Government Halts Funding Cut To Level 3s

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• Government Halts Funding Cut To Level 3s

After a campaign by the CBI, the new government has decided not to cut funding for a range of post-16-year-old qualifications. However, the move is temporary to allow for a review.

The proposed cuts were one of former PM Rishi Sunak’s commitments to get rid of a whole host of qualifications that he claimed nobody applied for or were a waste of resources.

The CBI however, disagreed, stating: ‘While there are signs that the pressures in the labour market are starting to cool, firms are still struggling to find the staff to power their ambitions – putting a dampener on investment and growth when we need them most.

‘With a rising number of young people not in employment, education or training, it is right that politicians bring such an important issue to the floor of the House to conduct a review’.

 

Education Secretary

Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for Education Tweeted on Wednesday afternoon 24 July: ‘The Department will undertake a short pause and review of post 16 qualification reform at level 3 and below, concluding before the end of the year.

‘This means that the defunding scheduled for next week will be paused’.

 

CBI

The CBI said: ‘It is critical that the government now partners with further education, independent training providers and businesses to understand how young people can be supported into work and to stay in the labour market. This will help address labour shortages holding back growth and deliver the skilled workforce we need to boost productivity.

‘Labour should commit to maintaining courses with a strong track record of helping learners progress their careers. This will help protect quality courses and drive forward the government’s National Youth Guarantee, positively transforming the lives of young people and businesses across the economy’.

 

Background

Under the Conservative government, the Department for Education planned to make A Levels and their new technical alternative T Levels, the main further education qualification options at age 16 in England. Apprenticeships were to remain available as an alternative post-16 option.

 

What are level 3 qualifications?

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland there are nine qualification levels, ranging from entry level (which has three sub-levels) to level 8. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification. Level 3 qualifications are mainly taken by young people after their GCSEs (level 2).

The Department for Education (DfE) approves level 3 qualifications submitted by awarding bodies/organisations for public funding if they meet certain criteria. These are then included on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s approved qualifications list. Further education providers receive funding from the ESFA to deliver level 3 qualifications on this list to their students as part of study programmes, or T Level programmes.

 

BTEC

Most young people pursuing a level 3 qualification in England are studying for AS/A Levels. Students interested in studying technical or vocational qualifications have generally taken Applied General qualifications, which include qualifications commonly known by their brand name, such as BTECs and Cambridge Technicals. Since September 2020, the Government has also begun rolling out T Levels, which are two-year technical qualifications equivalent in size to three A Levels.

 

Picture: Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for Education.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th July 2024

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