[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-621696-105":59,"doc-detail-621696-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","post-16-level-3-and-below-pathways-government-consultation-response-march-2026","Post-16 level 3 and below pathways - Government consultation response - March 2026","","Government consultation response setting out the rationale, design, and implementation considerations for reformed post-16 qualification pathways at level 3 and level 2. It explains the proposed level 3 vocational V Level pathway alongside A Levels and T Levels, and two simplified level 2 pathways providing progression to further study or skilled employment. The response summaries consultation scope, executive themes, respondent profile, and stakeholder engagement evidence, and addresses specific questions on qualification size, subjects, occupational standards alignment, branding, funding approval, quality assurance, equalities, and transition to the future landscape.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/post-16-level-3-and-below-pathways-government-consultation-response-march-2026/621696/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/post-16-level-3-and-below-pathways-government-consultation-response-march-2026/621696.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Riley West","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-03","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":24},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What changes are proposed for post-16 qualifications at level 3 and level 2?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The proposals introduce a third vocational pathway at level 3 through V Levels alongside A Levels and T Levels, and create two new level 2 pathways: one aligned to Further Study and one aligned to skilled employment via an Occupational pathway.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How was the consultation run and who responded?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The consultation launched with the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper on 20 October 2025 and ran until 12 January 2026. It collected views through an online survey and email, receiving 768 responses in total, split between individuals and organisations.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How do the new pathways connect to occupational standards and employer-linked content?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"V Level content is set nationally and linked to occupational standards defined by Skills England in collaboration with employers, supporting applied learning with practical assessment. The response also addresses how level 2 pathways interact with occupational standards.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},621696,1792589912,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":24,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},1099523885074,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Post-16 level 3 and below pathways  \nGovernment consultation response  \nMarch 2026  \nContents  \nIntroduction 2  \nThe case for change 6  \nExecutive summary 10  \nFuture 16 to 19 level 3 and level 2 landscape 13  \nQuestions analysis and government responses 14  \n16 to 19 level 3 pathways 14  \nV Level design 16  \nV Levels size – Questions 1 and 2 16  \nV Levels subjects – Question 3 21  \nV Levels and the wider study programme – Question 4 22  \nT Levels 24  \n16 to 19 level 2 pathways 27  \nFoundation Certificate design 31  \nFoundation Certificates size – Question 7 31  \nFoundation Certificate subjects – Questions 8 and 9 33  \nOccupational Certificate design 35  \nOccupational Certificate duration – Question 10 35  \nOccupational Certificate core content – Questions 11 and 12 37  \nOccupational Certificate size – Question 13 to 16 38  \nQuestions regarding both level 3 and level 2 pathways 42  \nNon-qualification activity – Question 17 42  \nTransition to the future landscape – Question 18 43  \nApproach to funding approval for existing qualifications 46  \nEnsuring quality content – Question 19 46  \nV Level, Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate branding – Question 20 48  \nImpact on adults 49  \nEqualities – Questions 21 to 24 50  \nAnnex A: List of questions 52  \nAnnex B: Respondent demographics 55  \nIntroduction  \nThe Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways consultation launched alongside the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper on 20 October 2025. This white paper built on the findings of the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report and set out the government’s plan to introduce reformed qualification pathways at level 3 and level 2 , including:  \n• A third, vocational pathway at level 3: creating V Level qualifications. V Levels will sit alongside A Levels and T Levels as a vocational offer for students with a strong element of applied learning and some practical assessment. Content will be set nationally and linked to occupational standards defined by Skills England in collaboration with employers. V Levels are for students who want to study a broad range of subjects, rather than specialise in one route. T Levels will continue to offer students a large qualification option where they wish to study a particular route.  \n• Two new pathways at level 2: simplifying the current offer and providing a clear line of sight to either further study at level 3 through the Further Study pathway or skilled employment through the Occupational pathway.  \nThe Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways consultation provided further detail on the design and implementation of the new pathways at both level 3 and level 2 and gathered views on the government’s proposals. This included the approach to the size of qualifications in the pathways, the most appropriate subjects for these qualifications, their interaction with occupational standards, the interaction between the level 2 pathways, the approach to the content and branding for the qualifications at both level 3 and level 2 , and the transition to the new reformed pathways.  \nThese reforms focus on classroom-based learning. Therefore, apprenticeships were not part of this consultation process but are an important part of the vocational and technical offer for 16 to 19-year-olds. We are working to ensure that the reformed system supports progression into apprenticeships and that the level 2 pathways complement foundation apprenticeships.  \nConsultation exercise  \nThe Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways consultation was launched alongside the Post-  \n16 Education and Skills White Paper on 20 October 2025 and closed on 12 January  \n2026. It consisted of 34 questions , including closed and open questions. The consultation gathered views via an online survey and email.  \nProfile of respondents  \nWe received 768 responses in total: 403 responses from individuals and 365 responses from organisations. The breakdown of respondents by category is set out in Annex B.  \nStakeholder engagement  \nDuring t","cbCaice0stPCCGVE","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaice0stPCCGVE","pdf",1792473,57,"English","# Introduction\n# The case for change\n# Executive summary\n# Future 16 to 19 level 3 and level 2 landscape\n# Questions analysis and government responses\n## 16 to 19 level 3 pathways\n## 16 to 19 level 2 pathways\n## Questions regarding both level 3 and level 2 pathways\n## Approach to funding approval for existing qualifications\n## Ensuring quality content\n## Equalities\n# Annex A: List of questions\n# Annex B: Respondent demographics","[{\"question\":\"What changes are proposed for post-16 qualifications at level 3 and level 2?\",\"answer\":\"The proposals introduce a third vocational pathway at level 3 through V Levels alongside A Levels and T Levels, and create two new level 2 pathways: one aligned to Further Study and one aligned to skilled employment via an Occupational pathway.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the consultation run and who responded?\",\"answer\":\"The consultation launched with the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper on 20 October 2025 and ran until 12 January 2026. It collected views through an online survey and email, receiving 768 responses in total, split between individuals and organisations.\"},{\"question\":\"How do the new pathways connect to occupational standards and employer-linked content?\",\"answer\":\"V Level content is set nationally and linked to occupational standards defined by Skills England in collaboration with employers, supporting applied learning with practical assessment. The response also addresses how level 2 pathways interact with occupational standards.\"}]","Post-16 level 3 and below pathways - Government consultation response - March 2026 | PDF",1792465815,144]