Vocational qualifications needed to get into further education or university are likely to use estimated grades, say England’s exams watchdog.

Ofqual has put forward plans to replace vocational exams which were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbereak.

But, it did say that some qualifications that require a practical, hands-on test might have to be delayed.

Ofqual chief, Sally Collier, said that wherever possible, students should not be “prevented from progressing”.

There are 14,000 different qualifications and 160 awarding organisations – and Ofqual says that it is is too complex to provide the type of ‘one-size-fits-all’ standardised approach used for A-levels and GCSEs.

But, qualifications such as some BTecs, that are used for entry to further education colleges, or higher education will have an estimated grade, in line with the way that A-levels and GCSEs are being assessed this year.

Grades will be based on the evidence of assignments, modules, or class work carried out during the course, before the lockdown stopped students attending classes.

That would give students time to make their applications for courses in the autumn – with the deadline for making decisions about choosing a university course being pushed back to this June.