What the DfE review of post-16 qualifications reform means for OCR’s Level 3 qualifications
06 January 2025
David Summers, Stakeholder Relationships Manager
On 18 December 2024 the Department for Education (DfE) published the outcomes of its review of the previous government’s qualification reforms. This was part of a “pause and review” that had been promised before the general election.
The review was quite specific in its remit. It was looking at those Level 3 qualifications that the previous government had identified for defunding because they overlapped in content with the first two groups of T Levels (‘Wave 1 and Wave 2’). For OCR, this included our Applied General and Tech Level Cambridge Technical qualifications in Applied Science, Engineering, Health and Social Care and Information Technology.
Under the guidance of the previous government, OCR had developed new Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs), branded as Cambridge Advanced Nationals. These were approved in May 2024 for funding for first teach from September 2025 in the subjects listed above.
There is a further list of subjects for AAQs (first teach September 2026) but at the moment, the submission window for these qualifications is closed and the DfE has only indicated that it will provide more information on this in due course. These qualifications were not part of the review and will instead be considered as part of the wider Curriculum and Assessment Review chaired by Professor Becky Francis, due to be published in November 2025.
What has the review told us?
Over 150 qualifications due to be defunded from 31 July 2025 have received a reprieve following the DfE’s review. This includes many Cambridge Technicals, with full details on our webpage on the future of post-16 vocational qualifications. The funded post-16 qualifications will sit alongside A Levels and T Levels.
For Cambridge Advanced Nationals, the AAQs, the DfE has taken the decision that where we have a new Cambridge Advanced National approved for funding, the corresponding sized Cambridge Technical will have its funding removed. This means that:
- AAQs become the only Level 3 vocational choice at 360 GLH (A Level size) in Applied Science, Engineering, Health and Social Care and Information Technology
- OCR is the only awarding body to have both 150-180 GLH (AS size) and 360 GLH AAQs approved and available for first teaching in September 2025.
- Larger sized Applied General and Tech Level Cambridge Technical qualifications in the cycle 1 subject areas will continue to receive funding in September 2025 (720 GLH in Applied Science, 720 GLH and 1080 GLH in Engineering, Health and Social Care and IT).
- There will no longer be any rules of combination that require students to take at least two A Levels alongside an AAQ in their programme of study. Students can now take any valid combination of qualifications to meet their individual needs.
What does this mean for OCR customers?
If you are an OCR customer currently offering Level 3 Cambridge Technicals, you still can offer them for some subjects: Business, Digital Media, Performing Arts and Sport and Physical Activity in all sizes.
For other subjects in cycle 1 (Applied Science, Engineering, Health and Social Care and Information Technology) in small sizes (180 GLH and 360 GLH) you will only be able to teach Cambridge Advanced Nationals in those subjects from September 2025. You will however be able to teach them as Cambridge Technicals in larger sizes (720 GLH and 1080 GLH).
Final thought
We know that this review of previous reforms is complicated. The Level 3 landscape will probably not be as clear as we would all like until after the Curriculum and Assessment Review has made its recommendations to government at the end of 2025. Whilst there has been an extension to the funding of large size Cambridge Technicals, the government will need to consider its longer-term position on large sized qualifications that aren’t T Levels. This will no doubt be covered in the Curriculum and Assessment Review that reports in November 2025.
Stay connected
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You can also sign up to subject updates to keep up-to-date with the latest news, updates and resources. If you are considering teaching this qualification, use the expression of interest form to let us know, so we can help you with more information.
About the author
David Summers is a Stakeholder Relationship Manager in the OCR Policy and Stakeholders Team and has been working on post-16 reform policy for four years. David is also the main point of contact for higher education providers at OCR. He joined OCR in 2014 having previously worked for the Department for Education, the Learning and Skills Council and two Sector Skills Councils.
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