Annual qualifications market report: 2022 to 2023 academic year
Published 26 March 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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1. Key headlines
The main headlines in the regulated qualifications market in England for the 2022 to 2023 academic year were:
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There were 10,700 active qualifications (available qualifications with certificates) in the academic year 2022 to 2023, a 5.6% decrease from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
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A total of 11.3 million certificates were issued for general, vocational and other qualifications in England, up 2.7% from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
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There were 6.2 million GCSE, AS and A level certificates awarded in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, up by 2.3% from the previous year.
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There were 5.1 million certificates awarded for vocational and other qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, up by 3.1% from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
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The awarding organisations with the largest overall market shares (by number of certificates issued) were AQA (34.4%), Pearson (20.1%), OCR (6.6%) and City & Guilds (4.9%).
This release covers regulated qualifications across general qualifications (GCSEs, AS and A levels), and vocational and other qualifications. Please note where this release refers to ‘vocational and other’ qualifications, this means all qualifications other than general qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessments (EPAs) and T Level Technical Qualifications (TQs). Further information on the qualifications covered in this release can be found in the accompanying background notes.
Alternative arrangements for many assessments were in place in the 2020 to 2021 academic year in response to continuing disruption due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The 2021 to 2022 academic year saw the return of exams and other formal assessments, with some adaptations. In the 2022 to 2023 academic year, most exams and assessments returned to pre-pandemic arrangements. The figures reported for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, especially in comparison to the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 academic years, may have been influenced accordingly. Further details on these arrangements are available in the background notes accompanying this release.
Changes in cohort sizes can also affect the overall numbers of certifications within an academic year. Notably, there was a 10.4% increase in the 16-year-old population over the past 5 years, from 613,000 in 2019 to 676,800 in 2023 according to ONS population estimates.
2. Awarding organisations offering regulated qualifications
Any organisation that wants to offer regulated qualifications in England has to be recognised by Ofqual. Any new awarding organisation needs to meet Ofqual’s Criteria for Recognition and, once recognised, all awarding organisations need to continue to meet Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition.
Number of recognised awarding organisations offering regulated qualifications over time
| 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of awarding organisations | 160 | 164 | 178 | 229 | 251 |
There were 251 Ofqual-recognised awarding organisations during the 2022 to 2023 academic year. This number includes 79 awarding organisations which only delivered EPAs for apprenticeship standards during the 2022 to 2023 academic year and 29 awarding organisations that had no active qualifications (available qualifications with certificates). Please note that elsewhere in the report, statistics on qualifications and certifications do not include apprenticeship EPAs. We report on volumes and outcomes of regulated apprenticeship EPAs in a separate statistical publication.
3. Regulated qualifications
Information on qualifications including title, type, awarding organisation, sector subject area and level is taken from Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications.
3.1 Number of available qualifications
| Numbers of qualification per type | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifications with certificates | 12,269 | 11,644 | 11,742 | 11,385 | 10,742 |
| Qualifications without certificates | 6,385 | 6,732 | 6,409 | 6,315 | 6,419 |
| Total | 18,654 | 18,376 | 18,151 | 17,700 | 17,161 |
There were 17,200 active qualifications (qualifications available for certification in the 2022 to 2023 academic year). This is a 3.0% decrease from the 2021 to 2022 academic year, continuing the downward trend seen in previous years. No certificates will have been issued for some qualifications because they are new and/or require a 1- or 2-year course of study before students can certificate.
Of these available qualifications, 10,700 had certificates issued in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, a 5.6% decrease compared to the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
3.2 Available qualifications by type
Qualification types are used to describe the nature of regulated qualifications. Information on qualification type is contained within Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Number of available qualifications by type
| Qualification type | Number of qualifications available to certificate in 2021 to 2022 | Number of qualifications available to certificate in 2022 to 2023 | Number of qualifications with certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of qualifications with certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A level | 137 | 137 | 137 | 137 |
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 140 | 137 | 140 | 137 |
| AS | 96 | 96 | 96 | 95 |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | 8,122 | 8,003 | 5,096 | 4,650 |
| Occupational Qualification | 4,869 | 4,517 | 2,868 | 2,622 |
| Other Life Skills Qualification | 1,826 | 1,722 | 1,312 | 1,234 |
| Other Vocational Qualification | 885 | 909 | 581 | 611 |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | 625 | 661 | 460 | 523 |
| Other General Qualification | 489 | 461 | 328 | 363 |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 367 | 367 | 242 | 246 |
| Functional Skills | 98 | 96 | 98 | 96 |
| Essential Digital Skills | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Project | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 |
| Advanced Extension Award | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Digital Functional Skills Qualification | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Retired Qualifications | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 17,700 | 17,161 | 11,385 | 10,742 |
Percentage change in the number of qualifications with certifications by qualification type between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 academic year
| Qualification type | Percentage change in the number of qualifications with certifications between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| A level | 0.0% |
| GCSE (9 to 1) | -2.1% |
| AS | -1.0% |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | -8.8% |
| Occupational Qualification | -8.6% |
| Other Life Skills Qualification | -5.9% |
| Other Vocational Qualification | 5.2% |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | 13.7% |
| Other General Qualification | 10.7% |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 1.7% |
| Functional Skills | -2.0% |
| Essential Digital Skills | 0.0% |
| Project | 22.2% |
| Advanced Extension Award | 0.0% |
| Digital Functional Skills Qualification | 0.0% |
| Retired Qualifications | -100.0% |
| Total | -5.6% |
Performing Arts Graded Examination saw the largest overall increase in the number of available qualifications with certificates, up by 65 qualifications since 2021 to 2022, equivalent to a percentage increase of 13.7. The largest percentage increase was seen in Project qualifications, up by 22.2%, increasing from 9 to 11 qualifications since the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
In terms of raw numbers, Vocationally-Related and Occupational qualifications saw the largest decrease in the number of qualifications with certificates (down by 446 and 246 qualifications, respectively). Other than the decrease in retired qualifications, the largest percentage decrease in the number of qualifications with certificates was seen in Vocationally-Related Qualifications, down 8.8% from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
The 100.0% decrease in retired qualifications marks the completion of migration of old qualification types to revised ones, as detailed in the 2020 to 2021 academic year Annual Qualifications Market Report background notes.
