Anyone who has embarked up on their RHS studies recently may have
heard from the RHS Qualifications team that changes to the the Level 2
and 3 qualifications are approaching.
The RHS website will shortly carry the message below: the essence of it is,
- that
RHS exams for the current syllabus will continue through February and
June 2021 and 2022, with a possibility of another round after this;
- the
RHS is not yet able to confirm how 'old' and 'new' versions will
combine ( for example whether an 'old' practical certificate can become a
diploma with the 'new' theory qualification, and vice versa) but
expects to provide this information once Ofqual ratifies its new
proposal.
Although
centres will be expected to change to delivering the new qualifications
from September 2021,we will of course continue to support the current
theory qualifications through the VLE and your tutors while
there are exams to prepare for!
Our
'Blended Learning' students will also be supported by assessments
through 2021, but at the moment the proposal for the assessment format
for the 'new' practicals is very different, so transition arrangements
may not be simple. We'd like to advise anyone currently studying
practicals as 'blended learning' that it's important to move to the
assessment stage before the end of 2020 to make sure you can complete
all six sessions. There are now nine assessment dates before the end of 2021.
RHS Qualifications is in the process of
updating its qualifications. This is normal practice for any awarding
organisation and ensures that qualifications remain relevant, accurate
and up to date. We are working with employers, training providers and
learners to ensure that we continue to offer interesting and relevant
qualifications which provide high quality gardening skills and
knowledge, and prepare learners for employment in the current
horticultural industry.
The updated qualifications are in an advanced state of preparation
and are due to be submitted to the regulators (Ofqual, Qualifications
Wales and CCEA for Northern Ireland) in early Autumn 2020 for approval.
Approved Centres will then be provided with an academic year’s notice
before they come into operation. This means that we expect all approved
centres to run our new qualifications from Autumn 2021.
We appreciate that some learners may
have concerns about the validity of qualifications they have either
fully or partially completed. RHS Qualifications will only be able to
confirm any specific transition arrangements when they have entered into
regulation, however, we wish to reassure centres and learners that we
are carefully considering the needs of current learners with the
introduction of these new qualifications.
Specifically, we are aware that some learners will have partially
completed their Diplomas and Combined Certificate qualifications at the
date of their implementation i.e. Autumn 2021. We can reassure all
learners and centres that we will be ensuring that learners will have
pathways to complete these qualifications at that time. This will
include sufficient opportunities to undertake examinations in 2022, and
possibly later as the need arises.
The exact transitional arrangements are dependent on the acceptability of our plans to the national regulators and the results of a recently-completed significant industry consultation, therefore, we will publish a detailed policy in the next few months. In the meantime we can confirm that no learner will be disadvantaged and we will ensure that all are able to achieve the qualification on which they have enrolled.