Post-16 level 3 and below consultation outcome – what it means for you
11 March 2026 |
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Dear colleague,
Yesterday, the Department for Education published the outcome of its consultation on post-16 level 3 and below pathways in England, along with decisions on future qualification funding.
We know you’ll have questions about what this means for you, your students, and the future of vocational and technical education. To support you, we’ve now published our full response to the consultation outcome, outlining the key changes and what they mean for colleges and schools.
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Inside our full response
Our response brings together the most important points from the government’s announcement and explains them clearly, including:
- What’s confirmed for 2026/27, including reassurance that no additional qualifications will lose funding during this academic year
- How funding changes will be phased from 2027/28, and where existing qualifications will remain available during transition
- The introduction of V Levels and new level 2 pathways, including the sectors affected in the first phase and 2027/28.
- What this means for colleges, schools and learners, and how the transition will be managed as new qualifications are introduced
Alongside this, we’ve now updated our BTEC National funding guides for England, which provide qualification level detail on funding status and timelines to help you plan with confidence.
Explore our Level 2 Funding Guide
Explore our Level 3 Funding Guide
We’re ready for what’s next
As experts in vocational and technical qualifications, we bring decades of experience in developing programmes that work for students, educators and employers. We are ready and committed to working with the government to ensure any new qualifications meet the needs of learners and the wider economy.
We’ll continue to keep you updated and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us through the Pearson Support Portal. Our teams are here to help.
Kind regards,
Deidre Williams
Lead, Product Management Vocational Qualifications |
Pearson Customer Services The Lighthouse, Manchester, M50 3BF Unsubscribe |
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