Scrapping key qualifications for over-16s could leave thousands unemployed, government warned

Tens of thousands of students will be left “without a suitable pathway” to employment as a result of government plans for post-16 vocational courses, a report has said.

The warning comes as the government plan to withdraw funding for a number of applied general qualifications (AGQs), such as BTecs. The uptake of the government’s technical courses (T-levels) also remains low.

A report by the Protect Student Choice campaign warned reducing student choice for post-16 qualifications risks “reversing” progress in widening access to higher education and it could lead to more young people not in employment.

The campaign – which includes organisations representing students and staff in colleges and schools – is calling on the curriculum and assessment review to recommend “reversing the ban on AGQ diplomas and extended diplomas in T-level areas” in its final report which is due to be published in the autumn.

AGQs are Level 3 qualifications, which include BTecs, for students who want to undertake a broad study of a specific vocational area.

In December, the Labour Government announced 157 vocational qualifications, which the previous Conservative administration had planned to remove funding from, would be retained beyond July this year until reformed qualifications become more established in the system.

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Following a review of Level 3 qualifications that “overlap” with T-levels, the Government said 57 qualifications in digital, construction and health and science would be funded until July 2026.

A further 100 qualifications in engineering, agriculture, business and creative would retain their funding until July 2027.

The first T-level courses – which are considered to be broadly equivalent to three A-levels – were launched in 2020 in England and they are being rolled out gradually.

Department for Education (DfE) guidance, published in February, has outlined plans to remove funding from “large qualifications” in a number of T-level subject areas in the future.

An analysis from the Protect Student Choice campaign suggests there could be 52,000 fewer young people studying health and science courses each year if funding is removed for AGQs in this area, and it added that nearly 11,000 fewer young people could study digital courses each year.

It said more than 200,000 students are currently studying AGQs that are “either being scrapped or have an uncertain future” which makes it “difficult” for colleges and schools to plan their curriculum, recruit and train the right staff, or to provide appropriate guidance to younger pupils.

The report warned: “We are deeply concerned that the Government’s blanket ban on diplomas and extended diplomas will create a qualifications gap that tens of thousands of students will potentially fall through, leaving many young people without a suitable pathway in the future.”

Labour MP Gareth Snell, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sixth Form Education, said: “Sixth forms and colleges up and down the country know the vital role that AGQs play in helping students to progress to higher education or skilled employment.

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“Limiting the choice of qualification in certain subjects to T-levels will leave some young people without a suitable pathway at the age of 16, and some employers without the skilled workforce they need.”

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “Qualifications like the diploma and extended diploma in health and social care are highly valued by providers of adult social care in England as a source of introducing younger people to a career in social care.

“Scrapping these qualifications would close off a well-established pathway to entering the profession and exacerbate the workforce crisis in the care sector for a younger population we are keen to promote access to.”

Anne Murdoch, college leadership adviser at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “We strongly urge the Government to retain these popular and valued applied general qualifications.

“We support the introduction of T-levels, but we do not understand why this must be at the expense of other tried and trusted vocational qualifications which work well for many students.

“At a time when we are seeing rising numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training, it is surely essential that we provide a choice of post-16 pathways rather than narrowing their options and making matters worse.”

A DfE spokeswoman said: “Through our plan for change we are building a skills system that will drive forward opportunity and deliver the growth that our economy needs.

“T-levels will be at the forefront of our technical education offer. Alongside them, newly reformed qualifications will become available for delivery at Level 3 at the start of the next academic year.

“These are high-quality, aligned to occupational standards in technical routes and offer learners clear routes to higher education or skilled employment.

“The department’s position on further plans for reform to Level 3 qualifications will be set out soon, informed by the independent curriculum and assessment review.”