Overview

• The Department for Education confirmed V-level qualifications as a third route alongside A-levels and T-levels, replacing about 900 existing vocational courses and allowing mixes with A-levels.
• New “stepping stone” courses will support students who did not achieve a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths, with a focus on lower-attaining pupils including white British students eligible for free school meals.
• An extra £800 million for 16–19 education in 2026/27 and the creation of 14 Technical Excellence Colleges will support the reforms.
• A consultation will shape the transition, with the first V-levels expected in the 2027–28 academic year and other level 3 qualifications such as BTECs anticipated to be phased out subject to that process.
• Sector bodies broadly welcomed the direction while urging sustained further education funding and better pay, and separate proposals reported for universities could restrict recruitment on poor-quality courses pending new powers.