On 20 October, the government published its post-16 education and skills white paper, outlining major reforms to post-16 vocational education in England. We understand you may have some questions on how this affects you and your students and we’re committed to providing you with clarity and reassurance.

We recognise the importance of keeping you informed about the Level 3 reform and its implications and will support you and your students with timely updates and guidance on the delivery of Cambridge OCR qualifications.

Continue teaching Cambridge OCR Level 3 qualifications with confidence

You should continue to register students and deliver our recently launched Cycle 1 Cambridge Advanced Nationals. They are funded for delivery in 2025/26 and you can continue to deliver them as planned. Cycle 1 Cambridge Advanced Nationals include:

• Applied Science
• Human Biology
• Computing: Application Development
• IT: Data Analytics
• Engineering
• Health and Social care

Our Level 3 vocational qualifications remain a trusted and high-quality route for students pursuing university study or employment.

While the defunding of some of our qualifications will proceed as scheduled, (see our funding guide) our Cycle 1 Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQs) are fully approved and available for registration. 

These qualifications will remain in place until the introduction of V Levels, ensuring continuity for colleges and students. We will share full details of the 2026/27 funding arrangements as soon as they are confirmed, so you can plan with confidence.

What is proposed in the white paper?

The government has announced the introduction of 'V Levels' – a new Level 3 vocational qualification designed to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels. These qualifications aim to simplify the vocational landscape and offer greater flexibility by allowing students to combine academic and vocational study.

A consultation is now open to gather feedback on the design principles of V Levels and new post-16 Level 2 qualifications. Topics include qualification size and subject areas, guidance and support, new T Levels, non-qualification activities, transition planning, co-design of content, and branding. Consultation deadline: 12 January 2026.

We are ready to collaborate with the government to ensure any new qualifications are fit for purpose.

Supporting you through change

Our priority is to keep you informed and supported throughout this period of reform. We’ll continue to keep you updated on any additional information and guidance as it becomes available and once the Curriculum and Assessment Review is published. 

If you have any questions or need further support, please get in touch via 01223 553998.