Awarding of principal learning and the project

Also refer to the relevant sections of the Criteria for accreditation of Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diploma qualifications version 2.

The GCSE, GCE, principal learning and project code of practice (to be published in April 2010) makes more detailed requirements that underpin the operating rules on the awarding of principal learning and project. Principal learning and project component awarding bodies must comply with the code of practice, in conjunction with the operating rules.

Principal learning and project component awarding bodies

The marks for principal learning units and for the project will be converted into points and reported as grades. The aggregation of these points will produce a score for principal learning and for the project. These scores will be combined and converted into an overall Diploma grade.

1. Component awarding bodies must support the procedures for ensuring awarding and grading standards are set appropriately.

2. Component awarding bodies must only award their level 1 and level 2 principal learning qualifications once during the first year they are offered (summer).

After initial periods of awarding, as each line of learning is introduced, it may be possible for principal learning and the project to be awarded more frequently.

3. Component awarding bodies must not award their level 3 principal learning qualifications during the first year they are offered and must only award these qualifications once in the second year (summer).

4. For an initial period, component awarding bodies must award principal learning units and project qualifications no more than twice a year (summer and winter), to enable awarding and grading standards to be established. Ofqual will determine this initial period for awarding.

The same grading scales apply to the grading of principal learning, the project and the overall Diploma.

5. Component awarding bodies are responsible for providing a standardised score and grade for a learner’s principal learning units, principal learning qualification and project qualification.

6. Component awarding bodies must aggregate individuals’ principal learning unit results to produce an overall standardised grade for the principal learning qualification.1

7. Component awarding bodies must not pre-publish grade boundaries for principal learning units or project qualifications.

8. Component awarding bodies must use common, Ofqual-agreed procedures for awarding and grading principal learning and the project.2 These procedures will be discrete from marking and will include:

  • professional judgement, using evidence of performance and informed by technical and statistical data
  • production of unit grade boundaries and unit grades that component awarding bodies will report.

9. Component awarding bodies must provide guidance to enable centres to understand the grading scales used for the award of principal learning and the project.

10. Component awarding bodies must have procedures in place to consider aegrotat awards for principal learning on the basis of partial achievement. It is the responsibility of the component awarding body to provide the Diploma aggregation service with the weighted points for the unit to which the aegrotat applies.

11. Component awarding bodies must award and report on principal learning and the project according to the following grading scales:

  • A*, A and B for graded results and U for unclassified results at level 1
  • A*, A, B and C for graded results and U for unclassified results at level 2
  • A*, A, B, C, D and E for graded results and U for unclassified results at level 3.
  1. The units for principal learning qualifications must all be taken with the same component awarding body and must be at the same level as the overall Diploma. [↩]
  2. The timelines for awarding are set out as part of the Ofqual-agreed arrangements for component and Diploma awarding bodies that underpin the regulation of the Diploma. Details of these arrangements are available on Ofqual’s website, www.ofqual.gov.uk. They are agreed by Ofqual with component and Diploma awarding bodies and take into account the requirements of the Diploma aggregation service. Timelines for data supplied to the Diploma aggregation service must also be in accordance with the agreed service levels and commercial terms for the service. [↩]