(The Minister of State for
Apprenticeships and Skills): Today, I am pleased to
launch the first stage consultation on the post-16 review of
qualifications at level 3 and below in England.
This review, alongside the development of T Levels, is central to
building a world class technical education system. Our ambition
is to develop a qualifications system for all, in which every
student benefits from high quality study that helps them realise
their talents and achieve their career ambitions. It is vital to
addressing our country’s productivity and skills gaps and
achieving the international competitiveness on which our future
prosperity depends.
The current qualifications system at level 3 and below is
complex, with around 12,000 qualifications. Some of the
qualifications are well recognised and valued, but as the Wolf
and Sainsbury reviews identified, too many are poorly understood
and poor quality, weakening their currency and value for
individuals, employers and the economy as whole.
The review aims to simplify the landscape, ensuring that every
single qualification is necessary and has a distinct purpose, is
high quality and supports progression to positive outcomes. At
level 3, we want A Levels and T Levels to be the qualifications
of choice for students choosing classroom-based study, and for
more students to study and achieve at level 3. Subject to the
review and the outcomes of our consultation, we expect that where
a qualification at level 3 overlaps with a T Level or A Level, it
would not, in future, be approved for funding for 16 to 19 year
olds.
At level 2 and below, qualifications should enable progression to
a higher level of study for those that are able to do so; and for
those who are not, there should be high quality qualifications
that lead to a good range of employment options and opportunities
to study at a later stage.
To drive up quality and ensure fairness in the system at an early
stage, in August 2020 we will withdraw approval for funding for
older qualifications, where there are newer, more robust versions
that have been re-developed to meet performance table rules.
We recognise that qualifications in scope of this review are
taken by a range of learners, including adults and those with
additional needs, such as special educational needs and
disabilities. A ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work. We
want to be confident that the qualifications available work for
all students, irrespective of their specific needs.
It is important that we take the time to get these changes right
and listen carefully to the sector’s views. This is why we are
consulting in two stages. We are looking first at the principles
that should guide the review before moving on in the second stage
consultation to detailed proposals for change, which we will
bring forward later in the year. I strongly encourage everyone
with an interest to contribute to the debate, so that we can work
together to build the world class technical education system that
our students deserve and that our country needs.
