Regulating post-16 VTQs at L2 and L3

Foundation Certificates

DfE has set out its intention to introduce Foundation Certificates at level 2. These will be one-year qualifications providing broad scope in a specific vocational area. They will support students who are looking to progress to further study at level 3, but who require additional teaching and learning before they are ready to do so. Each Foundation Certificate will be between 240 and 300 GLH. They will form part of a further study pathway providing broad scope in a specific vocational area, and may be taken alongside English and maths qualifications.

Foundation Certificates will be designed against common content specified by DfE, linked to occupational standards. The first Foundation Certificates will be available from September 2027 in digital systems and data and education and early years. More subjects will follow over time. DfE is currently consulting on the content for tranche 1 subjects, and you can see more information about this here.

We propose to put in place rules at a qualification level that will apply to all Foundation Certificates to support DfE’s intention for there to be greater consistency between awarding organisations.

Occupational Certificates

DfE has also set out its intention to introduce Occupational Certificates at level 2. These will be 2-year qualifications for students who want to progress into employment or an apprenticeship but need to develop their skills before doing so. They will form part of a wider 2-year occupational pathway, where students may also take other qualifications alongside, such as English and maths.

Occupational Certificates will be designed against common content specified by DfE, based on occupational standards. These will range in size between 540 and 720 GLH. A proportion of the qualification will be based on DfE-set core content providing an overview of a sector, and a proportion on occupation-specific content from relevant occupational standards, also specified by DfE.

The first Occupational Certificates will be available from September 2027 in culinary skills, hospitality (accommodation), hospitality (food and beverage), and early years practitioner. More subjects will follow over time. DfE is currently consulting on the nationally set content for tranche 1 Occupational Certificates, and information about this can be found here.

We propose to put in place rules at a qualification level that will apply to all Occupational Certificates to support DfE’s intention for there to be greater consistency between awarding organisations.