4. Certificates awarded for regulated qualifications
Please note where this release refers to ‘vocational and other’ qualifications, this means all qualifications other than general qualifications (GCSEs, AS and A levels), EPAs and T Levels TQs.
4.1 Overall number of certificates awarded
| Qualification type | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A level | 720,225 | 717,020 | 763,930 | 773,300 | 774,360 |
| AS | 98,745 | 68,380 | 55,150 | 55,445 | 50,875 |
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 5,119,345 | 5,313,175 | 5,321,595 | 5,272,685 | 5,419,460 |
| Vocational & other qualifications | 5,820,355 | 4,249,090 | 4,661,105 | 4,934,810 | 5,086,810 |
| Total | 11,758,670 | 10,347,665 | 10,801,780 | 11,036,245 | 11,331,505 |
The total number of certificates awarded for all qualifications (A level, AS, GCSE and vocational and other qualifications) in the 2022 to 2023 academic year was 11.3 million, up 2.7% compared to the previous year.
The overall number of certificates for A level qualifications in 2022 to 2023 has remained stable, increasing by 1,060 certificates from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
AS qualifications saw a decrease in the number of certificates (down by 8.2% compared to the 2021 to 2022 academic year). The decrease in AS certificates may reflect a continuation of the downward trend seen in AS entries in previous years (AS entries were down by 4.9% between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023), following the decoupling of AS and A levels after qualification reforms.
The overall number of certificates for GCSE qualifications has increased by 2.8%, which may in part be attributed to an increase in GCSE entries that was anticipated before summer 2023. This is at least partially driven by changes in the 16-year-old cohort that increased by 10.4% in 2023 compared with the past 5 years, according to ONS population estimates.
There was an increase in the overall number of certificates in vocational and other qualifications (up by 3.1%) in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared to 2021 to 2022, although figures remain lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
4.2 Certificates by qualification type
Number of certificates by qualification type
| Qualification type | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Share of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 | Share of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 5,272,685 | 47.8% | 5,419,460 | 47.8% |
| A level | 773,300 | 7.0% | 774,360 | 6.8% |
| AS | 55,445 | 0.5% | 50,875 | 0.4% |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | 2,010,315 | 18.2% | 1,973,140 | 17.4% |
| Occupational Qualification | 591,185 | 5.4% | 637,915 | 5.6% |
| Other Vocational Qualification | 535,405 | 4.9% | 557,795 | 4.9% |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | 451,755 | 4.1% | 470,140 | 4.1% |
| Other General Qualification | 395,670 | 3.6% | 412,420 | 3.6% |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 349,680 | 3.2% | 406,805 | 3.6% |
| Functional Skills | 324,230 | 2.9% | 351,895 | 3.1% |
| Other Life Skills Qualification | 210,135 | 1.9% | 210,130 | 1.9% |
| Project | 52,475 | 0.5% | 51,255 | 0.5% |
| Essential Digital Skills | 13,510 | 0.1% | 15,140 | 0.1% |
| Advanced Extension Award | 355 | <0.1% | 145 | <0.1% |
| Retired Qualifications | 100 | <0.1% | 30 | <0.1% |
| Total | 11,036,245 | 100.0% | 11,331,505 | 100.0% |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by qualification type between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Qualification type | Percentage change |
|---|---|
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 2.8% |
| A level | 0.1% |
| AS | -8.2% |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | -1.8% |
| Occupational Qualification | 7.9% |
| Other Vocational Qualification | 4.2% |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | 4.1% |
| Other General Qualification | 4.2% |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 16.3% |
| Functional Skills | 8.5% |
| Other Life Skills Qualification | 0.0% |
| Project | -2.3% |
| Essential Digital Skills | 12.1% |
| Advanced Extension Award | -58.8% |
| Retired Qualifications | -67.7% |
| Total | 2.7% |
Among vocational and other qualifications in 2022 to 2023, the largest percentage increase in the number of certificates was seen in English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications (up by 16.3%, equivalent to an increase of 57,100 certificates).
The largest percentage decrease in the number of certificates among vocational and other qualifications (other than for retired qualifications) was seen in Advanced Extension Award qualifications, down by 58.8%, equivalent to 210 certificates).
Please note, even though there were no active (available to learners) retired qualifications at the time of reporting, some certificates would have been issued during the 2022 to 2023 academic year to learners who started their qualifications earlier.
4.3 Certificates by awarding organisation
Number of certificates by awarding organisation
| Awarding organisation | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| AQA Education | 3,795,670 | 3,897,800 |
| Pearson Education Ltd | 2,263,505 | 2,276,755 |
| OCR | 743,550 | 743,745 |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 556,600 | 557,710 |
| WJEC | 449,895 | 468,905 |
| NCFE | 332,180 | 347,230 |
| Highfield Qualifications | 301,680 | 318,650 |
| Qualsafe Awards | 238,490 | 229,250 |
| Trinity College London | 190,435 | 216,435 |
| First Aid Awards Ltd | 179,855 | 191,620 |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | 171,460 | 179,060 |
| Training Qualifications UK Ltd | 105,180 | 114,750 |
| Ascentis | 94,690 | 103,805 |
| NOCN | 85,905 | 86,955 |
| Gateway Qualifications Limited | 67,210 | 74,635 |
| LAMDA | 65,335 | 72,750 |
| RLSS UK Qualifications | 60,440 | 70,230 |
| Cambridge English | 53,130 | 69,870 |
| BIIAB | 47,015 | 67,530 |
| Qualifications Network | 65,365 | 66,605 |
| Other awarding organisations | 1,168,645 | 1,177,215 |
| Total | 11,036,245 | 11,331,505 |
Percentage change in the number of certificates by awarding organisation between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Awarding organisation | Percentage change between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| AQA Education | 2.7% |
| Pearson Education Ltd | 0.6% |
| OCR | 0.0% |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 0.2% |
| WJEC | 4.2% |
| NCFE | 4.5% |
| Highfield Qualifications | 5.6% |
| Qualsafe Awards | -3.9% |
| Trinity College London | 13.7% |
| First Aid Awards Ltd | 6.5% |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | 4.4% |
| Training Qualifications UK Ltd | 9.1% |
| Ascentis | 9.6% |
| NOCN | 1.2% |
| Gateway Qualifications Limited | 11.0% |
| LAMDA | 11.3% |
| RLSS UK Qualifications | 16.2% |
| Cambridge English | 31.5% |
| BIIAB | 43.6% |
| Qualifications Network | 1.9% |
| Other awarding organisations | 0.7% |
| Total | 2.7% |
The 20 awarding organisations that reported the highest volume of certificates in the 2022 to 2023 academic year awarded 89.6% of all certificates. BIIAB is new to this group for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, whilst VTCT left. BIIAB had the largest percentage increase in certificates (up by 43.6%, an increase of 20,500 certificates) since the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
AQA Education had the largest increase in the raw number of certificates issued (up by 102,100) compared with the previous year.
