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
  Show all updates

  1. 10 September 2026

     Updated to include consultation outcome.

  2. 23 April 2026

     First published.

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

HTML

Background

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/2

HTML

Summary of decisions

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/3

HTML

Approach to analysis

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/4

HTML

Summary of feedback to the consultation

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/5

HTML

Ofqual’s regulatory approach

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/6

HTML

V Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/7

HTML

Foundation Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/8

HTML

Occupational Certificates

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/9

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/10

HTML

Retaking Core Exams in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/11

HTML

Impact assessments

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/12

HTML

Conditions, requirements and guidance

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/13

HTML

Annex: List of organisational respondents

Ref: Ofqual/26/7376/14

HTML

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.

---

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

HTML

Part 1 – Ofqual’s regulatory approach

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/2

HTML

Part 2 – V Level proposals

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/3

HTML

Part 3 – Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate proposals

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/4

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/5

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/6

HTML

Part 6 – Impact assessments

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/7

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/8

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/9

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/10

HTML

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

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/11

HTML

Annex E: Privacy Notice for Consultations

Ref: Ofqual/26/7322/12

HTML