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1689936

registered interest
date	19/02/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent on marketing for (a) Institutes of Technology, (b) T Levels and (c) Higher Technical Qualifications in each year since 2017.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	14592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>From January 2022, the department has moved away from delivering individual campaigns for each policy product and started delivery of joined up, audience-led campaigns under the banner of Skills for Life, which covers T Levels, Institutes of Technology, Higher Technical Qualifications and others.</p><p> </p><p>Up to and including the 2020/21 financial year, there was a T Level specific marketing campaign with incurred costs of £400,000 in the 2018/19 financial year, £2,667,975 in the 2019/20 financial year and £4,109,207 in the 2020/21 financial year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Skills for Life campaign is ongoing. The overall spend for 2023/24 was £12,085,527, as detailed in my response to 7043 on 8 January 2024, which is available at: <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-14/7043" target="_blank">https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-14/7043</a>. For the 2021/22 financial year the overall spend was £4,092,000. In the 2022/23 financial year overall spend was £12,400,000.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 04/03/2024 17:15:07 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1605032

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence the Department for Education has to support the estimate made in their impact assessment Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 in England, published in July 2022, that "4 per cent of 16 to 19 year olds currently studying at level 3 may not be able to progress directly to level 3 study following the reforms".
tabling member printed	Lord Blunkett
uin	HL6564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The department’s estimate of the proportion of students who may not be able to move straight to level 3 at age 16 was published in the impact assessment that accompanied the second stage consultation on qualifications reform. This can be found here: <a href="https://consult.education.gov.uk/post-16-qualifications-review-team/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3/supporting_documents/Impact%20Assessment%20%20Review%20of%20post16%20qualifications%20at%20level%203_.pdf" target="_blank">https://consult.education.gov.uk/post-16-qualifications-review-team/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3/supporting_documents/Impact%20Assessment%20%20Review%20of%20post16%20qualifications%20at%20level%203_.pdf</a>.</p><p>The department’s estimate that 4% of the level 3 cohort may not be able to move directly to level 3 in future following the reforms to post-16 qualifications was based on 16-19 year old enrolments in 2019/20. There were 2.88 million in total, of which around 115,200 enrolments, or 4%, were assessed as potentially impacted. This was based on a prior attainment threshold of five passing GCSEs of grade 4 or above, or a full level 2 and an estimate of the number of qualifications that would remain in future. It is important to note that many students who do not move directly to level 3 do achieve that level after further intervention.</p><p>Where students are unable to move directly to level 3, they will be able to choose from a range of high quality options. This includes the T level transition programme, from which 49% of students progressed to level 3 from the first cohort. In future, it will also include reformed level 2 technical and academic progression qualifications that are designed to support progression to apprenticeships, further academic and technical study and employment. Reformed technical qualifications will be based on employer led occupational standards and will provide young people with the skills that employers need.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 30/03/2023 10:21:48 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	395 label Biography information for Lord Blunkett

1584778

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to increase the transparency of the process to assess whether an applied general qualification overlaps with a T level, including the rationale for the decisions reached.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL5486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2023 answer text <p>Qualifications reform is being undertaken in three phases. Phase 1 removed around 5,500 qualifications because they had low or no publicly funded enrolments.</p><p>Phase 2 relates to the assessment of qualifications that overlap with T Levels. Qualifications are carefully assessed and considered against three tests:</p><ul><li>Is it a technical qualification, in that it primarily aims to support entry to employment in a specific occupational area(s)?</li><li>Are the outcomes that must be attained by a person taking the qualification similar to those set out in a standard covered by a T Level?</li><li>Does the qualification aim to support entry to the same occupation(s) as a T Level?</li></ul><p>The process we have used to identify overlapping qualifications is rigorous and has been led by evidence such as individual qualification specifications. Independent assessors were commissioned to conduct in-depth evaluations of the qualifications in scope and the outcomes of the process were moderated for consistency.</p><p>For the Wave 1 and 2 T Level overlap process, the department published a provisional list, and put in place an appeals process to give awarding organisations who did not feel we have applied the criteria correctly an opportunity to provide evidence. We published our final Wave 1 and 2 T Level overlap list (excluding health and science in October 2022, and it is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/qualifications-that-overlap-with-t-levels" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/qualifications-that-overlap-with-t-levels</a>.</p><p>106 qualifications will cease to be publicly funded in August 2024. The department removed 26 qualifications from the provisional list due to a successful appeal. We will run a similar process for Wave 3 and 4 overlap, a provisional list will be published in spring 2023.</p><p>The department postponed the publication of the list of qualifications that overlap with health and science T Levels, as these T Levels are under review by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. We will publish information related to the health and science qualifications that overlap with T Levels shortly.</p><p>Phase 3 of qualifications reform will assess the qualifications remaining after phases 1 and 2. The department’s approach to the future landscape was published on 10 January 2023, and we consulted on these proposals in 2019 and 2020. The publication is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128144/Guide_to_the_post-16_qualifications_landscape_at_level_3_and_below_for_2025_and_beyond.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128144/Guide_to_the_post-16_qualifications_landscape_at_level_3_and_below_for_2025_and_beyond.pdf</a>.</p><p>The department has been open and transparent about our intention that A Levels and T Levels should be at the heart of study programmes for 16 to 19-year-olds. The publication makes clear that large alternative academic qualifications may continue to be publicly funded in areas such as performing arts and sports, and that small alternative academic qualifications may continue to be funded in strategically important areas such as health and STEM. This process will remove further qualifications, including large Applied General qualifications. This strikes the right balance between ensuring sufficient choice for learners whilst ensuring that most students undertake world class A Levels and T Levels.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 20/02/2023 15:23:10 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1584779

registered interest
date	06/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to make changes to the process that assesses whether an applied general qualification overlaps with a T level, to ensure (1) provider, and (2) employer, involvement.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL5487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2023 answer text <p>The department recognises the value that employers can bring to the design of qualifications, which is why we have included them in technical education reform.</p><p>We have put employers at the heart of our technical education system. T Levels have been co-designed and developed with providers, employers and the government. Occupational standards are employer-led products designed to ensure occupational competence. We have used independent assessors in our process for assessing whether a qualification overlaps with a T Level, and this includes reviewing qualification specifications against employer-led occupational standards. As part of this rigorous process, all qualifications were assessed against 3 tests:</p><ul><li>Is it a technical qualification, in that it primarily aims to support entry to employment in a specific occupational area(s)?</li><li>Are the outcomes that must be attained by a person taking the qualification similar to those set out in an employer led occupational standard covered by a T Level?</li><li>Does the qualification aim to support entry to the same occupation(s) as a T Level?</li></ul><p>Only qualifications which met all 3 tests in relation were added to the overlap list.</p><p>The department’s approach to the future landscape, published on 10 January 2023, and guidance for awarding organisations , available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/awarding-organisations-submitting-qualifications-for-approval" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/awarding-organisations-submitting-qualifications-for-approval</a>, makes clear the technical qualifications that can be put forward for 16-19s in 3 broad areas:</p><ul><li>Technical occupational entry and technical occupational progression qualifications aimed at supporting entry into occupations or progress within a role covered by occupational standards and not covered in T Levels.</li><li>Technical additional specialist qualifications that allow a student to develop additional knowledge and competencies and specialise within a sector. These qualifications will build on knowledge covered by a T Level or other occupational entry qualification.</li><li>Technical cross-cutting qualifications that allow students to develop skills that are relevant across occupations.</li></ul><p>The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has set out clear criteria on their requirement for awarding organisations to involve employers in the design of technical qualifications. This criteria includes examples of acceptable evidence which might be provided to satisfy IfATE’s statutory employer demand test.</p><p>This will build on the important work the department has already done to create world class T Levels, apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications by continuing to embed the principles of employer involvement and employer-led occupational standards at the heart of technical education.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 20/02/2023 15:17:43 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1506302

registered interest
date	08/09/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the quality of technical qualifications.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	49630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2022 answer text <p>The department is reforming technical education to ensure that all post-16 students have access to high quality technical options that support progression and meet employer needs. This includes the introduction of T Levels, new technical qualifications designed with employers, reviewing the technical qualifications we continue to fund at level 3 and below, and introducing new Higher Technical qualifications.</p><p> </p><p>We are putting employers at the heart of the skills system and boosting the quality of qualifications on offer by basing them on employer-led occupational standards so that all students leave education with the skills most needed by industry.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 22/09/2022 11:58:27 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1486308

registered interest
date	04/07/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish a report on the educational outcomes of new vocational qualifications.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	30071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>From 1 September 2020, the government stopped approving newly regulated qualifications at level 3 and below for funding for students aged 16 and over. However, there are some exemptions to allow certain qualifications to continue to be approved. This is intended to stabilise the publicly funded qualifications offer while T Levels are rolled out and the qualifications review takes place. T Levels were launched in 2020 as new post-16 technical qualifications. We will publish data on achievement rates for T Levels when results from the first cohort of students are known this August. T Levels will also be included in performance tables from the 2024 exam year.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 21/07/2022 18:06:15 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1484242

