Transparency data

Chief Regulator's report: 15 March 2023

Updated 31 July 2024

Applies to England

This document has been subject to redactions

Date

15 March 2023

Title

Chief Regulator’s report (Open Paper)

Report by

Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Regulator

Paper for information and discussion

Recommendations

1. The Board is asked to note the matters reported.

Overview

2. The range, complexity and pace of the work that the senior team and I have to face on a weekly basis continues to be fascinating yet challenging.

3. Our work on timely VTQ results for 2023 continues at pace, as does our technical and readiness work for the GQ summer 2023 series.

4. Organisationally, teams continue to perform well. In respect of our financial operations, we remain in the position of ending the financial year with an underspend. David Bowden will deliver an update on this later in the meeting, including setting out the budget for the year ahead for your approval.

5.In respect of our equalities work and objectives, I am really pleased that the approach we are taking to ensuring that our overarching strategic goals and our equalities objectives align has been welcomed by the EHRC, which regulates our work in this respect. There is more on this matter during the meeting.

2023 Summer Readiness

6. Activity is in train to ensure awarding organisations’ readiness for summer 2023.

7. The National Reference Test took place between 20 February and 7 March. By 7 March, 345 schools had administered the NRT.

8. The results of the NRT in 2023 will be compared to the baseline year (2017) and the team and I will consider whether there is any evidence for an adjustment to be made in awarding (this matter being a decision delegated to Chief Regulator).

9. Technical matters relating to grading of general qualifications in summer 2023 continue to be discussed with exam boards. Ofqual’s formal requirements for awarding, that exam boards must follow, will be articulated through the data exchange published in June.

10. Work is ongoing to investigate both the threats and opportunities posed by ChatGPT and AI in general. Ofqual is collaborating closely with DfE on this. JCQ is also drafting guidance for centres, which will be shared with Ofqual and DfE before publication. To be clear, use of ChatGPT will not be allowed in exams. As banning it in non-examination assessment (NEA – or coursework) cannot be enforced, however, the best approach is for awarding organisations to include use of ChatGPT specifically within existing cheating and malpractice conditions.

Communications and stakeholder engagement

11. This year engagement with students, teachers, and school and college leaders through centre and training provider visits is happening more widely across Ofqual, not only via the visits I do. This provides an opportunity to reinforce messaging about the approach to grading this summer and to hear valuable feedback about this year’s arrangements, and always brings to life the compass of regulating on behalf of students of all ages and apprentices.

12. A range of activities took place to mark National Apprenticeships Week. The Ofqual Chair and I had the opportunity to meet with apprentices at Runway Training in Kent.

1. 13. This is a busy period for stakeholder engagement. Highlights include:

   1. a) our Chair Sir Ian spoke at the Sixth Form Colleges Association winter conference in January
   2. b) I attended an ASCL council meeting in early February to speak to members about the arrangements for 2023 and to raise awareness of Ofqual’s actions to manage delivery of VTQ results
   3. c) GQ and VTQ colleagues have presented at a series of Exams Officer conferences, to support those working in this important role

14. In March I have speaking engagements at the ASCL annual conference and a UCAS conference for teachers and advisors, and will deliver webinars to CST and NAHT members. I am speaking in July at Wellington College. Colleagues are speaking at AoC, the Annual Apprenticeship Conference, an ASCL school improvement show and event for HMRC staff on how parents can support their children through exams.

15. Stakeholder and communications activity in the lead up to the summer series will be similar to that which we undertook last year. HE engagement forms part of our plan.

VTQ results action plan and Taskforce

16. Following the publication of the VTQ Results Action Plan on 15 December, the Taskforce has met three times. Its purpose is to take forward actions to support the timely delivery of VTQ results in 2023.

17. A survey to gain centre views on plans for 2023 was launched on 31 January and received almost 200 responses. These are informing our next steps.

18. A public statement in March from us will list the AOs in scope and confirming the actions they are required to take.

19. Work has begun on development of the Information Hub, to be hosted by Ofqual on gov.uk.

20. Updates to Ofqual’s resources for Exams Officers are also in train, ensuring alignment with guidance from the National Association of Exam Officers and JCQ.

Regulation and enforcement

21. iBSL informed Ofqual in January of its intention to surrender recognition in respect of all of its regulated qualifications, in view of its decision to cease trading. The surrender takes effect from Friday 3 March. Ofqual has been working closely with iBSL to protect the interests of students, putting in place arrangements so that the iBSL can continue to issue results and certificates to students after Friday 3 March, as long as they have a valid entitlement and the iBSL continues to trade. iBSL has assured Ofqual that it is prioritising the marking of all completed assessments so that, as far as possible, students who are entitled to a result or a certificate will receive one. Students who are part way through their course or have not completed assessments can transfer to other AOs, Signature and SEG Awards.

Ofqual’s people

2022 People Survey Results

1. 22. As reported to the People, Resources and Finance Committee, Ofqual received extremely positive results to the 2022 People Survey. Key results to note:

   1. a) Ofqual scored 9th out of 102 departments on our overall engagement score, which measures employees’ commitment and engagement with the organisation’s mission and purpose
   2. b) Ofqual scored joint 4th, out of 102 departments, on Inclusion and Fair Treatment
   3. c) All but two core themes saw positive increases in our results, which is significant against the backdrop of largely declining scores across the majority of 102 participating departments.

Capacity

23. We have been able to increase our workforce without placing our budget at risk.

Ofqual apprentices and Early Careers Manager

24. With the introduction of Ofqual’s Early Careers Manager to the HR Team from November 2022, dedicated attention is now being given to apprenticeships and the development of an organisational graduate scheme.

25. To date we have 11 apprentices across Ofqual, undertaking a range of apprenticeship levels and specialisms, covering Business Administration, Accountancy, Regulatory Compliance, Financial Management, Commercial Procurement and Data Science. This equates to 3.3% of our workforce being made up of ‘on programme’ apprentices. We continue to identify opportunities to recruit further apprentices to support the Civil Service aim of 5% of the Civil Service workforce being made up of on programme apprentices.

Senior recruitment

26. An internal candidate, Tom Barcham has been appointed as Director of Strategy and Markets and takes up post at the end of March.

27. Following Jane Parsons’ departure, I am delighted that Elaine Brewster and Rebecca Goding are covering the Director of Communications role as a jobshare. They are bringing a very welcome positive approach already. The Board will have a chance to meet Elaine and Rebecca on 15 March.

Ofqual office

28. The Government Property Agency (GPA) intends to serve notice that Ofqual must exit Earlsdon Park at the end of our lease in June 2024. A paper was presented to the PRF committee about the options we are exploring.

Publication of paper

Paper to be published: Yes