Guide to the post-16 qualifications landscape at level 3 and below for 2025 and beyond - April 2024

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda

Guide to the post-16 qualifications landscape explains reforms affecting publicly funded qualifications at level 3 and below from 2025 onward. It sets out the three-phase funding approach: removing funding for low-enrolment qualifications, addressing overlap with T Levels, and introducing new funding approval criteria for technical and non-technical qualifications. The document also describes transitions to the Advanced British Standard, outlines qualification scopes, approval cycles and timelines, and specifies what will not be funded, including occupation and subject areas, plus accountability and performance measures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages49

Reading Time2 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Phase 1 – removing funding at levels 3 and below due to low or no enrolments

Phase 2 – removing funding from level 3 qualifications due to overlap with T Levels

Phase 3 – introducing new funding approval criteria for technical and non-technical qualifications at level 3 and below

Transitioning to the Advanced British Standard

Level 3

Technical Qualifications

Approval of qualifications from 2025

Approval of level 3 qualifications from 2025 – an overview and timeline

Accountability and post-16 performance measures at level 3

Approval of qualifications at level 2 and below from 2025

Guide to the post-16 qualifications landscape atlevel 3 and below for 2025and beyond April 2024 Contents Updates to this document 4 April 2024 update 4 Introduction 5 Phase 1 – removing funding at levels 3 and below due to low or no enrolments 5 Phase 2 – removing funding from level 3 qualifications due to overlap with T Levels 5 Phase 3 – introducing new funding approval criteria for technical and non-technicalqualifications at level 3 and below 6 Transitioning to the Advanced British Standard 7 Level 3 8 Technical Qualifications 9 Alternative Academic Qualifications 9 Level 2 and below 9 Scope of the review 11 Level 3 11 Level 2 and below 11 Table 1: Qualifications out of scope of the review at level 3 and below 11 Approval of qualifications from 2025 13 Approval of level 3 qualifications from 2025 – an overview and timeline 14 Cycle 1 – level 3 qualifications funded from 2025 14 Cycle 2 – level 3 qualifications funded from 2026 15 Cycle 3 – level 3 qualifications funded from 2027 16 What will not be funded 16 Table 2: occupations and subjects where qualifications will not be approved 16 Future funding of level 3 alternative academic qualifications 17 1. Small alternative academic qualifications 18 Table 3 – subjects where small AAQs will be considered for funding approval and their first teaching year. 20 Small AAQ that can be approved by exception 20 2. Large alternative academic qualifications 21 Table 4 – subjects where large AAQs will be considered for funding 22 3. Study programmes for 16 to 19 year olds 23 4. Academic qualifications for adults 24 5. Criteria and requirements for alternative academic qualifications 24 Future funding of level 3 technical qualifications 25 1. Future funding of level 3 technical qualifications at 16-19 25 2. Future funding of level 3 technical qualifications for adults 28 Accountability and post-16 performance measures at level 3 29 Approval of qualifications at level 2 and below from 2025 - an overview andtimeline 30 Cycle 1 – level 2 technical qualifications funded from 2025 30 Cycle 2 – level 2 qualifications funded from 2026 31 Technical qualifications 31 Progression qualifications 31 Cycle 3 – level 2 and below qualifications funded from 2027 32 Cycle 4 – level 2 and below qualifications in English, maths and ESOL 33 Future funding of level 2 technical qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds 33 Study programmes for 16- to 19-year-olds 34 Future funding of level 2 technical qualifications for adults 35 Future funding of level 2 progression qualifications 36 Level 2 academic progression qualifications (for 16- to 19-year-olds and adults) 36T Level Foundation qualifications (level 2) 38Level 2 technical progression qualifications (for 16- to 19-year-olds and adults) 38 Future funding of level 1 and entry level progression qualifications, and personal,social and employability (PSE) qualifications 40Future Funding of English and maths Qualifications 41Accountability and post-16 performance measures at level 2 and below 42Study programmes 43Annex A: Level 3 key dates 44Annex A - Level 2 and below key dates 46Annex B – How we have defined alignment with T Levels for large AlternativeAcademic Qualifications 48 Updates to this document April 2024 update This document has been updated to: - Reflect the latest position on the removal of 16-19 funding for qualificationsassessed as overlapping with Waves 3 and 4 T Levels Set out when we expect to publish the lists of qualifications approved in cycle 1 of thenew funding approval process at levels 3 and 2 - Make a correction to the section on cross-cutting qualifications to refer to TotalQualification Time (TQT) instead of Guided Learning Hours (GLH) . - Clarify that under the SSA Art, Media and Publishing, that we will not approve forpublic funding large alternative academic qualifications in the subcategory ofMedia and Communicatio

FAQs

What are the three phases of the post-16 qualifications funding reforms described in the document?

The reforms proceed in three phases: Phase 1 removes funding at levels 3 and below where enrolments are low or absent. Phase 2 removes funding from level 3 qualifications due to overlap with T Levels. Phase 3 introduces new funding approval criteria for technical and non-technical qualifications at level 3 and below.

How does the document handle qualifications at level 3 and below for funding decisions starting in 2025?

It provides an approval process with cycles and timelines for funding from 2025 onward. It also specifies what will not be funded, including occupation and subject areas where qualifications will not be approved.

Who is the document primarily intended for, and what additional guidance is referenced?

The document is primarily aimed at providers of further education and other interested stakeholders. It also notes that awarding organisations can find information on submitting qualifications for funding approval, including submission windows, via the Single access point on gov.uk.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda