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<p>The department has embarked on an ambitious technical education reform programme.
We consulted several times on the reforms to seek the views on our proposed changes.
In March 2019, the government launched the first stage consultation to gather views
and evidence about the principles that should apply to post-16 qualifications at level
3 and below in England. The results of this consultation are available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928952/Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_and_below_-_First_stage_government_response.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928952/Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_and_below_-_First_stage_government_response.pdf</a>.</p><p>In
July 2021, the department published its response to the second stage consultation
of the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below, which ran between the
23 October 2020 to 31 January 2021.The department made clear its intentions to streamline
the qualifications landscape, simplify choices for students, and only fund qualifications
that are high quality and lead to good progression outcomes. The response is available
at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-second-stage"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-second-stage</a>.</p><p>The
changes to post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below are designed to ensure that
our qualifications system provides a ladder of opportunity for young people from all
backgrounds. The department wants as many people as possible to undertake world class
A levels and T Levels, which evidence shows provide the best foundation from which
to progress, either into higher education, or skilled employment.</p><p>Data shows
that, in the following year, of the approximately 3,100 16-18 students who completed
a level 3 qualification in Travel and Tourism in 2018/19:</p><ul><li>Only 16% progressed
into HE, of which just under half (44%) moved into Travel and Tourism related HE study.</li><li>Just
under half (45%) moved purely into employment, in a mixed range of sectors, including
retail and wholesale (30%), hospitality (24%), administration (10%), health and social
care (8%), and transport (6%).</li><li>26% of students went on to further education
study, the majority (64%) in the same area.</li></ul><p>This shows mixed progression
outcomes for these qualifications. Specifying that newly developed travel and tourism-related
qualifications must be based on employer-designed, approved occupational standards
at level 3 will ensure that students gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours employers
in the travel and tourism industries need, leading to better and more consistent progression
outcomes for young people.</p><p>The department will continue to fund travel and tourism
qualifications at level 3 beyond 2025. Existing travel and tourism qualifications
will remain funded until 31 July 2026, after which qualifications approved for funding
in travel and tourism will need to be mapped against one of the relevant occupational
standards at level 3 for technical qualifications. Further information can be found
here: <a href="https://occupational-maps.instituteforapprenticeships.org/" target="_blank">https://occupational-maps.instituteforapprenticeships.org/</a>.</p><p>For
future qualifications, the department is encouraging awarding organisations to work
with schools, colleges and employers to develop new travel and tourism-focused technical
qualifications at level 3 that support young people to enter employment or further
technical study where that is what they want to do.</p>
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