Post-16 Reforms
Supporting you through reforms to Post-16 qualifications now and in the future.
At a time when you might feel unsure what the future holds, we’re planning to offer continuity for you and your learners, and we’re committed to the future of post-16 education. We’re consulting with industry specialists to provide high-quality pathways and ensure no learner is left behind.
How is the post-16 landscape changing?
From September 2027, the vocational and technical education landscape for 16–19-year-old learners in England will be changing. The reformers will affect learners studying level 2 or level 3 programmes as funding for existing qualifications at these levels will lose funding. They will be replaced by new Level 2 qualifications, V Levels, T Levels and apprenticeship standards through a phased approach until 2030/31.
What is NCFE developing?
The first tranche of reformed qualifications will be going live in 2027, and we're pleased to confirm we intend to develop:
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Occupational Certificates (Level 2) |
Foundation Certificates (Level 2) |
V Levels (Level 3) |
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Education and Early Years |
Digital Systems and Data Education and Early Years |
Digital Systems and Data Education |
These subjects allow us to build on our existing strengths and employer relationships, and provide continuity for schools, colleges and providers who currently use our qualifications in these areas.
What qualifications aren’t affected?
Currently, Level 1 qualifications aren’t affected by the post-16 reforms. Level 1 qualifications provide an essential foundation for progression into further learning, training and employment. We offer entry level or level 1 qualifications across the following subjects:
- Education and Early Years
- Travel and Tourism
- Health and Social Care
- Uniformed Public Services
- Sport
What does this mean for your delivery?
From 2027 onwards, the post-16 qualification landscape will begin transitioning towards three main qualification routes for 16–19 learners, introduced on a phased, sector-by-sector basis:
- A Levels
- T Levels (large, occupational qualifications)
- V Levels (new vocational certificates).
V Levels are small, 360 guided learning hours (GLH) and are designed to be combined in a ‘pick and mix’ fashion. They’ll be available in key sectors like education, health and social care, travel and tourism, sport, and protective services.
These will replace the current mix of vocational qualifications such as Technical Occupational Qualifications (TOQs) and Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs). Subjects have been determined by the Department for Education (DfE) based on evidence of need.
T Levels will continue to be the main full-time technical qualification. The Government has confirmed that additional T Levels will be introduced in phases between 2028 and 2031, expanding the current offer.
This is something that we will monitor closely to ensure sector needs are represented and met.
There will be two new pathways at Level 2:
- Further Study Pathway (1 year): includes a new Foundation Certificate and supports progression to A, T or V Levels.
- Occupational Pathway (2 years): includes an occupational certificate with both core and job-specific content.
All content will be set nationally by the DfE, and assessment and grading decisions will be set by Ofqual. The qualifications will allow learners to transfer between the Further Study and Occupational pathways. Subjects will mirror those available at Level 3, with some grouped together for simplicity.
The new qualifications will be based on centrally developed content, selectively mapped to occupational standards. Ofqual will set design rules for V Level structure, assessment and grading, and a consistent grading scale is expected across all V Level qualifications.
There will be no awarding organisation branding on V Levels. This approach aims to ensure consistency, quality and relevance to employers, while reducing duplication across the system.
Some new V Levels, Foundation Certificates, and Occupational Certificates will be available for first teaching from 2027,.
The Government has confirmed a provisional implementation timeline in its consultation response. See full consultation response. Existing qualifications will be defunded as new T Levels and V Levels are approved for delivery.
Timeline
The new qualifications will be introduced in a phased approach from 2027, with new subject areas launching each year through to 2030.
| Year | Occupational certs | Foundation certs | V Levels | New T Levels |
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| 27/28 |
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N/A |
| 28/29 |
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| 29/30 | N/A |
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| 30/31 | N/A |
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Helpful resources and guidance
As the largest specialist vocational and technical awarding organisation and educational charity, NCFE is committed to supporting providers throughout qualification reform.
Download our Post-16 Reforms Funding Guide
Our funding guides reflect the latest guidance on changes to Level 2 and 3 vocational qualifications for 16–19 learners in England. The guide will helps understand what is changing, when new qualifications will be available and when existing qualifications will lose funding.
What's changing? Key takeaways from the consultation response.
Read our blog for a summary of the key announcements and what they mean for providers.
Post-16 reforms explained:
Watch our short video overview of the reforms and what they mean for your curriculum planning.
FAQS
From September 2027, the vocational and technical education landscape for 16–19-year-old learners in England will be changing. The reforms will affect learners studying level 2 or level 3 programmes as funding for existing legacy qualifications at these levels will be removed. They will be replaced by new qualifications through a phased approach until 2030/31.
The reforms will create a clearer pathway structure with fewer qualifications for 16-19 learners:
- Level 3: A Levels (academic), T Levels (technical) and new V Levels (vocational).
- Level 2: Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.
The reforms will create a landscape with four funded 16-19 vocational and technical qualifications, two at Level 2 and two at Level 3:
Level 3
- T Levels: large technical qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels
- V Levels: small vocational qualifications equivalent to 1 A Level.
Level 2
- Foundation Certificates: small qualifications taken over 1 year to prepare for Level 3 study
- Occupational Certificates: large qualifications taken over 2 years to prepare for employment.
All 16-19 funding in England is allocated to student study programmes as a whole, rather than to individual qualifications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-how-it-works). This means that the funding methodology will continue to operate on total planned learning hours, and new qualifications will not change the amount of money delivered.
They don't. The reforms only affect 16-19 funding specifically. This means that adult skills funding, advanced learner loans and other forms of devolved adult funding will not removed as a result of these reforms.
The reforms will only affect vocational training providers who deliver 16-19 funded study programmes at Level 2 and 3. (Then the rest of this is just the same answer as the first question).