for learner registrations and submitting results.
How do I add the Senior Designated Contact details?

Please follow the instructions on this video:

Using Contact Management (vimeo.com)

How do I get a log into MyQuartz?

Your exams team will be able to access MyQuartz to update the information; however if you also require a log-in, please email registrations@gatewayqualifications.org.uk detailing your name, role, email address and the purpose of the log in, and they will be able to assist you.

Can I have more than one Senior Designated Contact?

Yes, you can have a maximum of two contacts.

What if my Senior Designated Contact changes?

Please follow the instructions in this video:

Updating The Senior Designated Contact (vimeo.com)

I would like some training on using MyQuartz. Who should I contact?

There are many guidance documents and videos on our Admin Hub.

Alternatively, our Customer Excellence Team will be happy to arrange some training for you. Please contact them by calling 01206 911220 or emailing registrations@gatewayqualifications.org.uk.

Will we have to do this every year?

Ofqual initially implemented Timely Results for Learners Progressing to Further or Higher Education in 2022 for learners progressing in 2023 and, due to its success, has now published guidelines for 2024 and beyond.

We envision this practice becoming a yearly occurrence with new checkpoint dates and deadlines to adhere to. Therefore, please refer to our VTQ Webpage to ensure you are receiving the most up-to-date information. We will also update the qualification list should new qualifications fall into scope.