Transparency data

Board minutes: 10 February 2026

Published 27 August 2026

Applies to England

This document has been subject to redactions.

Date

Wednesday 10 February 2026

Time

4:00 p.m.

Attendees

Board

Susan Barratt 

Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, Chief Regulator

Hardip Begol CBE

Jill Duffy  

Mark Farrar

Kurt Hintz

Cindy Leslie 

Dr Catherine McClellan 

Chris Paterson  

Andrea Rigamonti

Conor Ryan

Matt Tee 

Dr Susan Tranter, Chair

Ofqual

David Bowden, Executive Director, Finance and Operations

Tom Bramley, Executive Director, Research and Analysis

Daniel Gutteridge, General Counsel

Michael Hanton, Deputy Chief Regulator 

Catherine Large OBE, Executive Director, Policy

Amanda Swann, Executive Director, Delivery

Dr Ian Stockford, Executive Director, Standards

Matt Trimmer, Executive Director, Strategy

Also Present

Private Secretary

Board Secretary

Lydia Waine, Director of Qualification Reform

Liz Walters, Associate Director, Policy

Mary Webb, Head of Private Office

42/25         Welcome and apologies for absence

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. In particular, the Chair welcomed Jill Duffy, a new member to the board. 

There were no apologies for absence.

43/25         Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest for this meeting.

44/25         Regulatory approach for V Levels (L3), Foundation Certificates (L2) and Occupational Certificates (L2)

The Associate Director, Policy, presented a summary of the paper to the board outlining the proposed regulatory approach. The board was reminded that the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) had identified the need for a high-quality alternative pathway at level 3 and separate occupational and progression pathways at level 2 for post-16 learners. Following CAR, the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper published in October 2025 had set out 3 new qualification types to be introduced: V Levels at level 3 and Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates at level 2. 

The board was advised that the timescales set by DfE would be challenging with the first qualifications being taught from September 2027 in a limited range of subjects. Ofqual was working to develop its regulatory approach in line with DfE timelines, with the programme of work being monitored very carefully. Ofqual was working very closely with DfE in this regard.

The intention was to launch a consultation on both policy proposals and regulatory framework in April 2026 in parallel with the DfE consultation on the subject content. The board was advised that the paper set out, at a high-level, the intentions for regulating the qualifications to ensure the design, development, delivery and award would be in line with DfE’s policy intentions. 

The board asked about the timeline for the consultation and when the awarding organisations (AOs) might expect some clarity in order to start their preparation. The board was advised that DfE would publish their consultation decisions on the post-16 level 3 and below pathways in early March. They had already started to work with AOs on the subject content and had carried out some stakeholder events. Ofqual would also be carrying out some AO and stakeholder engagement both pre-consultation and during the consultation period. It was intended for Ofqual’s consultation to be launched in April with the final framework published by the end of September 2026.

The board discussed assessment structure for V Levels and the pathways to progression from the level 2 qualifications. It was noted that the content developed by DfE for the qualifications, alongside the purposes specified by Ofqual, would be key in ensuring that the level 2 qualifications were designed in a way to support progression. It was advised that Ofqual expects the number of assessment series in each academic year would be limited, along with the number of submission windows for non-exam assessment (NEA). This would assist in maintaining standards. The board was advised work was still being undertaken on the weighting of any terminal assessment for V Levels and how this would align with other requirements. 

The paper sought delegation to the Technical Committee to both finalise the policy positions to consult upon, and the final decisions arising post-consultation. The board noted the challenging timescales. 

ACTION: CL 

RESOLVED

The board agreed:

1. To endorse Ofqual’s overall approach to regulating V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.

2. To delegate to the Technical Committee scrutiny of the detailed policy proposals and the draft regulatory frameworks for consultation, but all proposals to be confirmed by the board prior to consultation.

45/25         The approach to recognition for V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates 

The board was reminded that Ofqual’s in-house lawyers had contributed to the paper, which was subject to legal professional privilege.

The Director of Qualification Reform presented the paper to the board. The board was advised that it would be necessary for Ofqual to run a recognition process for the AOs that want to deliver the new V Level, Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate qualifications. The existing Criteria for recognition consider whether an AO would be able to undertake the development, delivery and award of any qualification which it would offer if it is successfully recognised against Ofqual’s rules. QLCs for the new qualifications will not be in place by the time the recognition process must begin in order to ensure that there are qualifications in the market for first teaching in 2027 (“Tranche 1”).  

The Government has made clear its support for the recommendation in the Curriculum and Assessment Review that the new qualifications would have nationally-set content and should be comparable, high-quality qualifications. They would be high-stakes, national assessments and therefore it was essential that they are only being developed, delivered and awarded by AOs that have the appropriate capacity, capability and governance.

Therefore, Ofqual proposed to introduce new recognition criteria for those qualifications that would be first taught in September 2027. The proposed criteria focus on the expertise, systems and processes, and governance of the AOs that will deliver these qualifications. The criteria set demanding expectations of AOs that reflect Government’s policy intentions.

The board was advised that Ofqual will consult again on its approach to the recognition of AOs that wish to offer the new qualifications to be first taught from 2028 onwards.

With apologies, Sir Ian left the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

RESOLVED

The board agreed:

1. That Ofqual should consult on new recognition criteria for Tranche 1 V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates to be first taught from September 2027.

2. That Ofqual should propose in its consultation on the new recognition criteria that it will review its approach to recognition for future tranches of V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates to be first taught from September 2028 onwards.

3. To delegate to the Chief Regulator, in consultation with the Chair, final sign-off of the consultation and the draft criteria for consultation.

4. That the decisions and analysis documents and the finalised recognition criteria should be brought back to the board for decision following the consultation. 

46/25         Publication of papers

The board agreed to publish the Open Papers.

47/25         Any other business

There were no items of any other business.

Next board meeting

The next board meeting will be held in Coventry on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

The meeting ended at 5:08 p.m.