Catch up on Ofqual's VTQ Briefing

On 23 September 2025, we attended Ofqual’s latest VTQ Regulator’s briefing which delivered a series of important updates.

The Principles Condition – raising expectations

Ofqual is introducing a new Principles Condition, which will be built on six behaviours: integrity, fairness, fitness for purpose, public confidence, transparency, and proactive compliance.

For apprenticeship assessment, this reinforces the importance of strong governance, evidence-based decision making, and clear communication across the system. Organisations that begin aligning their ways of working to these principles now will be best prepared for when the condition takes effect.

It will be implemented from 4th December 2025 but will not need to be included in the statement of compliance until 2026 onwards. The principles will not be enforceable on their own, they will work in conjunction with existing conditions.

Building sector confidence – January 2026 event

To help the sector prepare, Ofqual will host a half-day in-person event in Coventry on 27 January 2026. The event will provide the chance to hear more about the Principles Condition, discuss the new advice notes, and share feedback directly with regulators. Further information regarding this event will be found on the Ofqual portal in the coming weeks.

Strengthening standards – CASS and apprenticeship recognition

Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny (CASS): Ofqual’s monitoring found the most effective awarding organisations are taking risk-based approaches, applying consistent definitions of incorrect marking, and ensuring clear correction processes are in place. This is a reminder of the importance of robust oversight where centres are involved in assessment.

Apprenticeship recognition shift: Approvals are moving from standard codes to Sector Subject Areas (SSAs). Existing approvals will remain valid, but the new approach should reduce duplication and create greater clarity. Ofqual are mapping apprenticeship standards to the SSA framework to help organisations prepare for the change. Ofqual will be working closely with Skills England to ensure that the SSAs are correct for a range of standards. Ofqual will contact assessment organisations with proposals to be agreed for SSAs moving forward. They committed to stating that no previous approvals will be affected.

This September briefing underlined Ofqual’s commitment to integrity, transparency and high standards in qualifications. For those working in apprenticeships, these updates are a timely reminder of the need to embed good practice across assessment, governance and communication to ensure apprentices continue to benefit from qualifications they, and employers, can trust.

The full update can be found on the Ofqual portal.