The RHS 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 that provide high-quality gardening skills and knowledge, and prepare learners for employment in the current horticultural industry.

Initially, the new qualifications were going to be launched this year for delivery from September 2021. However, with the ongoing challenges and uncertainty of the pandemic and in consultation with our approved centres, the response indicated that the preference was to delay implementation until 2022. During this time, our existing suite of qualifications will continue to be delivered by our centres.

The updated qualifications are due to be submitted to the regulators (Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA for Northern Ireland) in 2021 for approval and we expect all Approved Centres to run our new qualifications from 2022.

We appreciate that some learners may have concerns about the validity of qualifications they have either fully or partially completed. We can confirm that no learner will be disadvantaged by the introduction of the new qualifications and will be able to achieve the qualification on which they have enrolled.