Review of Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3 and Below

You may be aware that the Department for Education is conducting a Review of post-16 qualifications at Level 3 and below in England with the purpose of developing a streamlined technical qualifications system. As part of the Review, the Education and Skills Funding Agency will remove funding approval from qualifications with low and no enrolments.

The qualifications in scope for removal of ESFA funding approval are the qualifications included in:
a) 16 to 19 study programmes at level 3 and below
b) advanced learner loans at level 3 only
c) ESFA funded adult education budget (AEB) at level 3 and below, including the legal
entitlements and local flexibility
d) European Social Fund (ESF) at level 3 and below

Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and the Greater London Authority will decide whether defunding of qualifications with low and no publicly funded enrolments will also apply in each devolved area.

No enrolments
ESFA funding approval will be removed from 1 August 2021 for qualifications with no enrolments.

The list of NOCN qualifications which will have funding approval removed can be seen attached.

Low enrolments
ESFA funding approval will be removed from 1 August 2022 for qualifications with low enrolments. We will inform centres when the list of NOCN qualifications which will have funding approval removed has been finalised.

Please note that the removal of ESFA funding approval is not the same as removal of regulated status. The qualifications will remain available as regulated qualifications unless we have reason to withdraw them, such as if there is insufficient demand.