5. General qualifications
5.1 Market share per awarding organisation: GCSE
The GCSE market continued to be stable in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The total number of certificates for GCSEs increased by 2.8% between the 2021 to 2022 academic year and the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
| Awarding organisation | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | 61.4% | 61.8% | 62.1% | 62.6% | 62.6% |
| OCR | 7.2% | 6.9% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 6.7% |
| Pearson | 25.5% | 25.4% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 24.5% |
| WJEC | 5.9% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.1% |
5.2 GCSE certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in 2022 to 2023
GCSE certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in 2022 to 2023
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined science | 696,780 | 32,150 | 121,280 | 0 | 850,215 |
| Mathematics | 205,245 | 61,825 | 508,945 | 15,430 | 791,440 |
| English language | 589,650 | 8,895 | 74,765 | 81,340 | 754,655 |
| English literature | 474,870 | 7,655 | 47,670 | 52,800 | 582,995 |
| History | 94,595 | 19,485 | 159,100 | 10,145 | 283,325 |
| Geography | 185,105 | 25,675 | 48,005 | 14,935 | 273,720 |
| Religious studies | 136,185 | 6,265 | 42,990 | 51,360 | 236,800 |
| Art and design subjects | 119,905 | 20,900 | 29,630 | 13,130 | 183,570 |
| Biology | 143,185 | 10,330 | 23,055 | 0 | 176,570 |
| Chemistry | 137,760 | 9,920 | 22,565 | 0 | 170,250 |
GCSE certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2021 to 2022
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined science | 672,400 | 33,280 | 124,965 | 0 | 830,640 |
| Mathematics | 194,330 | 58,275 | 496,825 | 9,295 | 758,725 |
| English language | 576,660 | 8,510 | 69,680 | 76,095 | 730,945 |
| English literature | 455,995 | 7,095 | 51,225 | 52,375 | 566,690 |
| Geography | 182,580 | 25,450 | 48,020 | 15,680 | 271,730 |
| History | 89,880 | 18,250 | 150,245 | 10,045 | 268,425 |
| Religious studies | 133,300 | 6,695 | 46,375 | 50,165 | 236,540 |
| Art and design subjects | 123,860 | 21,620 | 32,790 | 12,950 | 191,220 |
| Biology | 138,690 | 10,505 | 23,090 | 0 | 172,285 |
| Chemistry | 132,855 | 10,015 | 22,595 | 0 | 165,465 |
The 10 highest volume subjects (with the highest number of certificates awarded this year) account for 79.4% of all GCSE certificates, 0.1 percentage points less than in 2021 to 2022.
AQA has the largest market share in 8 of the 10 highest volume subjects. Pearson has the largest share in the remaining 2 subjects: mathematics and history.
Among the 10 highest volume subjects, only art and design subjects saw a drop in the number of certificates issued (down by 7,700 from the 2021 to 2022 academic year). The largest increases in the number of certificates were for mathematics and English language (up by 32,700 and 23,700 respectively), potentially due to the increased 16-year-old cohort size. Among the 10 highest volume subjects, history saw the largest percentage increase in the number of certificates (up by 5.6% from the 2021 to 2022 academic year).
The market share of awarding organisations in all GCSE subjects in the 2022 to 2023 academic year is given in the data tables accompanying this release (Table 8). Please note, combined science certificates have been double counted throughout the report and data tables to reflect the fact that they count as 2 GCSEs.
5.3 Market share per awarding organisation: AS
The total number of certificates for AS qualifications has decreased by 8.2% between the 2021 to 2022 academic year and the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
AQA saw a decrease (down by 1.5%) in its share of the AS market. All other awarding organisations saw increases to their market share, with Pearson seeing the largest percentage increase in its market share (up by 1.1% in the 2022 to 2023 academic year).
| Awarding organisation | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | 43.0% | 43.5% | 43.9% | 40.2% | 38.7% |
| OCR | 22.4% | 22.8% | 22.4% | 23.4% | 23.5% |
| Pearson | 27.9% | 27.1% | 25.6% | 27.5% | 28.6% |
| WJEC | 6.8% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 8.9% | 9.2% |
5.4 AS certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2022 to 2023
AS certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2022 to 2023
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 805 | 1,240 | 4,185 | 0 | 6,230 |
| Psychology | 3,885 | 235 | 425 | 170 | 4,720 |
| Mathematics (further) | 695 | 780 | 2,825 | 0 | 4,295 |
| Biology | 2,255 | 1,415 | 380 | 125 | 4,175 |
| Sociology | 3,080 | 490 | 0 | 230 | 3,800 |
| Chemistry | 1,300 | 1,770 | 470 | 120 | 3,665 |
| Physics | 1,410 | 920 | 325 | 15 | 2,675 |
| Business studies | 1,160 | 45 | 1,240 | 100 | 2,550 |
| History | 795 | 360 | 985 | 0 | 2,135 |
| Art and design subjects | 0 | 845 | 0 | 1,210 | 2,060 |
AS certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2021 to 2022
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 1,025 | 1,425 | 4,655 | 0 | 7,105 |
| Psychology | 4,530 | 395 | 500 | 215 | 5,640 |
| Biology | 2,690 | 1,585 | 560 | 115 | 4,950 |
| Sociology | 3,610 | 570 | 0 | 160 | 4,340 |
| Chemistry | 1,660 | 1,945 | 460 | 115 | 4,180 |
| Mathematics (further) | 545 | 700 | 2,275 | 0 | 3,520 |
| Business studies | 1,350 | 60 | 1,240 | 145 | 2,795 |
| Physics | 1,405 | 960 | 355 | Fewer than 5 | 2,720 |
| History | 930 | 385 | 1,080 | 0 | 2,400 |
| Economics | 795 | 235 | 1,110 | 100 | 2,240 |
Pearson and AQA each have the largest market share in 4 of the 10 highest volume subjects. AQA has the largest market share in psychology, sociology, biology and physics. Pearson has the largest market share in mathematics, further mathematics, business studies and history. OCR has the largest share in chemistry and WJEC has the largest share in art and design subjects.
