Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Rejected
Commit to long-term retention and sustained funding for essential Level 3 qualifications and AGQs.
Recommendation
Level 3 qualifications—including Applied General Qualifications—which provide students with a popular and respected alternative to both A Levels and T Levels must remain an option for all young people. The Government must publicly commit to the long-term retention of these qualifications and to providing sustained funding for them. We hope this will go some way to address the extreme instability the sector has endured during the recent reviews by the current and previous Government. (Recommendation, Paragraph 100)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government proposes introducing V Levels as a new vocational pathway alongside A levels and T Levels, as outlined in its Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. A consultation on post-16 Level 3 and below pathways is currently underway, with a response expected later in 2026, indicating that the future of existing qualifications is still under review.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE We agree with the need for a third, vocational pathway at Level 3, which is why we will introduce V Levels. To ease the transition to V Levels, the DfE will retain funding for qualifications with 719 guided learning hours or below in T Level areas until new V Levels are introduced for that area. This means that providers can choose to deliver either existing unreformed qualifications such as AGQs under 720GLH, or small reformed qualifications, such as AAQs or TOQs where they exist, minimising disruption to delivery as the system transitions to V Levels. The DfE will confirm what qualifications will be available soon. This government is fully committed to T Levels. Where a student wishes to study a large qualification and a T Level exists, they should undertake the T Level. T Levels are out-performing other large qualifications in T Level areas. In line with this, funding for qualifications of 720 guided learning hours and over in T Level areas will be removed in 2026 and 2027. In current non-T Level areas, qualifications will remain funded until V Levels and new T Levels are introduced, and this applies to small, medium and large qualifications. Any defunding that has already occurred will remain unchanged, and the DfE will confirm which qualifications will be available shortly. Whether a qualification is available is also dependent upon the commercial decisions of awarding organisations on which qualifications they wish to offer.
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