The information on this page is retained for reference use only. 

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

As the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic continue to impact teaching and assessment, we remain committed to supporting our centres and learners. On this page, we will provide updates and guidance for any actions Centres should take.

Following the lifting of most restrictions announced in July 2021, we expect that the majority of centres will have returned to teaching and assessing qualifications in line with our usual requirements as set out in the relevant qualification specifications. Centres are expected to teach all of the content of qualifications, making use of adaptations only where needed and where we have permitted. Guidance on adaptations is available below.

Gateway Qualifications has now moved permanently to a hybrid model of working and continues to work closely with its regulators (Ofqual, QAA, Qualifications Wales) to ensure delivery and assessment can continue to take place during the 2021-22 academic year. We will also continue to follow any Public Health England guidance to protect our staff, EQAs and Moderators during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Page Last Updated: 24th November 2022

Regulators’ web pages

QAA for Access to HE Diplomas – https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/

Ofqual for RQF qualifications – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual

Contacting Us

Please continue to contact us in the usual manner, we have moved permanently to a hybrid model of working and all staff have access to email and our telephone system whether they are working in the office or remotely.

Delivering, Assessing and Awarding learners during the pandemic

Many of our qualifications and assessments already have flexibilities built-in which enable centres to adapt their delivery to meet their local needs. Centres will be able to continue to use these to ensure compliance with any local public health considerations whilst enabling learners to undertake their qualifications.

Please do ensure that when adapting your delivery models you are still able to meet the requirements set out in the Centre Handbook and relevant Qualification Specifications.

In order to make awarding your learners as straightforward as possible in the event of any disruption to learning or assessment this year you might also want to consider;

  • Registering learners as early as possible to ensure they are recorded on our systems.
  • Selecting units as soon as you know what you will be delivering. This is now required when registering learners and enables us to offer more targeted support in the event that courses cannot be completed in the usual way. Please follow our usual guidance when doing this: Registering Learners – Selecting Units at Registration and Registering Learners – Selecting Units at a Later Date.
  • Claim regularly for completed qualifications or partial achievement of larger qualifications. There is no limit to the number of times you can claim, and you will not be charged any more for doing so. By “banking” achievement throughout the year, you will ease the evidence burden in the event that learning is disrupted later in the course.

External Quality Assurance, Moderation and Remote Sampling

The requirements for remote sampling and any visits are the same as we would require when an EQA visits a Centre.

Centre visits, external quality assurance and moderation have moved permanently to a hybrid model, offering the option of online meetings and on-site visits as appropriate to the individual situation.

Access to HE

QAA has released their guidance for arrangements for 2022-23 for Access to HE.

Guidance for Access to HE Centres

Guidance for your Access to HE students

Adaptations

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Adaptations for Essential Digital Skills Qualifications have now been incorporated in an updated qualification specification. Remote assessments will no longer be permitted and we have withdrawn the Centre guidance for adaptations to Essential Digital Skills Qualifications 2021-22 as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the revised qualification specification.

Guidance Documents

We have produced the following guidance documents to assist Centres in making decisions about the adaptations which will be appropriate in their situation.

Centre guidance for adaptations to qualification delivery and assessment 2021-22 – this guide has been withdrawn as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Centre guidance for adaptations to Essential Digital Skills Qualifications 2021-22 – this guide has been withdrawn as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the revised qualification specification.

Centre guidance for adaptations to ESOL Skills for Life qualifications 2021-22 – this guide has been withdrawn as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Centre guidance for adaptations for Surpass Online Multiple Choice Assessments 2021-22 – this guide has been withdrawn as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Additional guidance for specific qualifications suites

ESOL
ESOL Adaptations

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (EDSQ)
Remote Assessments for Essential Digital Skills Qualifications

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, the adaptation made to allow remote assessment of EDSQ will no longer be permitted.

The Updated Qualification Specification for Essential Digital Skills provides details of adaptations which have been made permanent and additional reference to the Instructions for the conduct of EDSQ assessments which is available in Prism for approved Centres.

EDSQ Adaptations

Adaptations for Essential Digital Skills Qualifications have now been incorporated in an updated qualification specification. Remote assessments will no longer be permitted and we have withdrawn the Centre guidance for adaptations to Essential Digital Skills Qualifications 2021-22 as all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the revised qualification specification.

Online Multiple-Choice Assessments
Remote Assessments for Online Multiple-Choice Assessments

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Online Multiple-Choice Assessment Adaptations

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Qualifications requiring direct observation
Health and Care Qualifications

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Education and Training Qualifications

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Assessor and Quality Assurance Qualifications

As the delivery and assessment of qualifications return to the usual pre-pandemic approaches, adaptations are no longer permitted and all delivery should now follow the guidance set out in the relevant qualification specification.

Previous guidance

The guidance provided for Centres on delivering and awarding in 2021-22 can be found on our dedicated Supporting Centres in 2021-2022 webpage for reference only.

Details about how awarding took place during the summer of 2021 are still available for reference only, please note that a different process was in place for the 2021-22 academic year and Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGS) are no longer permitted.