The future of post-16 level 2 vocational qualifications in England

The reforms will affect level 2 qualifications taken by 16-19-year-olds and 19+ year-olds funded by the ESFA under the Adult Education Budget.

• The Department for Education (DfE) already reformed A levels and introduced T Levels. They are now in the process of reforming post-16 vocational qualifications at level 3 and below.
• The level 2 and below reform aims to address the complexity and varied quality of the offer and to ensure all qualifications support good outcomes for students. On 18 October 2022, the DfE published their response to the level 2 and below consultation. This confirmed the direction of the reforms, including the qualification groups they will fund in future.
• At level 2, qualifications must either support progression to further study or workbased training at level 3 or lead directly into skilled employment in sectors and occupations where level 2 skills are needed.
• For level 2, the DfE have created 8 purpose groups. All qualifications must be submitted against one of the groups.

GCSEs, English, Maths, and Digital Functional Skills qualifications, Essential Digital Skills qualifications (EDSQ), Higher Project qualifications, Foundation Project qualifications and Performing Arts Graded Examinations.  

The level 2 reform will be rolled out over several years. The first cycle of qualifications will be available for first teach 2025, the second cycle 2026, and the third cycle 2027.

You can continue to teach all the above until September 2025 at the earliest. We will withdraw current qualifications as funding is removed and new ones become approved by DfE / IfATE. The withdrawal process will take place over several years, in line with the submission and approval cycles.

First Teach 2025

In November 2023, we submitted several Level 2 Technical Occupational Entry qualifications to IfATE for Cycle 1 against Education and Childcare, Construction, and Health and Science. We will be informed late Spring 2024 if these qualifications have been approved for funding.

If approved, these will be available for first teach September 2025. Our Provider readiness will commence soon after approval has been granted.

First Teach 2026

In October 2024 we will submit a range of subjects in the following:

• T Level Foundation Qualifications
• Technical Progression Qualifications
• Academic Progression Qualifications
• Technical Occupational Entry Qualifications

We will be informed late Spring 2025 if these qualifications have been approved for funding.