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Guidance

14 to 19 technical and applied qualifications: technical guidance

Guidance for awarding organisations submitting technical and applied qualifications for school and college performance tables.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
16 August 2016
Last updated:
10 March 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added '16 to 18 performance tables qualifications: amendments for 2028'.

  2. Added '16 to 18 performance tables qualifications: amendments for 2027'.

  3. Added 'Performance Measures Qualifications: amendments for 2026'.

  4. Updated the page details to confirm that we're not currently adding any new qualifications to the key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance tables. The review for submitting key stage 4 qualifications for 2027 performance tables will not open until further notice.

  5. Removed out of date documents. Updated the page details with information about the next review to submit qualifications for key stage 4 performance tables.

  6. Added 2024 performance tables technical guide, '2024 key stage 4 performance tables: process for submitting qualifications' and contact details proforma.

  7. Updated guidance about delaying the implementation of the new key stage 4 performance tables qualifications approvals process due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

  8. Added '14 to 16 qualifications technical guide: 2023 process for submitting qualifications'.

  9. Added '14 to 16 qualifications technical guide: 2023 performance tables'.

  10. Updated document '14 to 19 qualifications inclusion application process guide: 2020 performance tables'.

  11. Updated to add 2020 technical guide and application process guide.

  12. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

16 to 18 performance tables qualifications: amendments for 2028

PDF, 356 KB, 10 pages

14 to 16 qualifications technical guide: 2024 performance tables

PDF, 339 KB, 22 pages

14 to 19 qualifications technical guide: 2020 performance tables

PDF, 333 KB, 42 pages

Details

These guidance documents explain the requirements for the Department for Education to include:

  • technical qualifications for 14- to 16-year olds in school and college performance tables from 2024
  • technical awards, technical certificates, tech levels or applied general qualifications in the key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance tables from 2020

We’re not adding any new qualifications to: 

  • the key stage 4 (14 to 16) performance tables until further notice 
  • the 16 to 18 performance tables while the post-16 qualifications review is taking place

The list of key stage 4 qualifications and discount codes for the 2014 to 2025 performance tables is available.

Contact technical.education@education.gov.uk if you have any queries.

Technical guides for earlier performance tables are available in the National Archives.

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