Consultation outcome

Conditions, requirements and guidance

Updated 10 September 2026

In Annex A of our consultation, we published drafts of our proposed regulatory frameworks and asked for views on their drafting. The draft frameworks we published were:

• Proposed qualification level Conditions, requirements and guidance for V Levels
• Proposed subject level Conditions, requirements and guidance for
  • V Level accounting and finance
  • V Level digital systems and data
  • V Level education
• Proposed qualification level Conditions, requirements and guidance for Foundation Certificates
• Proposed qualification level Conditions, requirements and guidance for Occupational Certificates
• Proposed updated requirements for timing of assessments in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

V Levels (question 54)

Consultation feedback

The consultation asked respondents for views on the specific drafting of the regulatory framework for V Levels.

The proposed drafting received broad support. The Conditions, requirements and guidance were generally viewed as clear, coherent and well structured, providing a strong basis for consistency, comparability and public confidence. However, there were some suggestions to improve clarity.

Respondents provided specific feedback on drafting as follows:

• Condition VL1: interpretation and definitions could be simplified to support consistent interpretation
• subject level assessment objective guidance should define key AO3 terms and clarify what constitutes a reasonable balance across assessment objective elements
• additional guidance was requested on synoptic assessment, marking, centre-based assessment and Moderation
• the emphasis on progression to higher technical education, training and apprenticeships within the general purposes could be strengthened, supported by combining general purposes D and E
• requests and suggestions for minor drafting and typographical amendments to improve clarity

Several respondents sought greater clarity on the extent to which alternative approaches to meeting the requirements would be permitted. Comments also focused on the assessment strategy requirements, with suggestions for more structured guidance, including templates and content mapping, alongside a stronger emphasis on proportionality.

Some respondents commented more generally on the regulatory impact of the proposed policy, reflecting points made elsewhere in the consultation.

Decision 

Our V Level regulatory framework has been developed to take a proportionate approach, allowing flexibility in delivery and assessment where justified, while maintaining the consistency and comparability required across national qualifications.

We acknowledge calls for further guidance to support implementation.

We have made several amendments to the V Level Conditions, requirements and guidance to reflect the decisions set out within this document.

The amendments made are as follows:

• changes to clarify and expand upon the assessment strategy requirements
• general purposes D and E have been combined
• amendments to the definition of synoptic assessment in the assessment requirements
• an additional section added to the assessment requirements related to the use of vocationally-related contexts and scenarios
• additional detail added to the assessment requirements related to centre adaptation of assessments
• information related to assessment availability for V Levels has been moved from the qualification level assessment requirements to the subject level assessment requirements (Condition VL2.2)
• removal of the clause within the retakes section of the assessment requirements relating to the carry forward of results for other forms of assessment from a previous assessment attempt; this is consistent with our other regulatory frameworks
• subject level Condition VL1: compliance with content requirements amended for all tranche 1 subjects to add VL1.2 which sets out the parameters within which awarding organisations may expand upon the subject content set by DfE
• the assessment guidance for V Levels has been amended to include additional guidance on the following areas:
  • additional content on steps to prevent and manage AI-related malpractice
  • greater detail on the definition and implementation of synoptic assessment, as set out within the assessment requirements
  • further clarification of the definition of awarding organisation-set assessment and additional guidance on the parameters within which centres are permitted to adapt assessments
  • amendments to reflect changes to assessment strategy requirements
  • amendments to drafting and weightings of assessment objectives, and updates to associated guidance

Foundation Certificates (question 55)

Consultation feedback

The consultation asked respondents for views on the specific drafting of the regulatory framework for Foundation Certificates.

The proposed drafting received broad support. The Conditions, requirements and guidance were generally viewed as clear, coherent and well structured, providing a strong basis for consistency, comparability and public confidence. However, there were some suggestions to improve clarity.

Respondents provided specific feedback on drafting as follows:

• Condition FC1: interpretation and definitions could be simplified to improve clarity
• additional guidance was requested to support consistent application of the requirements, particularly in relation to synoptic assessment, centre-marking, Moderation and post-results arrangements

Some respondents called for clearer guidance on the expected scope of assessment strategies, including templates, worked examples and other supporting materials.

Some respondents commented more generally on the regulatory impact of the proposed policy, reflecting points made elsewhere in the consultation.

Decision 

We have developed our regulatory framework for Foundation Certificates to support innovation and flexibility where appropriate while safeguarding consistency and comparability, and acknowledge calls for further guidance to support implementation.

