Reform of post-16 qualifications at Level 2 and below delayed by a year
18 October 2022
First teaching of reformed post-16 qualifications at Level 2 and below will now start in 2025, rather than in 2024, with additional reformed qualifications being phased in from 2026 and 2027.
This revised timeline is part of the government’s response to its consultation on Level 2 and below qualifications taken post-16. The consultation and earlier call for evidence explored what was working well and what more could be done to support post-16 students working at these levels, as well as proposing groups of qualifications for future funding.
The Department for Education has now confirmed:
- All the qualification groups set out in the consultation at Levels 2, 1 and entry will be funded.
- The guideline qualification size ranges will be taken forward but only as guidelines and not “hard rules”.
- High quality English and maths qualifications at Level 1 and below will continue to be funded for post-16 students who cannot directly access Functional Skills qualifications or GCSEs, as well as ESOL qualifications at Level 2 and below.
Some changes have been made to the original proposals:
- ‘Vocational taster’ qualifications will be funded at entry Levels 1 and 2 to provide students with an opportunity to explore industries and occupations.
- At the discretion of providers, occupational-entry qualifications supporting progression into employment in an occupation at Level 2 (group 2) can be taken by 16-19 year-olds in under two years if that better meets the needs of those learners.
- 16 to 19 year old students will have the flexibility to take two smaller occupational-focus qualifications (from group 3) if they do not wish to complete one of the larger, group 2 qualifications.
Further consideration will be given to the importance of smaller qualifications at Level 2 and below recognising that they should be an appropriate size to fulfil their purpose and objectives.
The reform of Level 2 and below qualifications is part of the DfE’s review of post-16 qualifications aiming to streamline the qualifications landscape, creating clear choices and pathways by funding qualifications that are “high quality, with a distinct purpose and supporting progression to positive outcomes”.