The 10 highest volume subjects account for 71.4% of all AS certificates, 0.6 percentage points less than in the 2021 to 2022 academic year. The 10 highest volume AS subjects changed slightly between the 2021 to 2022 academic year and the 2022 to 2023 academic year, with economics leaving the 10 most certified subjects and art and design subjects entering.
There has been a decrease in the number of certificates for most of the highest volume AS subjects since the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Only further mathematics saw an increase in the number of certificates, with an increase of 780 certificates between the 2021 to 2022 academic year and the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The largest decrease in the number of certificates was seen for psychology, with 920 fewer certificates than in the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
The market share of awarding organisations in all AS subjects in the 2022 to 2023 academic year is given in the data tables accompanying this release (Table 9).
5.5 Market share by awarding organisation: A level
The A level market continued to be stable in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The total number of certificates for A levels increased by 0.1% since the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
| Awarding organisation | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | 45.4% | 45.7% | 45.9% | 46.4% | 46.4% |
| OCR | 21.6% | 21.0% | 20.9% | 20.7% | 20.5% |
| Pearson | 26.7% | 26.7% | 27.0% | 26.5% | 26.7% |
| WJEC | 6.3% | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 6.4% |
5.6 A level certificates issued by awarding organisation in the academic year 2022 to 2023
A level certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2022 to 2023
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 12,420 | 13,095 | 61,090 | 0 | 86,605 |
| Psychology | 61,785 | 5,610 | 4,985 | 1,990 | 74,370 |
| Biology | 36,080 | 20,420 | 6,360 | 2,055 | 64,910 |
| Chemistry | 24,805 | 24,395 | 4,985 | 100 | 54,285 |
| Sociology | 38,525 | 3,820 | 0 | 1,725 | 44,070 |
| History | 20,420 | 10,135 | 12,980 | 0 | 43,530 |
| Art and design subjects | 20,655 | 5,595 | 7,015 | 6,750 | 40,015 |
| Business studies | 16,405 | 1,035 | 18,920 | 3,365 | 39,730 |
| Economics | 14,195 | 2,790 | 19,495 | 785 | 37,260 |
| Geography | 13,960 | 5,185 | 13,315 | 1,540 | 34,000 |
A level certificates issued by awarding organisation for the 10 most certified subjects in the academic year 2021 to 2022
| Subject | AQA | OCR | Pearson | WJEC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 13,095 | 13,955 | 60,990 | 0 | 88,040 |
| Psychology | 61,400 | 5,595 | 5,090 | 2,125 | 74,215 |
| Biology | 35,395 | 20,850 | 6,560 | 2,090 | 64,895 |
| Chemistry | 24,355 | 24,475 | 5,090 | 90 | 54,005 |
| History | 19,335 | 10,295 | 12,760 | 0 | 42,390 |
| Sociology | 36,865 | 3,645 | 0 | 1,870 | 42,385 |
| Art and design subjects | 21,285 | 5,935 | 7,965 | 6,555 | 41,740 |
| Business studies | 16,115 | 1,170 | 17,765 | 3,275 | 38,330 |
| Physics | 20,195 | 11,485 | 3,660 | 565 | 35,905 |
| Economics | 13,230 | 2,775 | 18,290 | 945 | 35,240 |
The 10 highest volume subjects account for 67.0% of all A level certificates, 0.1% more than in the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
In the 2022 to 2023 academic year, physics left while geography entered the 10 highest volume A level subjects. The only subjects in the top 10 to see a drop in the number of certificates issued since the 2021 to 2022 academic year were art and design subjects and mathematics (down by 1,700 and 1,400 respectively) compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Economics saw the largest increase in the number of certificates issued (up by 2,000).
The market share of awarding organisations in all A level subjects in the 2022 to 2023 academic year is given in the data tables accompanying this release (Table 10).
6. Vocational and other qualifications
In this release, ‘vocational and other qualifications’ include all regulated qualifications other than GCSEs, AS and A level, apprenticeship EPAs and T Level TQs.
6.1 Certificates in vocational and other qualifications by sector subject area
Sector subject areas (SSAs) is a classification of qualifications into business sectors or subject areas maintained by Ofqual. There are 15 SSAs in total. Sector subject areas are self-assigned on Ofqual’s Register by the awarding organisation with reference to Ofqual’s published list of sector subject areas.
Number of certificates in vocational and other qualifications by sector subject area
| Sector subject area | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Share of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 | Share of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Public Services and Care | 1,270,365 | 25.7% | 1,301,645 | 25.6% |
| Preparation for Life and Work | 936,245 | 19.0% | 1,004,390 | 19.7% |
| Arts, Media and Publishing | 687,080 | 13.9% | 698,170 | 13.7% |
| Business, Administration and Law | 335,095 | 6.8% | 349,660 | 6.9% |
| Construction, Planning and the Built Environment | 311,565 | 6.3% | 326,555 | 6.4% |
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | 299,695 | 6.1% | 297,500 | 5.8% |
| Retail and Commercial Enterprise | 297,790 | 6.0% | 276,755 | 5.4% |
| Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies | 240,305 | 4.9% | 245,550 | 4.8% |
| Science and Mathematics | 111,680 | 2.3% | 121,755 | 2.4% |
| Languages, Literature and Culture | 96,280 | 2.0% | 118,770 | 2.3% |
| Information and Communication Technology | 133,555 | 2.7% | 117,620 | 2.3% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care | 95,820 | 1.9% | 96,960 | 1.9% |
| Education and Training | 74,135 | 1.5% | 81,145 | 1.6% |
| Social Sciences | 36,180 | 0.7% | 41,660 | 0.8% |
| History, Philosophy and Theology | 9,030 | 0.2% | 8,675 | 0.2% |
| Total | 4,934,810 | 100.0% | 5,086,810 | 100.0% |
Percentage change in certificates awarded by sector subject area between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Sector subject area | Percentage change in certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Health, Public Services and Care | 2.5% |
| Preparation for Life and Work | 7.3% |
| Arts, Media and Publishing | 1.6% |
| Business, Administration and Law | 4.3% |
| Construction, Planning and the Built Environment | 4.8% |
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | -0.7% |
| Retail and Commercial Enterprise | -7.1% |
| Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies | 2.2% |
| Science and Mathematics | 9.0% |
| Languages, Literature and Culture | 23.4% |
| Information and Communication Technology | -11.9% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care | 1.2% |
| Education and Training | 9.5% |
| Social Sciences | 15.2% |
| History, Philosophy and Theology | -3.9% |
| Total | 3.1% |
There were 5.1 million certificates awarded in vocational and other qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. This is up 3.1% compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
Although Languages, Literature and Culture saw the largest proportional increase, the largest increase in the raw number of certificates awarded in vocational and other qualifications was seen in Preparation for Life and Work (up by 68,100 certificates). Retail and Commercial Enterprise saw the most substantial decline in the number of certificates awarded (down by 21,000 certificates). The number of certificates awarded in vocational and other qualifications for all Sector Subject Areas in the 2022 to 2023 academic year and previous 4 academic years is given in the data tables accompanying this release (Table 4).
