Educators

This consultation is the second stage of the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England. The review’s aim is clearer qualifications choices for young people and adults, and to ensure that every qualification approved for public funding has a distinct purpose, is high quality and supports progression to positive outcomes for students. This consultation focuses on level 3 qualifications. 

The deadline for responses is 31 January 2021. 

The consultation seeks views on the DfE proposals for the groups of qualifications that should continue to be funded alongside A levels and T Levels. If you have views on what should remain available for learners alongside A levels and T Levels, it is important that you respond. 

No – the consultation covers 16-19-year-olds and adults. 

Level 3 technical qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds 

• 16- to 19-year-olds who want a classroom-based route to employment will be able to choose either a T Level or high-quality technical qualifications that are necessary for progression into occupational areas where there is no relevant T Level.  
• Additional specialist qualifications will also be available to be studied alongside these for students to build on and enhance their skills. 
• The qualification approval process will mean qualifications are aligned to employer-led standards wherever possible.  
• The proposal is to review technical qualifications in the routes featuring wave 1 and 2 T Levels ready for 2023/24 and qualifications in the routes featuring wave 3 and 4 T Levels ready for 2024/25.  
• DfE propose removing funding from qualifications that overlap with T levels, or do not fall into the categories above. 

Level 3 academic qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds 

• DfE propose to fund alternatives to A levels where they enable progression to specialist HE courses, such as providers of world leading arts education. These are expected to be limited in number. 
• Qualifications designed to be taken alongside A levels will be funded where they support progression to high quality HE courses and provide content distinct from A levels, such as core maths. 
• The proposal is to have reformed academic qualifications available for first teaching in September 2024. 
• DfE propose removing funding from qualifications that overlap with A levels, or do not fall into the categories above. 

Level 3 qualifications for adults 

• Adults will generally need greater flexibility than 16 to 19-year olds and will also tend to have greater prior experience.  
• Adults will have a similar offer as 16 to 19-year olds but with some additional technical qualifications to meet their needs. 
• Technical qualifications for adults should allow for modular delivery of content, recognise prior learning and have robust assessment of an adult’s level of competence at the end of the course (summative assessment). 
• As well as T Levels, adults should have access to: 

- Technical qualifications that are aligned with a level 3 employer-led standard and deliver a minimum of occupational entry-level competence (in both T Level and non-T Level areas). 
- Additional specialist qualifications to build on and enhance their skills – this will be the same as the 16 to 19 year old offer with some additional qualifications which are only suitable for adults (e.g. those essential to certain safety critical industries and with some age-restricted content).  
- Qualifications in some cross-sectoral skills where they lead to skilled employment. 

The consultation, and accompanying documents can be found here.  The consulation ended on January 31 2021.

The Impact Assessment can be found alongside the consultation here. 

The response to the first stage of the consultation can be found here.

The DfE has released a separate Call for Evidence on Post-16 Level 2 & Below. The deadline is 31 January 2021.