Moving to Alternative Academic Qualifications in IT

Neil Hateley, Subject Advisor for Creative iMedia, IT and Computer Science

With the recent government announcement of the introduction of Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) for first teaching from September 2025, I felt it would useful to explain the steps centres may wish to consider when managing the transition to the new qualification landscape.

We are developing a new suite of AAQs as a replacement for OCR’s Cambridge Technical suite of Level 3 qualifications, for first teaching from 2025. This has highlighted the need for guidance on how to transition between the current and new specifications.

The 180, 360 and 540 GLH versions of the Cambridge Technical IT qualifications will still be funded in September 2024, but unfortunately the Department for Education has made the judgement that the 720 and 1080 GLH versions will cease to be funded for new starters from July 2024.

For centres that would normally top up learners to the 720 or 1080 GLH versions of the qualification in September 2024, the focus will need to be on registering these learners before the funding cut-off date in July 2024. If students are already registered on the long versions of the course, centres can continue to claim funding in the 2024/25 academic year.

For new starters in September 2024, they will be registered on the 360 or 540 GLH qualifications for one or more years of study; and is valid until the 31st July 2027. The following year the revised 360 GLH qualifications from the new AAQ qualification suite will be available to learners, alongside other A Level study pathways and T Levels.

For students wishing to add the equivalent of 180 GLH of further study to their portfolio, they may find the Extended Project Qualification suitable. This also attracts UCAS points for those planning to move on to higher education at the end of their Level 3 studies.

We recognise that this is not an ideal transition arrangement, but the decision was made by the DfE to remove funding from these qualifications due to overlap with existing T Level provision. We did appeal these decisions but unfortunately, we were unsuccessful for the 720 and 1080 GLH versions of these qualifications.

The first teaching of cycle 1 of the new AAQ qualifications, which includes the IT AAQs, is September 2025.

To keep up to date, visit our dedicated post-16 reform hub.

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If you have any queries, you can email us at support@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_ICT. You can also sign up to subject updates and receive information about resources and support.

About the author

Neil Hately joined OCR as an IT subject advisor in 2020 after 17 years teaching vocational courses in a variety of FE establishments. He has a degree in Applied Physics from Hull University, and qualifications in Business Computing from The University of Northampton. Outside work, Neil is a keen gardener and beekeeper, he has a young family and various pets most of which he looks after on behalf of his daughter. One day he may even get around to getting his motorbike out of the shed again.