6.2 Certificates in vocational and other qualifications by level
Regulated qualifications are assigned a level from entry level through to level 8. Qualification level indicates the relative level of demand of the qualification, with higher levels being more difficult. Levels are assigned on Ofqual’s Register by the awarding organisation with reference to Ofqual’s published level descriptors.
Number of certificates in vocational and other qualifications by level
| Qualification level | Number of certificates in 2018 to 2019 | Number of certificates in 2019 to 2020 | Number of certificates in 2020 to 2021 | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 701,525 | 504,330 | 506,470 | 588,090 | 650,515 |
| Level 1 | 1,270,820 | 805,625 | 832,720 | 898,115 | 952,180 |
| Level 1/Level 2 | 313,615 | 389,175 | 412,845 | 398,420 | 382,100 |
| Level 2 | 1,811,560 | 1,257,525 | 1,351,330 | 1,389,190 | 1,434,430 |
| Level 3 | 1,566,980 | 1,160,885 | 1,395,160 | 1,511,405 | 1,512,690 |
| Level 4 to 8 | 155,850 | 131,555 | 162,580 | 149,595 | 154,900 |
Numbers of Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 certificates continued to increase in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, with the greatest increase in numbers seen in Entry Level (up by 62,400 certificates since 2021 to 2022).
The trend of decreases for Level 1/Level 2 certificate numbers continued in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, with a decrease of 16,300 certificates compared to the 2021 to 2022 academic year. The number of Level 1/Level 2 certificates (382,100) remains lower than that observed before the 2020 to 2021 academic year.
The number of certificates in Levels 4 to 8 increased this year, up by 3.5% from the 2021 to 2022 academic year to 154,900 certificates in 2022 to 2023.
6.3 Awarding organisations with the highest number of certificates in vocational and other qualifications
Number of certificates awarded by awarding organisations with the highest number of certificates in vocational and other qualifications
| Awarding organisation | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | 736,605 | 725,575 |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 556,600 | 557,710 |
| NCFE | 332,180 | 347,230 |
| Highfield Qualifications | 301,680 | 318,650 |
| Qualsafe Awards | 238,490 | 229,250 |
| Trinity College London | 190,435 | 216,435 |
| OCR | 219,585 | 208,115 |
| First Aid Awards Ltd | 179,855 | 191,620 |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | 171,460 | 179,060 |
| AQA Education | 116,290 | 125,675 |
| Training Qualifications UK Ltd | 105,180 | 114,750 |
| Ascentis | 94,690 | 103,805 |
| NOCN | 85,905 | 86,955 |
| WJEC | 78,710 | 83,145 |
| Gateway Qualifications Limited | 67,210 | 74,635 |
| LAMDA | 65,335 | 72,750 |
| RLSS UK Qualifications | 60,440 | 70,230 |
| Cambridge English | 53,130 | 69,870 |
| BIIAB | 47,015 | 67,530 |
| Qualifications Network | 65,365 | 66,605 |
| Other awarding organisations | 1,168,645 | 1,177,215 |
| Total | 4,934,810 | 5,086,810 |
Percentage change in the number of certificates by awarding organisation between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Awarding organisation | Percentage change in the number of certificates between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | -1.5% |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 0.2% |
| NCFE | 4.5% |
| Highfield Qualifications | 5.6% |
| Qualsafe Awards | -3.9% |
| Trinity College London | 13.7% |
| OCR | -5.2% |
| First Aid Awards Ltd | 6.5% |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | 4.4% |
| AQA Education | 8.1% |
| Training Qualifications UK Ltd | 9.1% |
| Ascentis | 9.6% |
| NOCN | 1.2% |
| WJEC | 5.6% |
| Gateway Qualifications Limited | 11.0% |
| LAMDA | 11.3% |
| RLSS UK Qualifications | 16.2% |
| Cambridge English | 31.5% |
| BIIAB | 43.6% |
| Qualifications Network | 1.9% |
| Other awarding organisations | 0.7% |
| Total | 3.1% |
The 20 awarding organisations that reported the highest volume of certificates awarded in vocational and other qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year awarded 76.9% of all certificates awarded in vocational and other qualifications. BIIAB are new to the group of 20 awarding organisations with the highest number of certificates for this year. VTCT left this group during since the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
In terms of raw numbers, Trinity College London had the largest increase (up by 26,000) in certificates compared with the previous year. BIIAB showed the largest percentage increase in certificate numbers (up by 43.6%, an increase of 20,500 certificates compared with the 2022 to 2023 academic year).
Please note, data for all awarding organisations offering the qualifications covered in this section is available in the Vocational and Other qualifications quarterly published by Ofqual.
7. In focus: technical qualifications and applied generals
Technical and applied qualifications are vocational qualifications designated as such according to Department for Education criteria and can count towards school and college performance tables. Please note, performance tables can change every year. The figures in this section relate only to technical and applied qualifications that were included in the respective year’s performance tables.
Applied qualifications (known as Applied General qualifications) are for students who want to continue their education through applied learning and offer a progression route to employment or higher education. Applied General qualifications are all Level 3 qualifications aimed at post-16 students.
