Post-16 reforms 

Pause to initial 2024 defunding  

On 24 July 2024 The Department for Education (DfE) announced that it will be pausing the plan to defund existing post-16 qualifications. Bridget Philipson confirmed the decision in a speech on 24 July 2024 in the House of Commons. 

This means the DfE will place a one year pause on the removal of 16 to 19 funding from qualifications assessed as overlapping with T Levels in construction and the built environment, digital, education and early years, and health and science. These qualifications will now continue to remain available up to 31 July 2025.

As a result, your learners continue to have a choice of Level 3 pathways in 2024-25, either taking a T Level, or completing an alternative Level 3 qualification.  

This pause will allow the DfE time to carry out a review of post-16 level 3 and below reforms. The DfE will communicate the outcome of this review and further information on which qualifications will be funded for the 2025-26 academic year before the end of the year.  

Watch the short explainer video below in which NCFE Product Manager, David Rowley provides an overview of this announcement and how these changes will impact you and your learners.