We are approaching a critical stage in the reform of Level 3 qualifications. As early as next month, we could see the publication of the Post-16 Skills White Paper and the final report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review/government response.  The immediate objective is to avoid the creation of a gap in the qualifications landscape in 2026 and 2027. As things stand, you will not be able to enrol students on diplomas/extended diplomas in T level subjects next year – AGQs in Health and Social Care, Applied Science and IT will be scrapped in 2026. AGQs in subjects such as Business and Engineering will be scrapped in 2027.

The report  published by the Sixth Form Association, highlighted gaps in specific sectors and contained three recommendations for government. They are now focusing their efforts on one – that colleges and schools are permitted to enrol students on all existing AGQ diplomas and extended diplomas in T level subjects in 26/27 and 27/28. Without this commitment, tens of thousands of students will be left without a suitable pathway from next year, creating what has been described as a qualification black hole.

If you would like to participate  share the report with local MPs, highlight the impact this ban will have on your students, and urge them to write to ministers urging them to reverse it. The campaign has secured two previous delays to defunding and we can secure another, but only if the message gets through loud and clear. There are other issues of course (the vision of a two-route academic/technical system, the fate of smaller AGQs in Criminology and Business etc.) but the short-term priority is to secure this delay, to avoid pulling the rug from under students next year and provide you with some much-needed certainty.

Do get in touch with James Kewin, Sixth Form Colleges Association, if you need any help with this.