Technical qualifications comprise Tech Levels, Technical Certificates and Technical Awards. The purpose of technical qualifications is to equip students with applied knowledge and associated practical skills not usually associated with general qualifications. They are Level 1, 1/2, 2 and 3 qualifications.
Please note, figures reported below may differ slightly from those published by the Department for Education for a number of reasons, including differences in data processing and rounding. There may also be slight differences in the timing of when data was collected from awarding organisations.
7.1 Share of technical qualifications and applied generals in the 2022 to 2023 academic year by qualification category
| Qualification category | Number of qualifications | Number of certificates | Share of vocational and other qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Generals | 134 | 218,700 | 4.3% |
| Tech Levels | 148 | 48,045 | 0.9% |
| Technical Awards | 72 | 380,530 | 7.5% |
| Technical Certificates | 80 | 14,720 | 0.3% |
| Remaining vocational and other qualifications | 16,791 | 4,424,815 | 87.0% |
Applied General qualifications saw 218,700 certificates issued, making up 4.3% of vocational and other certificates in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
The 443,300 technical qualifications certificates awarded in the 2022 to 2023 academic year can be further broken down into:
-
380,500 Technical Awards, which are Level 1, Level 2 or Level 1/ Level 2 qualifications and designed for study at key stage 4 (14- to 16-year-olds). They require the same or more guided learning hours as a GCSE.
-
14,700 Technical Certificates, which are Level 2 qualifications designed for study at key stage 5 (16- to 19-year-olds) and are intended for students who wish to specialise in a specific industry or prepare for a particular job.
-
48,000 Tech Levels, which are also designed for study at key stage 5. These are Level 3 qualifications.
7.2 Technical and applied qualifications certificates by sector subject area
Number of technical and applied qualifications certificates by sector subject area
| Sector subject area | Applied Generals | Technical Awards | Technical Certificates | Tech Levels | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | 24,980 | 90,990 | 175 | 1,855 | 118,000 |
| Business, Administration and Law | 59,495 | 47,505 | 3,885 | 5,270 | 116,155 |
| Health, Public Services and Care | 31,505 | 71,280 | 405 | 9,640 | 112,825 |
| Arts, Media and Publishing | 13,505 | 88,615 | 45 | 4,095 | 106,260 |
| Information and Communication Technology | 16,650 | 23,090 | 505 | 4,655 | 44,900 |
| Social Sciences | 36,825 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36,825 |
| Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies | 5,810 | 20,735 | 660 | 5,590 | 32,800 |
| Retail and Commercial Enterprise | 1,315 | 28,520 | 1,800 | 935 | 32,570 |
| Science and Mathematics | 28,580 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28,580 |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care | 0 | 1,910 | 3,480 | 11,535 | 16,925 |
| Construction, Planning and the Built Environment | 30 | 7,885 | 3,770 | 4,470 | 16,160 |
| Total | 218,700 | 380,530 | 14,720 | 48,045 | 661,995 |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by sector subject area between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Sector subject area | Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | -6.9% |
| Business, Administration and Law | -4.9% |
| Health, Public Services and Care | -3.2% |
| Arts, Media and Publishing | -10.8% |
| Information and Communication Technology | -6.8% |
| Social Sciences | 11.2% |
| Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies | 3.7% |
| Retail and Commercial Enterprise | -2.5% |
| Science and Mathematics | -3.6% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care | -2.6% |
| Construction, Planning and the Built Environment | -7.4% |
| Total | -4.8% |
The number of certificates decreased across the majority of SSAs in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The largest decrease in numbers was seen in Arts, Media and Publishing with a decrease of 12,915 certificates between the 2021 to 2022 academic year and 2022 to 2023 academic year.
Increases in certificate numbers were seen in Social Sciences and in Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. Social Sciences saw the largest increase in the number of certificates awarded in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared to the 2021 to 2022 academic year (up by 3,700 certificates). Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies increased from 31,600 certificates in the 2021 to 2022 academic year to 32,800 in 2022 to 2023 (up by 1,200 certificates).
Technical Certificates in Construction, Planning and the Built Environment saw the largest proportional increase (up by 12.6%) in the number of certificates compared to other qualification categories and SSAs in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The number of certificates increased from 3,400 certificates in 2021 to 2022 to 3,800 certificates in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
7.3 Distribution of Technical and Applied General certificates by sector subject area
| Sector subject area | Applied Generals | Technical Awards | Technical Certificates | Tech Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care | 0.0% | 11.3% | 20.6% | 68.2% |
| Arts, Media and Publishing | 12.7% | 83.4% | 0.0% | 3.9% |
| Business, Administration and Law | 51.2% | 40.9% | 3.3% | 4.5% |
| Construction, Planning and the Built Environment | 0.2% | 48.8% | 23.3% | 27.7% |
| Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies | 17.7% | 63.2% | 2.0% | 17.0% |
| Health, Public Services and Care | 27.9% | 63.2% | 0.4% | 8.5% |
| Information and Communication Technology | 37.1% | 51.4% | 1.1% | 10.4% |
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | 21.2% | 77.1% | 0.1% | 1.6% |
| Retail and Commercial Enterprise | 4.0% | 87.6% | 5.5% | 2.9% |
| Science and Mathematics | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Social Sciences | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total | 33.0% | 57.5% | 2.2% | 7.3% |
Different SSAs have a different mix of technical and applied qualifications. For instance, the Arts, Media and Publishing sector is dominated by Technical Awards and the Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care sector is dominated by Tech Levels. The Science and Mathematics and Social Sciences SSAs consist entirely of Applied General qualifications.
