Overview

Ofqual is the independent regulator for qualifications in England. Ofqual’s statutory objectives include securing the standards of, and promoting public confidence in, regulated qualifications. Ofqual’s rules, which awarding organisations must follow, are designed to achieve this. Ofqual monitors their approaches to make sure they are meeting the rules and takes action if they are not. Ofqual’s regulation seeks to:

• ensure quality and fairness for students and apprentices
• promote clarity, effectiveness and efficiency in the qualifications market
• contribute to shaping the future of assessment and qualifications

In 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) set out its ambition for a streamlined post-16 qualification system at level 3 and below, where all qualifications are high quality, necessary, have a distinct purpose, and lead to good outcomes for students.

In October 2022, DfE published the government’s response to its consultation on the ‘Review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England’. The response sets out DfE’s intentions for the future qualifications landscape at level 2 and below (L2B) in England. It confirms the groups of qualifications that will be considered for public funding in the future grouped by level, purpose, and intended destination. The review of qualifications at level 2 and below will span several years, with DfE taking a phased approach to the first teaching of reformed qualifications from 2025 to 2027.

Ofqual launched 2 consultations earlier this year on its proposed regulatory approaches for the following qualifications:

• Qualifications supporting progression to T Levels (now referred to as T Level Foundation Qualifications (Level 2))
• Entry level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications supporting progression to higher levels of study which included:
  • Level 2 qualifications supporting progression to level 3 technical qualifications that are not delivered as part of a T Level programme, (now referred to as Level 2 Technical Progression Qualifications by DfE)
  • Level 2 qualifications supporting progression to level 3 alternative academic qualifications, (now referred to as Level 2 Academic Progression Qualifications by DfE)
  • Level 1 pre-technical qualifications supporting progression to higher level technical qualifications, (now referred to as Level 1 Progression Qualifications by DfE)
  • Entry level qualifications supporting progression to level 1 pre-technical qualifications, (now referred to as Entry level Progression Qualifications by DfE)

DfE has decided that these 5 groups of qualifications will collectively be called ‘Progression Qualifications’.

Ofqual published the policy decisions following these consultations on Thursday 13 July 2023.

Ofqual is now consulting on the draft conditions, requirements and guidance to put these policy decisions into effect. The aim of this consultation is to provide an opportunity for interested groups to comment on the draft conditions, requirements and guidance for all 5 groups of Progression Qualifications set out above. The decision to consult on all 5 groups of Progression Qualifications together has been taken to allow respondents to respond to a single consultation, minimising the number of consultations that they are asked to engage with.

Ofqual will publish the final conditions, requirements and guidance later this year. This timescale will allow awarding organisations to develop qualifications, and give schools, colleges and other providers time to familiarise themselves with them, ahead of teaching the first reformed qualifications.

Why your views matter

If you have an interest in Entry level, Level 1, and Level 2 Progression Qualifications, please let Ofqual know your thoughts on the proposals set out here by responding to this consultation.

Audience

This consultation is open to anyone who may wish to make representation but may be of most interest to:

• awarding organisations and their representative bodies, particularly those that deliver (or want to deliver) L2B Progression Qualifications
• schools, colleges and training providers, and their representative bodies, particularly those that deliver (or want to deliver) L2B Progression Qualifications
• students
• employers

Duration

This consultation will be open for 9 weeks starting on 13 July 2023 and ending on 14 September 2023 at 23:45.

What happens next

Your response has been submitted - thank you for completing the consultation

This information will now be analysed and the findings will be published on our website.

To get alerted to updates to this and other Ofqual consultations, you can sign up for alerts on our consultation page on GOV.UK.