Ofqual has published a consultation on proposals for the future
regulation of level 2 and below qualifications designed to lead
to employment.
In 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) set out its ambition
for a streamlined post-16 qualification system where all
qualifications are high quality, have a distinct purpose and lead
to good outcomes for students. The first qualifications
considered were those at level 3.
In October 2022, DfE published its
response to its consultation on the ‘Review of post-16
qualifications at level 2 and below in England’.
Ofqual’s 10-week consultation published
today, on regulating level 1 and 2 qualifications designed to
lead to employment, focuses on the first groups of
qualifications that will be approved for delivery in the new
landscape. They are:
Ofqual’s proposed approach to regulating these qualifications has
been designed to work in conjunction with the Institute for
Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) approvals
processes and will build on the arrangements put in place for
reformed level 3 technical occupation qualifications.
The consultation aims to provide clarity for awarding
organisations on how these qualifications will be regulated and
the rules they must meet.
For level 2 qualifications designed to lead to skilled
employment, Ofqual will introduce some additional measures to
support their effective regulation in students’ interests, in
addition to the requirements set out in the existing General
Conditions of Recognition (GCR).
For level 1 qualifications that are prerequisites to employment,
Ofqual will continue to use the GCR as the basis for regulation,
without additional requirements at this time, but this would not
preclude Ofqual from doing so in the future, should this be
necessary to safeguard students’ interests.
Full details are set out in the consultation document linked
above.