7.4 Technical and applied qualifications certificates by awarding organisation
Number of technical and applied qualifications certificates by awarding organisation
| Awarding organisation | Applied Generals | Technical Awards | Technical Certificates | Tech Levels | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | 137,265 | 178,660 | 1,735 | 13,930 | 331,595 |
| OCR | 25,385 | 132,095 | 815 | 7,680 | 165,975 |
| WJEC | 39,360 | 36,720 | 0 | 0 | 76,080 |
| NCFE | 140 | 20,615 | 0 | 8,885 | 29,640 |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 0 | 600 | 7,730 | 9,660 | 17,990 |
| The London Institute of Banking & Finance | 10,770 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,770 |
| RSL Awards Ltd | 0 | 8,325 | 10 | 925 | 9,265 |
| Association of Accounting Technicians | 0 | 0 | 3,390 | 5,270 | 8,660 |
| AQA Education | 2,775 | 865 | 0 | 0 | 3,645 |
| University of the Arts London | 3,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,000 |
| VTCT | 0 | 1,590 | 595 | 400 | 2,585 |
| Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited | 0 | 430 | 195 | 715 | 1,340 |
| The Institute of the Motor Industry | 0 | 305 | 180 | 50 | 535 |
| AIM Qualifications | 0 | 0 | 0 | 460 | 460 |
| 1st4sport | 0 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 200 |
| Active IQ | 0 | 0 | 65 | 70 | 135 |
| Skills and Education Group Awards | 0 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 125 |
| Total | 218,700 | 380,530 | 14,720 | 48,045 | 661,995 |
Pearson was the largest provider of Applied Generals and Technical Awards due to its Level 3 Applied General and Level 1/Level 2 Technical BTEC qualifications. The City and Guilds and Association of Accounting Technicians were the largest providers of Technical Certificates, and Pearson, City and Guilds and NCFE were the largest providers of Tech Levels.
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Awarding organisation | Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | -6.5% |
| OCR | -3.0% |
| WJEC | 5.4% |
| NCFE | -5.8% |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | -9.2% |
| The London Institute of Banking & Finance | 1.1% |
| RSL Awards Ltd | -4.9% |
| Association of Accounting Technicians | -34.8% |
| AQA Education | -13.1% |
| University of the Arts London | -7.2% |
| VTCT | 8.8% |
| Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited | -12.4% |
| The Institute of the Motor Industry | 27.3% |
| AIM Qualifications | -8.6% |
| 1st4sport | 3,880.0% |
| Active IQ | -10.7% |
| Skills and Education Group Awards | -0.8% |
| Total | -4.8% |
Most awarding organisations saw a decrease in certificate numbers for technical and applied qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year. WJEC, The London Institute of Banking & Finance, VTCT, The Institute of the Motor Industry and 1st4sport saw increases in the number of certificates awarded.
WJEC and VTCT saw the largest increase in the number of certificates awarded (up by 3,900 and 210 respectively) compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. The largest percentage increase in certificates awarded was seen by 1st4sport, up from 5 certificates in 2021 to 2022 to 199 in 2022 to 2023.
Pearson saw the largest overall drop in the number of technical and applied qualification certificates, down from 354,600 certificates in the 2021 to 2022 academic year to 331,600 in the 2022 to 2023 academic year (down by 23,000 certificates).
8. In focus: Functional Skills qualifications
Functional Skills are qualifications that cover the fundamental and applied skills that help people to get the most from everyday life, education and work. Functional Skills qualifications are available in English, mathematics and ICT at the following levels: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2.
8.1 Number of certificates in Functional Skills qualifications
| 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of certificates | 614,290 | 447,670 | 302,275 | 324,230 | 351,895 |
The overall number of certificates awarded in Functional Skills qualifications has increased by 9% (equivalent to 27,700 certificates) in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Certifications in Functional Skills qualifications continues the upward trend seen since the 2021 to 2022 academic year. There are a number of factors that may have influenced the trend over time, to a greater or lesser extent. These are discussed in the background notes accompanying this release.
8.2 Number of certificates of Functional Skills qualifications by subject
| Subject | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 287,945 | 205,710 | 138,265 | 158,365 | 177,960 |
| English | 243,605 | 189,345 | 131,930 | 143,915 | 155,700 |
| ICT | 82,740 | 52,610 | 32,080 | 21,950 | 18,235 |
There were increases in the number of certificates across mathematics and English in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year (up by 19,600 and 11,800 certificates respectively). The number of certificates in Functional Skills qualifications in ICT decreased (down by 3,700) compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
The decrease in ICT Functional Skills certificates may in part be attributed to the introduction of new digital functional skills qualifications as well as changes in funding policies.
8.3 Number of certificates of Functional Skills by level
| Qualification level | 2018 to 2019 | 2019 to 2020 | 2020 to 2021 | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 208,250 | 136,600 | 110,465 | 129,450 | 150,740 |
| Level 1 | 171,455 | 132,505 | 78,245 | 79,810 | 85,960 |
| Level 2 | 234,585 | 178,560 | 113,560 | 114,970 | 115,190 |
There was an increase in the number of certificates in Functional Skills qualifications across all levels in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. The largest increase in the number of certificates was in Entry Level qualifications, up by 21,300 certificates.
8.4 Certificates of Functional Skills qualifications by awarding organisation
Number of certificates of Functional Skills qualifications by awarding organisation
| Awarding organisation | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | 153,800 | 163,410 |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 108,080 | 119,405 |
| NCFE | 22,965 | 23,080 |
| AQA Education | 16,455 | 19,215 |
| Highfield Qualifications | 6,405 | 8,850 |
| NOCN | 6,490 | 6,330 |
| Open Awards | 4,730 | 5,315 |
| VTCT | 2,675 | 3,940 |
| OCR | 2,165 | 2,065 |
| Future (Awards and Qualifications) Ltd | 350 | 285 |
| SFJ Awards Ltd | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 |
| Skillsfirst Awards Ltd | 125 | 0 |
| Total | 324,230 | 351,895 |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by awarding organisation between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Awarding organisation | Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Pearson Education Ltd | 6.2% |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 10.5% |
| NCFE | 0.5% |
| AQA Education | 16.8% |
| Highfield Qualifications | 38.2% |
| NOCN | -2.5% |
| Open Awards | 12.3% |
| VTCT | 47.4% |
| OCR | -4.5% |
| Future (Awards and Qualifications) Ltd | -18.1% |
| SFJ Awards Ltd | 0.0% |
| Skillsfirst Awards Ltd | -100.0% |
| Total | 8.5% |
There were 11 awarding organisation issuing certificates in Functional Skills qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, down from 12 in the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Skillsfirst Awards Ltd issued no certificates for Functional Skills qualifications this year.
Most awarding organisations awarded more certificates in Functional Skills qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year in comparison with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Of those with a decrease in the number of certificates awarded, NOCN saw the largest decline in the number of certificates in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year (down by 160).