We have made several amendments to the Foundation Certificate Conditions, requirements and guidance to reflect the decisions set out within this document.

The amendments made are as follows:

• change to the wording of Condition FC1: interpretations and definitions to allow flexibility for the addition of subject level Conditions for future tranches, should these be necessary
• change in the order and numbering of the qualification level Conditions
• Condition FC8: content amended to add FC8.2 which sets out the parameters within which awarding organisations may expand upon the subject content set by DfE
• changes to clarify and expand upon the assessment strategy requirements
• amendments to the definition of synoptic assessment in the assessment requirements
• an additional section added to the assessment requirements related to the use of vocationally-related contexts and scenarios
• the proportions of timetabled and other forms of assessment required have been explicitly stated within the assessment requirements
• additional detail added to the assessment requirements related to centre adaptation of assessments
• removal of the clause within the retakes section of the assessment requirements relating to the carry forward of results for other forms of assessment from a previous assessment attempt; this is consistent with our other regulatory frameworks
• the assessment guidance for Foundation Certificates has been amended to include additional guidance on the following areas:
  • additional content on steps to prevent and manage AI-related malpractice
  • greater detail on the definition and implementation of synoptic assessment, as set out within the assessment requirements
  • further clarification of the definition of awarding organisation-set assessment and additional guidance on the parameters within which centres are permitted to adapt assessments
  • amendments to reflect changes to the assessment strategy requirements

Occupational Certificates (question 56)

Consultation feedback

The consultation asked respondents for views on the specific drafting of the regulatory framework for Occupational Certificates.

The proposed drafting received broad support and was generally viewed as clear and conducive to consistency, reliability and employer confidence.

Respondents provided specific feedback on drafting as follows:

• Condition OC1: interpretation and definitions could be simplified to improve clarity
• additional guidance was requested to support consistent implementation, particularly in relation to centre adaptations, synoptic assessment, centre-marking and Moderation
• requests and suggestions for minor drafting and typographical amendments to improve clarity

Some respondents commented on the assessment strategy requirements, highlighting them as being potentially burdensome. They called for clearer implementation guidance, including templates, grading exemplars and worked examples.

Some respondents commented more generally on the regulatory impact of the proposed policy, reflecting points made elsewhere in the consultation.

Decision

We have developed our regulatory framework for Occupational Certificates to support innovation, occupational relevance and industry responsiveness where appropriate, while promoting consistency and comparability.

We have made several amendments to the Occupational Certificate Conditions, requirements and guidance to reflect the decisions set out within this document.

The amendments made are as follows:

• change to the wording of Condition OC1: interpretations and definitions to allow flexibility for the addition of subject level Conditions for future tranches, should these be necessary
• change in the order and numbering of the qualification level Conditions
• Condition OC8: content amended to add OC8.2 which sets out the parameters within which awarding organisations may expand upon the subject content set by DfE
• changes to clarify and expand upon the assessment strategy requirements
• amendment to the prioritisation of the general purposes
• amendments to the definition of synoptic assessment in the assessment requirements
• an additional section added to the assessment requirements related to the use of vocationally-related contexts and scenarios
• the proportions of timetabled and other forms of assessment required have been explicitly stated within the assessment requirements
• additional detail added to the assessment requirements related to centre adaptation of assessments
• removal of the clause within the retakes section of the assessment requirements relating to the carry forward of results for other forms of assessment from a previous assessment attempt; this is consistent with our other regulatory frameworks
• the guidance for Occupational Certificates has been amended to include additional guidance on the following areas:
  • additional content on steps to prevent and manage AI-related malpractice
  • greater detail on the definition and implementation of synoptic assessment, as set out within the assessment requirements
  • further clarification of the definition of awarding organisation-set assessment and additional guidance on the parameters within which centres are permitted to adapt assessments
  • additional guidance on standard setting, relating to the method of aggregation at qualification and Component level
  • a section on employer involvement, in line with the General Condition on reviews of approach (Condition D3), and the prioritisation of the general purposes

Updated requirements for timing of assessments in Technical Qualifications within T Levels (question 57)

Consultation feedback

Respondents generally viewed the proposed amendments to the timing of assessments for Technical Qualifications within T Levels positively, considering the drafting clear and supportive of greater flexibility and improved assessment deliverability. Respondents repeated views made earlier in the consultation about the overall policy, rather than the drafting of the requirements.

Decision

We have decided to implement the proposed assessment requirements as consulted on.