Vocational and other qualifications quarterly: October to December 2025
Numbers of certificates issued for vocational and other qualifications in England (excluding GCSEs, AS and A levels, advanced extension awards, Apprenticeship Assessment Qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessments, Extended Project Qualifications and T Level Technical Qualifications).
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Key headlines for quarter 4 (October to December) 2025
-
In quarter 4 2025, a total of 852,510 certificates were issued across 6,366 qualifications for vocational and other qualifications, a decrease in certificates of 0.3% compared with quarter 4 2024. The number of certificates issued in the 12 months from January to December 2025 (5.2 million) decreased by 0.4% compared with the previous 12 months from January to December 2024.
-
Among qualification types, the largest absolute change was an increase in certificate numbers for English for Speakers of Other Languages from 70,230 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 94,350 certificates in quarter 4 2025, an increase of 34.3%). Most qualification types saw a decrease in the number of certificates issued compared with quarter 4 2024. The largest absolute decrease in certificate numbers was for vocationally-related qualifications (from 299,225 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 285,370 certificates in quarter 4 2025, a decrease of 4.6%). Additionally, there was a 30.1% decrease in certificate numbers for Functional Skills (from 41,365 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 28,935 certificates in quarter 4 2025).
-
Among qualification levels, the largest absolute decrease in certificate numbers was for level 2 qualifications (from 259,730 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 235,110 certificates in quarter 4 2025, a decrease of 9.5%). he largest absolute increase in certificate numbers was for entry level qualifications (from 94,525 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 117,880 certificates in quarter 4 2025, an increase of 24.7%). Additionally, there was a 64.6% increase in certificate numbers for level 6 qualifications (from 3,575 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 5,890 certificates in quarter 4 2025).
- Most qualification sector subject areas saw a decrease in the number of certificates issued compared with quarter 4 2024. The largest absolute decrease in the number of certificates issued for a sector subject area was for health, public services and care (from 278,015 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 271,050 certificates in quarter 4 2025, a decrease of 2.5%). Additionally, there was a 14.0% decrease in certificate numbers for digital technology (from 13,085 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 11,250 certificates in quarter 4 2025).The largest absolute increase in the number of certificates issued was for preparation for life and work (from 135,290 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 140,880 certificates in quarter 4 2025, an increase of 4.1%). Additionally, there was a 21.8% increase in certificate numbers for languages, literature and culture (from 22,205 certificates in quarter 4 2024 to 27,050 certificates in quarter 4 2025).
- The top 3 qualifications with the highest numbers of certificates issued in quarter 4 2025 were TCL Entry Level Certificate in ESOL International Speaking and Listening (Entry 3) (GESE Grade 5) (B1.1) with 39,925 certificates, followed by FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work with 30,090 certificates and Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) with 30,075 certificates.
- The top 3 awarding organisations with the most certificates issued in quarter 4 2025 were City & Guilds with 80,800 certificates, followed by Highfield with 73,795 certificates and Trinity College London (TCL) with 71,595 certificates. For comparison, the 3 awarding organisations with the most certificates issued in quarter 4 2024 were City & Guilds Limited, NCFE and Highfield Qualifications.
- The top 3 awarding organisations with the most certificates issued in the 12 months from January to December 2025 were Pearson with 698,265 certificates, followed by City & Guilds with 542,165 certificates and NCFE with 325,905 certificates. These 3 awarding organisations also had the most certificates issued in the previous 12 months from January to December 2024.
Datasets
The dataset used to produce this release is available separately, and can be explored visually in our interactive visualisation for vocational and other qualifications over time.
Provide your feedback
We welcome your feedback on our publications. If you have any comments on this statistical release, or how to improve it to meet your needs, please complete our short survey or data.analytics@ofqual.gov.uk.