9. In focus: International market
Ofqual-regulated awarding organisations offer a wide selection of regulated qualifications outside the UK. These qualifications, offered internationally, are protected by Ofqual regulation so long as they are also taken by learners in England. The certification data for delivery of regulated qualifications outside the UK was collected for the fourth time in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
9.1 Number of certificates of regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK
| Year | Number of certificates |
|---|---|
| 2019 to 2020 | 4,880,120 |
| 2020 to 2021 | 5,776,325 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 6,732,000 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 8,552,050 |
In total, 8.6 million certificates were awarded for 2,700 different regulated qualifications to students outside the UK over the 2022 to 2023 academic year, up by 27.0% compared with the previous year.
9.2 Certificates of regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK by type
Number of certificates of regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK by type
| Qualification type | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 | Share of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Share of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 4,780,605 | 6,570,450 | 71.0% | 76.8% |
| Other General Qualification | 1,105,615 | 1,155,860 | 16.4% | 13.5% |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | 535,890 | 502,060 | 8.0% | 5.9% |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | 215,040 | 219,290 | 3.2% | 2.6% |
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 36,115 | 39,815 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Other qualifications | 58,735 | 64,575 | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Total | 6,732,000 | 8,552,050 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by qualification type between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Qualification type | Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| English for Speakers of Other Languages | 37.4% |
| Other General Qualification | 4.5% |
| Performing Arts Graded Examination | -6.3% |
| Vocationally-Related Qualification | 2.0% |
| GCSE (9 to 1) | 10.2% |
| Other qualifications | 9.9% |
| Total | 27.0% |
The 5 highest volume qualification types accounted for 99.2% of all certificates issued outside the UK. English for Speakers of Other Languages had the highest number of certificates issued, followed by Other General Qualification and Performing Arts Graded Examinations.
The largest increase in the number of certificates awarded outside the UK was among English for Speakers of Other Languages regulated qualifications, up by 2 million compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
9.3 Certificates of regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK by level
Number of certificates of regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK by level
| Qualification level | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 | Share of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Share of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 1,199,140 | 1,996,200 | 17.8% | 23.3% |
| Level 1 | 2,640,315 | 3,313,760 | 39.2% | 38.7% |
| Level 1/Level 2 | 162,835 | 179,780 | 2.4% | 2.1% |
| Level 2 | 1,328,565 | 1,539,290 | 19.7% | 18.0% |
| Level 3 | 1,322,795 | 1,440,670 | 19.6% | 16.8% |
| Level 4 to 8 | 78,350 | 82,350 | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| Total | 6,732,000 | 8,552,050 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by qualification level between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Qualification level | Percentage change in the number of certificates between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | 66.5% |
| Level 1 | 25.5% |
| Level 1/Level 2 | 10.4% |
| Level 2 | 15.9% |
| Level 3 | 8.9% |
| Level 4 to 8 | 5.1% |
| Total | 27.0% |
Level 1 regulated qualifications had the highest number of certificates issued outside the UK in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, accounting for 38.7% of the non-UK total.
All qualification levels saw an increase in the number of certificates issued outside the UK in the 2022 to 2023 academic year compared with the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Entry Level regulated qualifications saw the largest proportional increase and also the largest increase in the raw number of certificates issued outside the UK, up by 66.5%, equivalent to an increase of 797,100 certificates compared with the previous year.
9.4 Awarding organisations with the highest number of certificates for regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK
Number of certificates awarded by awarding organisations with the highest number of certificates for regulated qualifications awarded outside the UK
| Awarding organisation | Number of certificates in 2021 to 2022 | Number of certificates in 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English | 3,647,700 | 5,130,400 |
| International Baccalaureate Organisation | 1,102,070 | 1,151,235 |
| Pearson Education Ltd | 748,155 | 1,042,280 |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | 220,260 | 218,630 |
| Trinity College London | 184,475 | 209,560 |
| LanguageCert | 197,180 | 171,280 |
| Royal Academy of Dance | 154,270 | 102,185 |
| WSET Awards | 72,630 | 85,610 |
| The British Council | 25,090 | 76,180 |
| Learning Resource Network | 55,040 | 48,735 |
| RSL Awards Ltd | 33,365 | 35,730 |
| Highfield Qualifications | 19,565 | 26,680 |
| NOCN | 23,080 | 24,230 |
| AQA Education | 20,845 | 23,575 |
| English Speaking Board (International) Ltd | 27,040 | 18,460 |
| VTCT | 29,930 | 18,080 |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | 24,410 | 17,645 |
| Qualifi Ltd | 16,125 | 16,190 |
| AIM Qualifications | 12,150 | 14,705 |
| University of West London | 18,490 | 14,520 |
| Other awarding organisations | 100,130 | 106,140 |
| Total | 6,732,000 | 8,552,050 |
Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded by awarding organisation between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023
| Awarding organisation | Percentage change in the number of certificates awarded between 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Cambridge English | 40.6% |
| International Baccalaureate Organisation | 4.5% |
| Pearson Education Ltd | 39.3% |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music | -0.7% |
| Trinity College London | 13.6% |
| LanguageCert | -13.1% |
| Royal Academy of Dance | -33.8% |
| WSET Awards | 17.9% |
| The British Council | 203.6% |
| Learning Resource Network | -11.5% |
| RSL Awards Ltd | 7.1% |
| Highfield Qualifications | 36.4% |
| NOCN | 5.0% |
| AQA Education | 13.1% |
| English Speaking Board (International) Ltd | -31.7% |
| VTCT | -39.6% |
| City and Guilds of London Institute | -27.7% |
| Qualifi Ltd | 0.4% |
| AIM Qualifications | 21.0% |
| University of West London | -21.5% |
| Other awarding organisations | 6.0% |
| Total | 27.0% |
The 20 awarding organisations that reported the highest volume of non-UK certificates of regulated qualifications in the 2022 to 2023 academic year awarded 98.8% of all regulated qualifications certificates issued outside the UK. There were no new awarding organisations to the top 20 this year.
Cambridge English and Pearson Education Ltd saw the largest increases in certificates compared with the previous year (up by 1 million and 294,100 certificates respectively), mainly due to increases in the number of certificates awarded for English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications.
The British Council has had the largest percentage increase (up by 203.6%) in certificate numbers compared with 2021 to 2022. The increase in the certificate numbers was also due to increases in the number of certificates for English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications.
Data for all awarding organisations is available in the accompanying data tables (Table 22).