Perceptions of vocational and technical qualifications - wave 6
The results of a survey of perceptions of vocational and technical qualifications in England. Conducted December 2022 to February 2023.
Applies to England
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Details
Every year Ofqual commissions a survey on the Perceptions of Vocational and Technical Qualifications. Its aim is to explore perceptions of Vocational and Technical Qualifications, Functional Skills Qualifications, End-Point Assessments of Apprenticeships and T Levels, as well as various themes surrounding employment and skills. This report presents the findings of wave 6 of this survey conducted by YouGov.
Main findings
General perceptions
Vocational and Technical Qualifications, Functional Skills Qualifications, and Apprenticeships and End-Point Assessments
Overall, employers reported similar levels of understanding of Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs), Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) and End-Point Assessments (EPAs), with levels of understanding being slightly higher for VTQs. They were broadly consistent year-on-year and understanding increased with the organisation size. Comparatively, while employers’ reported understanding of EPAs was stable, for the provider group, understanding declined compared to previous waves, while learners’ agreement increased.
Learners were most likely to value VTQs, FSQs and EPAs compared to the other groups, while employers especially showed lower levels of agreement here. Learners were also more likely to agree that FSQs offered value for money, an increase compared to wave 5, which was conducted when alternative arrangements were in place due to public health reasons. Likewise, compared to employers and providers, learners were most likely to agree that VTQs, FSQs and EPAs were sufficiently flexible. For providers, VTQs, and subsequently FSQs, were more likely to represent value for money than EPAs, although this wave saw decreased levels of disagreement when thinking about EPAs.
When deciding to undertake a VTQ or FSQ, learners most commonly agreed they did so in order to improve their skills, or progress further in their studies, and there were broadly comparable benefits associated with these qualifications as well, with confidence being another key theme. For EPAs, the reasoning to undertake these qualifications also focused on building skills and progressing in their current jobs. Learners’ perceived benefits for EPAs focused closely on their job: developing their knowledge for their job, progressing in their job, and building a broader range of skills in the workplace.
T Levels
Reported levels of understanding of T Levels, recently introduced to the education system in September 2020, were relatively low for both learners and employers in comparison with other types of qualifications. Among learners, there was also a fair degree of uncertainty expressed when it came to various perceptions including whether they value T Levels, understand their purpose and think availability is sufficiently flexible. Among learners who stated an opinion, however, agreement was much more prevalent than disagreement.
Industry and employment
Employers increasingly agreed that it is clear what qualifications are relevant to their organisation. This was mainly driven by changes to levels of agreement reported by employers in micro-organisations and in the private sector, although this is somewhat to be expected given that micro-employers tend to sit within the private sector.
Recruitment and training
Relevant work experience was seen as essential by many employers when thinking about recruiting to their organisation and was demonstrated to be equally as important as having a degree or equivalent for professional and managerial roles. This echoed findings from previous waves of research.
Relevance to the organisation was by far the most important factor reported by employers when deciding which qualifications to offer. When asked why they had not arranged or funded training that led to a vocational qualification, apprenticeship or technical qualification, the most common reasons were related to lack of need.
Perceptions of the qualifications system in 2022
Given the special circumstances during the pandemic and the subsequent arrangements put back in place in 2022, respondents were presented with statements and questions similar to those asked in the annual survey but instructed to think specifically about perceptions for qualifications and arrangements in 2022 rather than their more general outlook.
In the context of 2022, providers and learners were consistently more positive about VTQs, FSQs and EPAs of apprenticeship standards than employers were. This finding is in line with results seen in previous years. In wave 6, employers expressed lower levels of agreement that the qualifications were good preparation for work, good preparation for further study, consistent in standards, trusted and well understood by people. In most cases, however, the lower levels of agreement among employers were caused by them expressing higher levels of uncertainty as opposed to higher levels of disagreement.
User feedback
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