Prior Information Notice - External moderation of National Professional Qualification (NPQ) assessments

Concepts

• national professional qualification
• education and training
• external moderation of national professional qualification
• purpose of this prior information notice
• npq for leading teaching
• new suite of npq
• leadership qualifications
• national external moderation service
• summative assessments
• established qualification

Location

Description

Purpose The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of a forthcoming Tender aimed at awarding a contract for providing a national external moderation service for the new suite of NPQ summative assessments from 2022. Description In the Department's Recruitment and Retention strategy, published in January 2019, we committed to improving support for teachers, ensuring that they receive high quality training and development at every stage of their career - from Initial Teacher Training (ITT) through to leadership qualifications. NPQs are an established qualification recognised within the teaching profession. From Autumn 2021, a reformed suite of NPQs will be available for teachers and leaders who want to develop their knowledge and skills in school leadership and specialist areas of teaching practice. The reformed suite of NPQs currently comprises of the following qualifications: Specialist NPQs: Qualification - NPQ for Leading Teaching (NPQLT). Target audience - For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase. Qualification - NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC). Target audience- For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school. Qualification - NPQ for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD). Target audience -For teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school. They may have responsibilities for the development of all teachers across a school or specifically trainees or teachers who are early in their career. Updated Leadership NPQs (from Sept 21): Qualification - NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL). Target audience- For school leaders who are, or aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross school responsibilities. Qualification - NPQ for Headship (NPQH). Target audience- For school leaders who are, or aspiring to be, a head teacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school. Qualification - NPQ for Executive Leadership (NPQEL). Target audience- For school leaders who are, or aspiring to be, an executive head teacher or have a school trust Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role with responsibility for leading several schools.

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.
• Contract is suitable for VCOs.

Other Information

Further information on the national roll-out of the reformed NPQs can be found here. The reputation of the reformed suite of NPQs and the impact they can have on career progression will rest on the trust that schools and participants have in the level of professional development and achievement that the qualifications represent. As the appeal of NPQs depends on the quality and consistency of the qualification, faith in the assessment process is paramount. The external moderation of NPQ summative assessment is therefore key, both to ensure fairness in how teachers and leaders are assessed and to uphold the ongoing value and reputation of NPQs. Role of the external moderator We anticipate that any tender for NPQ external moderation services would invite bidders to demonstrate how, for the reformed NPQs, they would: - Moderate the summative assessment of NPQs undertaken by school leaders, teachers and other staff - Incorporate 100% of summative assessments completed by NPQ participants into the required sample size (10% of all scripts). - Ensure there is consistency, fairness and high standards in assessment, established across nationally approved lead providers of the reformed NPQs. - Act as an independent body offering impartial judgements informed by an in-depth knowledge of the NPQ frameworks. - Ensure assessments have rigour and reflect the content of the NPQ curriculum materials, demonstrating how moderation will support the requirement on providers for all NPQ content, locally delivered curriculum and assessment to conform fully with the NPQ frameworks. - Work with NPQ providers and their delivery partners to set up, manage and evaluate a data management system for receiving scripts, identifying samples and reporting and tracking moderation outcomes. - Provide an appeals process for disputed assessment outcomes. - Report moderation outcomes twice per year within prescribed assessment windows. Potential Conflict of Interest avoidance Please note that, to prevent a conflict of interest, the DfE will not be able to contract with any bidder to provide external moderation who is also involved in providing assessment or internal moderation processes on behalf of any NPQ providers. Where a pre-existing arrangement had been made with an NPQ Provider to provide assessment or moderation services, any successful bidder would be expected to formally withdraw from that arrangement before entering into contract to provider external moderation services. Indicative Timeline Date to be arranged: market engagement event (online only) Autumn term 2021 - launch of Invitation to Tender Spring 2022 - Award of contract More information on the application process will be provided following market engagement activity. Other information This notice is for information only and is not a call for competition. The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with the contract award. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by any school or other organisation in acting on the basis of this Prior Information Notice. All future information will be issued to interested applicants via the DfE e-Tendering Portal. Applicants can access this system at: https://education.app.jaggaer.com for details of how to register and the terms of free registration. https://education.app.jaggaer.com All information included in this notice is indicative and subject to change Email address: NPQ.ExternalModeration@education.gov.uk The purpose of this early engagement notice is to notify the market of the Department for Education's (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise to source a potential supplier The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award