Post-16 Vocational Qualifications 2025-12-01
2025-12-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The further education sector welcomes V-levels to fill the gap between T-levels and A-levels, but concerns have been raised that defunding of existing BTECs could mean young people are denied opportunities for appropriate courses before V-levels become available.
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a governor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent sixth-form college. The Minister will know that the further education sector welcomes V-levels to fill the gap between T-levels and A-levels, but he will also know that the Department is continuing with a programme of defunding some existing BTECs before the V-levels come online, meaning that some young people will be denied the opportunity of the right course for them during their FE career. Will he seriously consider freezing the defunding programme until V-levels are online, so that we protect student choice for students now and in the future?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue, and I will be happy to ask my noble Friend in the other place to meet him. The qualifications that we are defunding are large qualifications that directly overlap with T-levels. The Government’s policy is very clearly to back T-levels as a good choice for students in colleges.
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Assessment & feedback
Freezing the defunding programme of existing BTECs until V-levels are available was not addressed specifically.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The current apprenticeship system in Bath is criticised for not delivering the pipeline of highly skilled workers needed in engineering, creative industries, and digital sector.
In Bath, our economy depends on highly skilled workers in engineering, the creative industries and the digital sector. Employers tell me time and again that the current apprenticeship system simply does not deliver the pipeline they need. Will the Government be serious about growth by replacing the broken apprenticeship system with a more flexible skills and training levy, as well as guaranteeing apprentices at least the national minimum wage?
I thank the hon. Member for this timely question, following the Budget last week, when the Government made the welcome decision to change the apprenticeship system by fully funding apprenticeships for small and medium-sized enterprises, which will open up opportunities for many more. The latest data shows that under this Government, apprenticeship starts, progression and completion are up, up, up.
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Assessment & feedback
Replacing the existing apprenticeship system with a more flexible skills and training levy was not addressed specifically.
Response accuracy