Post-16 review continues with consultation on Level 2 and below
04 March 2022
A new Department for Education (DfE) consultation seeks views on the qualifications that should receive public funding post-16 at Level 2 and below.
The new proposals aim to create a more streamlined qualifications framework with clearer choices and progression pathways as well as “publicly-funded qualifications that have a distinct purpose, are high quality and support progression to further study or employment”.
Funding groups have been proposed for qualifications at Level 2 and below according to their primary purpose. At Level 2 these include:
- Qualifications supporting progression to Level 3 academic study
- Qualifications supporting progression to Level 3 technical provision
- Occupational entry qualifications supporting progression to occupations at Level 2
- Specialist qualifications
- Qualifications supporting cross-sectoral skills.
At Level 1 groups include:
- Pre-technical qualifications supporting progression to Level 2 technical provision
- Qualifications that serve as a prerequisite to employment
- Qualifications delivering skills that are complementary to a study programme.
And at Entry Level, groups include:
- Qualifications supporting progression to Level 1 pre-technical provision
- Qualifications delivering skills that are complementary to a study programme.
The DfE wants English and maths GCSEs and Functional Skills to be the qualifications of choice for the majority of students at Level 2, but the consultation proposals include some flexibility to continue funding alternative qualifications at Level 1 and below in these subjects.
The consultation follows a
call for evidence on Level 2 and below from early 2021, which, as part of the DfE’s review of post-16 qualifications, sought views on what is working well and what more can be done to support study at Level 2 and below.
Phased implementation for the funding of approved qualifications in the new groups is expected from 2024 to 2027, alongside the de-funding of non-approved qualifications.
The deadline for feedback on the DfE consultation is 27 April 2022. OCR will be responding to the proposals which, if implemented, could have a considerable impact on existing provision at Level 2 and below.