Vocational/technical Qualifications and Functional Skills are predominantly viewed positively by employers, training providers and learners, according to Ofqual’s recent qualifications perceptions survey.

The survey covered a range of regulated vocational and technical qualifications. It provides a snapshot of attitudes towards them and helps to understand how stakeholders view and use these qualifications, particularly important at this time of vocational qualifications reform.

Key findings include:

Vocational/technical qualifications

• VTQs are valued by employers because of their relevance, capacity to equip students with technical as well as softer skills, and to prepare learners for the workplace. Learners who take VTQs expect improvement in their vocational and technical skills as a result
• Learners with prior experience of the workplace are significantly more likely to have positive perceptions of other VTQs than students with no work experience
• VTQs are more likely to be viewed positively when taken as part of an apprenticeship or when the qualification leads to outcomes such as a pay increase or promotion.

Functional Skills

• Nearly three-quarters of employers (72%) say they value Functional Skills because of their relevance, ability to meet business needs and assurance of competence
• The level of knowledge of Functional Skills increases with organisation size, with large businesses significantly more likely to have an understanding of them
• Learners expect that studying towards Functional Skills will help improve their English and maths skills, and confidence in using these skills.

The survey was carried out between October 2017 and February 2018 and reports the views of more than 3,000 employers, learners and training providers.