First three V-level subjects to be offered from 2027 revealed
The first three V level qualifications to be offered from September next year have been announced.
The government’s new vocational qualifications, which are part of wider reforms to the curriculum and post-16 system to simplify access to vocational and technical education, will be in education, finance and digital.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set a new target for two-thirds of young people to start higher education, technical or vocational training or a “gold standard” apprenticeship by the age of 25.
V levels sit alongside A levels and T levels and are equivalent to an A level. Students will be able to combine A-levels and V-levels. Current Year 9 students will be the first group eligible.
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson, who visited Nottingham College, said V levels would make accessing vocational and technical education less complicated for young people and parents.
“For example, if you are studying finance at V level, you may also want to study maths at A level if you are considering a career as an accountant,” he said.
“The good thing about V levels is that they allow young people to follow really high-quality technical and vocational routes, but they don’t need to specialize if they’re not quite sure exactly where they want to go.”
From September 2028, further V levels may be introduced in business, maintenance services, construction, engineering, healthcare, law, sales and sports, fitness and exercise sciences; however, these are subject to approval when the Department for Education (DfE) publishes a full rollout plan by June 2026.
T levels, which focus more on technical training for a specific sector and are equivalent to three A levels, will be expanded to cover more subjects such as sport, fitness and exercise science and care services.
In response to the consultation on the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government is also introducing new qualifications for students with lower attainment levels who are not yet ready to progress beyond GCSE equivalent study.
There will be two ways. One-year Foundation Certificate qualifications in education, early years and digital will be available for students wishing to progress to A, V or T levels.
For those hoping to progress through an apprenticeship or workplace, there will be two-year Vocational Certificate qualifications in food and beverage services, accommodation, training and early years from next year.
The government has also launched a consultation on first-level stage qualifications for students preparing to retake English and maths GCSEs.
A survey for the DfE of 1,124 parents of children aged 14 to 18 in England found that a quarter said they were not sure their child understood the options available after GCSE.
Almost half (49 percent) said their child’s ability to find stable and secure employment was their biggest concern.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reported that the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) rose from 946,000 to 957,000 in the three months from October to December.
Ms Phillipson said: “It’s really important that young people and parents have access to really high-quality advice, know what’s going on and know where to go for help.
“Typically talking to their local college or provider is a really good way to do this, but the changes we’ve made to the qualifications offered here will also make this easier.”
He also said the ministry was keen to work with businesses to enable more young people to start apprenticeships and receive work placements as part of T levels.
“Anything businesses can do to support young people is really important, especially given the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training,” he added.
From 2027, funding for legacy qualifications, including BTecs, will be cut when there are overlapping T or V levels.
Janet Smith, chief executive and principal of Nottingham College, told PA that reforms to the post-16 system will help increase accessibility to qualifications and provide students with clear pathways to their next steps towards employment or further education.