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the quality of technical qualifications.
tabling member constituency	Stockton South
tabling member printed	Matt Vickers
uin	26903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2022 answer text <p>We are reforming technical education to ensure that all post-16 students have access to technical options that support progression and meet employer needs. This includes the introduction of T Levels, designed with employers, reviewing all other technical qualifications at level 3 and below and introducing new Higher Technical qualifications.</p><p>We are putting employers at the heart of the skills system and boosting the quality of qualifications on offer, basing them on employer-led occupational standards, so that all students leave education with the skills most needed by industry.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 20/07/2022 10:36:31 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
tabling member	4844 label Biography information for Matt Vickers

1464755

registered interest
date	23/05/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve the recognition of vocational qualifications.
tabling member constituency	South East Cornwall
tabling member printed	Mrs Sheryll Murray
uin	900181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>Vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) provide an important and valued route for many young people and adults. We are streamlining and improving the quality of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below. Our reforms will put employers at the heart of the system, ensuring that all qualifications are fit for purpose, high quality and lead to good outcomes. We are creating clearly defined academic and technical routes at level 3, leading to future study and or skilled employment.</p><p>As set out in our level 3 consultation response published in July 2021, students will continue to be able to study qualifications similar to current Applied General qualifications where there is no overlap with T Levels. On 11 May we published a provisional list of 160 qualifications that overlap with the first two waves of T Levels. These qualifications will have funding approval withdrawn for anyone eligible to access the qualification through the 16-19 funding offer on 1 August 2024, unless awarding organisations successfully appeal their qualifications’ inclusion. The final list will be published in September 2022.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 24/05/2022 14:11:12 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4100 label Biography information for Mrs Sheryll Murray

1440297

registered interest
date	08/03/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help promote the value of technical qualifications.
tabling member constituency	South East Cornwall
tabling member printed	Mrs Sheryll Murray
uin	906053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>The department is strengthening routes for all students to progress through the system, by introducing high-quality technical qualifications that support young people’s progression and meet the needs of employers.</p><p>In January this year the department launched our ‘Get the Jump’ campaign, which helps 14-19 year olds explore all their education and training options. We recognise that technical education routes have lower levels of awareness, therefore this campaign spotlights T Levels, Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Higher Technical Qualifications in particular.</p><p>The department is also working closely with the Careers and Enterprise Company and Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme to ensure that teachers and careers leaders have the information and resources they need to communicate the benefits of T Levels to their students.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 14/03/2022 17:40:44 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4100 label Biography information for Mrs Sheryll Murray

1417360

registered interest
date	27/01/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Education: Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the impact on providers of the Department’s proposed timeline of one year for withdrawing funding for Applied General Qualifications.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
uin	113079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2022 answer text <p>The department will continue to fund a range of qualifications similar to current Applied General qualifications that can be taken alongside and as alternatives to A levels where they meet new criteria for quality and necessity. These qualifications will continue to play an important role for students taking mixed programmes with A levels and to support progression to higher education in areas where there are no A levels or T Levels.</p><p>Overall, we expect the impacts of our reforms to be positive because students will have access to higher quality qualifications in future, including new T Levels. This will put students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in a stronger position to progress into further study or skilled employment. We are committed to supporting students to progress onto T Levels in future and have launched the T Level Transition Programme for those who are not yet ready to progress to a T Level but have the potential to succeed on it after some further preparation. We will also be exploring further through the upcoming consultation on study at level 2 and below what additional forms of support students may need to be ready to move onto A levels and other academic qualifications at level 3.</p><p>The impact assessment published alongside the response to the level 3 review consultation recognises that there will be some cost to providers in implementing changes, but we have not made an estimate of the overall cost to providers of changes stemming from the review. The updated impact assessment published alongside the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill in October 2021 provided some estimates of costs of providers familiarising themselves with the new qualification categories. However, the most significant costs are likely to come from the implementation of T Levels and we have provided significant support for providers to enable them to switch. This includes over £400 million in capital funding to put in place the industry standard equipment and facilities needed to deliver the first four T Level waves, over £200 million to build capacity for industry placements delivery, and the launch of the T Level Professional Development offer, which has so far ensured that almost 8,500 teachers and leaders have the support they need to deliver T Levels well.</p><p>Our reforms to the qualifications landscape are rightly ambitious, but we know that we would be wrong to push too hard and risk compromising quality. In November, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, adjusted the reform timetable to allow an additional year of T Level implementation before overlapping qualifications are removed. This extra year will allow us to continue to work hard to support the growth of T Levels and gives more notice to providers, awarding organisations, employers, students and parents so that they can prepare for the changes when they come in from August 2024.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart grouped question UIN 113080 113081 113082 question first answered 03/02/2022 16:55:37 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood