Select Committee · Education Committee

The future of post-16 qualifications

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Nov 2021 Closed: 8 Sep 2023 4 recommendations 46 conclusions 1 report

The Education Committee will hold an inquiry examining how effectively post-16, level 3 education and qualifications (such as A Levels, T Levels, BTECs and apprenticeships) prepare young people for the world of work. The Committee will consider the Government’s current work and proposals in this area and look at whether an alternative model, which enables …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Third Report - The future of post-16 qualifications	HC 55	28 Apr 2023	50	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items

6 Conclusion Third Report - The future of post-16 qu… Accepted in Part

Work with universities to prevent unreasonable T Level entry requirements and clarify A-level compatibility

We have heard that some universities are requiring an A level alongside a T Level for entry onto degree programmes. Department guidance on whether an A level can feasibly be studied alongside a T Level appears inconsistent, and the Department must clearly set out its position on this. The Department …

Government response. The government clarified its unchanged position on A Levels being taken alongside T Levels, stating it supports students doing so. It has written to universities to raise awareness of T Levels and encourage transparent entry requirements, and will continue to …

Department for Education

29 Conclusion Third Report - The future of post-16 qu… Accepted in Part

Monitor and annually publish evaluations on hybrid versus in-person T Level placement outcomes.

The Department must closely monitor how learner satisfaction, attainment and progression for those undertaking hybrid T Level placements compares with those undertaking fully in-person placements. Evaluations on this should be published annually.

Government response. The government states its Technical Education Learner Survey is tracking T Level cohorts and will publish findings from the first cohort in late 2023/early 2024. It also plans to evaluate all placement delivery approaches, including hybrid models, and continually monitors …

Department for Education

39 Conclusion Third Report - The future of post-16 qu… Accepted in Part

Commission independent review to boost young people's apprenticeship starts through levy reform

The Department must set out how it will address the long-term decline in apprenticeship starts among young people, and ensure apprenticeships are the gold-standard ‘earn and learn’ option for school and college leavers. The Department must commission an independent review to examine possible mechanisms to achieve this, for example, considering …

Government response. The government outlined its plan to address the decline in young people's apprenticeship starts through existing and new initiatives, but rejected the call for an independent review into levy reform, stating it currently has no plans to reform the apprenticeship …

Department for Education

40 Conclusion Third Report - The future of post-16 qu… Accepted in Part

Expand flexi-job apprenticeship scheme to 5,000 by 2025, supporting SMEs and fair pay

Subject to positive evaluation, the Department must expand the flexi-job apprenticeship scheme with an ambition to support 5,000 apprentices on the scheme by 2025. The Department must maintain a particular focus on supporting small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) to share apprentices. This will help ease pressure on SMEs by …

Government response. The government committed to evaluating the Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies pilot this Autumn to explore future support for the scheme, but did not commit to the ambition of 5,000 apprentices by 2025. It accepted the recommendation to continue working closely with …

Department for Education

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions

Date	Witnesses
13 Dec 2022	Rt Hon Robert Halfon · Department for Education, Sue Lovelock · Department for Education	View ↗
8 Nov 2022	Alice Barnard · Edge Foundation, Kate Grieg · King Ethelbert School, Richard Markham · IB Schools and Colleges Association (IBSCA), Tom Richmond · EDSK	View ↗
18 Oct 2022	Andria Singlehurst · Aspirations Academies Trusts, Martin Said · XP School Doncaster, Tina Götschi · Ada, National College for Digital Skills, Yiannis Koursis · Barnsley College	View ↗
12 Jul 2022	David Gallagher · NCFE, Dr Lisa Morrison-Coulthard · National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), Kirsti Lord · Association of Colleges, Mrs Ruth Perry · Natspec, Tom Bewick · Federation of Awarding Bodies	View ↗
17 May 2022	Andy Webb · Skysmart, Chris Pont · IJYI Ltd, Jane Gratton · British Chambers of Commerce, Lisa Silcock · Naylor Industries PLC, Matthew McCarrick · McCarrick Construction Ltd, Peter Cadwallader · The Port Hotel, Steven Kearney · SKARCHITECTS	View ↗
27 Apr 2022	Sir Charlie Mayfield · QA Group, The Rt Hon. the Lord Blunkett, The Rt Hon. the Lord Willetts	View ↗
30 Mar 2022	Andreas Schleicher · OECD, The Rt Hon. the Lord Baker of Dorking CH	View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters

Date	Direction	Title
17 Jan 2023	—	Correspondence from Minister Halfon to the Chair regarding the Government’s rev…
10 Jan 2023	—	Correspondence from Jo Saxton, Chief Regulator of Ofqual, regarding post-16 qua…