V-levels<\/a> will be a new vocational pathway at level 3 and sit as third route for students to choose from after their GCSEs, alongside academic A-levels and technical T-levels.<\/p>\nThe implementation plan was promised in last year\u2019s skills white paper and details the transition timeline, as well as an announcement of the education providers chosen to be \u201cqualification pioneers\u201d.<\/p>\n
Here are the key developments you need to know.<\/p>\n
Single licencing model axed<\/h2>\n In his 2016 review of technical education, Lord Sainsbury recommended using a single awarding body per T-level, instead of the multi-exam board approach for A-levels.<\/p>\n
The Department for Education adopted the policy when T-levels launched in 2020.<\/p>\n
However, the government\u2019s own research warned that with no alternative to step in if problems arose with a contracted body, there was a \u201crisk of system failure\u201d.<\/p>\n
Exams regulator Ofqual also \u201cadvised on the risks related to the single provider model\u201d ahead of their launch. In recent months, DfE officials have aired their view that the exclusive licencing model has been \u201cincredibly challenging\u201d.<\/p>\n
The DfE announced today that \u201cgoing forward\u201d, the department \u201cdoes not intend to use contracted models such as single licencing\u201d and confirmed that existing T-level provision will \u201ctransition away from exclusive single licences and towards an Ofqual-regulated market model\u201d.<\/p>\n
Under this model, awarding organisations that meet Ofqual\u2019s recognition criteria will be able to enter the market and offer their own T-levels and V-levels, as well as incoming foundation and occupational certificates.<\/p>\n
It will bring the qualifications in line with arrangements for GCSEs and A-levels.<\/p>\n
However, demand for the technical and vocational qualifications is much less predictable than their academic counterparts.<\/p>\n
Ofqual\u2019s regulatory approach, nationally set subject content and common rules about assessment design and grading scales will \u201censure high quality and consistency across qualifications offered by different awarding organisations and support coherent progression between qualifications delivered by multiple providers\u201d, the DfE said.<\/p>\n
The DfE said the timing of the transition for T-levels will \u201crespect contractual arrangements and will be managed to protect continuity for learners and providers.<\/p>\n
No V-level \u2018partnering\u2019 in 2027<\/h2>\n Ministers have decided that V-levels will be a similar size to a single A Level \u2013 360 guided learning hours \u2013 with the intention being that students can mix and match between the two qualifications.<\/p>\n
The DfE is considering whether to allow V-levels to be \u201cpartnered\u201d with another V-level in the same subject area for 720 guided learning hours \u2013 in a similar way to how A-levels in maths and further maths can be taken together.<\/p>\n
Along with other criteria, partnered V-levels must \u201coffer the same level of demand as two V-levels taken in different subjects which are not partnered\u201d and also not offer an \u201calternative large study programme which competes with T-levels\u201d.<\/p>\n
The DfE expects a \u201cvery limited number of exceptional cases\u201d to be granted for V-level partnering and decided that the first V-levels to be rolled out in 2027 \u2013 in accounting and finance, digital systems and data, and education \u2013 do not meet the criteria.<\/p>\n
Officials will now consider if there is a \u201cneed\u201d for partnering V-levels which are part of the 2028 expansion, which will see, for example, two V-levels in engineering and two in health rolled out.<\/p>\n
For the 2027-28 academic year, DfE will also not implement any rules that restrict qualifications from being combined to form a study programme.<\/p>\n
This will allow settings to combine new V-levels in education, accounting and finance and digital systems and data with existing funded qualifications, such as A-levels, alternative academic qualifications, applied generals, tech levels and maths and English re-takes.<\/p>\n
And DfE has promised to work with UCAS to publish the tariff points for V-levels \u201cas soon as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n
Finance T-level written off and other subject nuggets<\/h2>\n The planning document confirmed the DfE will remove the T-level in finance, which launched in 2022, after no awarding organisation bid to run it in the latest procurement round.<\/p>\n
The final cohort for this qualification will commence from September 2026.<\/p>\n
Officials also confirmed that several subject areas will not move forward as V-levels after testing found they were not viable. These include catering, onsite construction, and hair, beauty and aesthetics.<\/p>\n
Qualification pioneers revealed<\/h2>\n A new sector-led group called \u201cqualification pioneers\u201d has been created to \u201clead the way for the sector, shaping and sharing best practice as providers transition to the new qualifications\u201d.<\/p>\n
As previously announced, schools, colleges and training providers will be required to have individual \u201crobust\u201d transition plans to support staff, students, and employers through the change.<\/p>\n
The plans must be \u201cowned\u201d by the accounting officer for each provider, confirm \u201chigh-level intentions\u201d for delivery from the 2027-28 academic year, and be submitted to DfE by July 6.<\/p>\n
Qualification pioneers will \u201cplay an important role in helping providers to develop and implement transition plans, modelling effective practice, and identifying practical support needed to help providers navigate the transition to reformed qualifications\u201d, DfE said.<\/p>\n
The qualification pioneers for each region are…<\/p>\n
North east<\/h2>\n\nEducation Partnership North East (City of Sunderland College Group)<\/li>\n Education Training Collective<\/li>\n Macmillan Academy (Endeavour Academies Trust)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNorth west<\/h2>\n\nEast Lancashire Learning Group<\/li>\n Cheshire College South and West<\/li>\n Altus Education Partnership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nYorkshire and the Humber<\/h2>\n\nLuminate<\/li>\n Sheffield College<\/li>\n Thomas Rotherham College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEast Midlands<\/h2>\n\nLoughborough College<\/li>\n Leicester College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWest Midlands<\/h2>\n\nHeart of Worcestershire College<\/li>\n Newcastle and Staffordshire College Group<\/li>\n Three Spires Trust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEast of England<\/h2>\n\nHarlow College<\/li>\n Suffolk New College<\/li>\n Saffron Walden County High<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLondon<\/h2>\n\nWaltham Forest<\/li>\n Christ the King Sixth Form College<\/li>\n Swanlea school<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSouth east<\/h2>\n\nSouth Hampshire College Group<\/li>\n EKC Group<\/li>\n Bohunt School in Liphook<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSouth west<\/h2>\n\nThe Cornwall College Group<\/li>\n Yeovil College<\/li>\n Callywith College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNational<\/h2>\n\nArk Schools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIndependent training providers<\/h2>\n\nEducation for Industry Group<\/li>\n Access Further Education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Plans mean vocational qualifications will in future be delivered by multiple exam boards, like A-levels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":313444,"featured_media":246736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[73,479,3802],"post-theme":[2345],"class_list":["post-246731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-a-level","tag-t-levels","tag-v-levels","post-theme-assessment"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t