Other approval principles: 14 to 16

Criteria that qualifications in the 14 to 16 offer need to meet alongside the common funding approval criteria.

These qualifications must also meet the common funding approval criteria.

Qualifications that were considered but not included in the Key Stage 4 performance tables will be considered for the 14 to 16 offer.

Occupational regulation

We will not approve a qualification for funding in the 14 to 16 offer if it is linked to occupational regulation or serves as a ‘licence to practice’.

This includes qualifications in a sector or occupational area where:

  • it is a legal requirement for all practitioners to obtain a licence from the relevant state recognised regulatory body and the qualification supports this
  • practitioners are required to register and be recognised by a professional body and the qualification supports this
  • there is a requirement to demonstrate competence against a code of practice and the qualification supports this
  • there are mandatory requirements for an occupation (or for specific activities within that occupation) and the qualification supports this

We are doing this because we do not expect qualifications in the 14 to 16 to link to specific occupational roles.

Technical Qualifications in T Levels

We will not approve technical qualifications for T Levels in the 14 to 16 offer if they are approved for a T Level programme by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). This is because T Levels are programmes for students aged 16 and over.