Consultation outcome

Regulating post-16 vocational and technical qualifications at levels 2 and 3

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 23 April 2026
• Last updated: 10 September 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Foreword by Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, the Chief Regulator at Ofqual

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/1

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Background

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/2

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Summary of decisions

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/3

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Approach to analysis

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/4

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Summary of feedback to the consultation

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/5

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Ofqual’s regulatory approach

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/6

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V Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/7

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Foundation Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/8

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Occupational Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/9

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On-screen assessment in V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/10

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Retaking Core Exams in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/11

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Impact assessments

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/12

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Conditions, requirements and guidance

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/13

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Annex: List of organisational respondents

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/14

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Detail of outcome

We have decided to implement the majority of our proposals for V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates as consulted on. There are a small number of areas in which we have decided to amend our approach. We have also decided to implement our proposals for retaking Core Exams in Technical Qualifications within T Levels as consulted on. For further detail of the outcome, see the summary of decisions. Alongside these decisions, we have published our Conditions, requirements and guidance for V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.

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Original consultation

Summary

Ofqual wants your views on the proposed regulatory approach, Conditions, requirements and guidance for a range of vocational and technical qualifications.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
2pm on 23 April 2026 to 11:59pm on 2 July 2026

Consultation description

A consultation on Ofqual’s proposed regulatory approach, Conditions, requirements and guidance for:

• Level 3 V Levels
• Level 2 Foundation Certificates
• Level 2 Occupational Certificates
• Retaking Core Exams in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

Consultation structure

This consultation is split into 6 parts and seeks views on both our proposed regulatory approach, and the specific Conditions, requirements and guidance we propose to set to require these approaches.

• The introduction explains the background to DfE’s proposals, Ofqual’s role in them and when they will be implemented
• Part 1 explains our overall proposed regulatory approach.
• Part 2 explains our proposed approach to regulating V Levels. Annex A includes the draft Conditions, requirements and guidance proposed to do this
• Part 3 explains our proposed approach to regulating Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates. Annexes B and C include the draft Conditions, requirements and guidance proposed to do this
• Part 4 explains our proposed approach to the use of on-screen assessment in V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.
• Part 5 sets out proposed changes relating to Technical Qualifications within T Levels to allow individual parts of the Core Exam sub-component to be taken separately for students retaking assessments. Annex D includes the draft updated assessment requirements proposed to do this.
• Part 6 sets out our assessment of the equalities and regulatory impacts of these proposals.

Documents

Introduction and consultation details

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/1

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Part 1 – Ofqual’s regulatory approach

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/2

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Part 2 – V Level proposals

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/3

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Part 3 – Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate proposals

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/4

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Part 4 – On-screen assessment in V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/5

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Part 5 – Retaking Core Exams in Technical Qualifications within T Levels – proposals to allow additional flexibility

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/6

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Part 6 – Impact assessments

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/7

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Annex A – Proposed Conditions, requirements and guidance for V Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/8

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Annex B – Proposed Conditions, requirements and guidance for Foundation Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/9

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Annex C – Proposed Conditions, requirements and guidance for Occupational Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/10

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Annex D – Proposed updated requirements for timing of assessments in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/11

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Annex E: Privacy Notice for Consultations

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/12

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Published 23 April 2026

Last updated 10 September 2026 — Show all updates

1. 10 September 2026

   Updated to include consultation outcome.

2. 23 April 2026

   First published.