Consultation outcome

​​Regulating level 2 and below qualifications supporting progression to higher levels of study​

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

Ofqual has decided to implement the regulatory approach to these qualifications, largely as proposed in the policy consultation.

Feedback received

Detail of feedback received

Respondents were generally supportive of the proposals in the consultation. There was support for Ofqual’s proposals:

  • to require awarding organisations to develop, follow, and keep under review an assessment strategy

  • to require awarding organisations to have regard to guidance specified by Ofqual in relation to grading
  • to require awarding organisations, following a review by Ofqual of a qualification in scope of this consultation, to comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, specified to it by Ofqual in relation to the qualification

There was some support for the following proposal, but with slightly higher level of disagreement:

  • to require awarding organisations to inform Ofqual if approval for funding was withdrawn from one of their qualifications

Original consultation

Summary

Proposed regulatory approach for entry level, level 1 and level 2 qualifications supporting progression to higher levels of study in England

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

In October 2022, DfE published the government’s response to its consultation on the Review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England. The response sets out DfE’s intentions for the future qualifications landscape at level 2 and below in England. It confirms the groups of qualifications that will be considered for public funding in the future grouped by level, purpose, and intended destination. The review of qualifications at level 2 and below will span several years, with DfE taking a phased approach to the first teaching of reformed qualifications from 2025 to 2027.

Documents

Updates to this page

Published 16 March 2023
Last updated 13 July 2023 + show all updates
  1. Consultation outcome published, with decisions and analysis of responses documents added.

  2. First published.

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