Keegan resists calls to rethink BTEC defunding plan

Leaders warn it 'makes absolutely no sense' to press on with axing existing level 3s. 

Leaders warn it 'makes absolutely no sense' to press on with axing existing level 3s. 

Ministers have doubled down on the timeline for defunding qualifications that overlap with T Levels, despite fierce criticism of the “dogmatic” approach.  

Some of the T Levels due to launch this autumn have been delayed but the government has insisted that funding for other level 3 qualifications, such as BTECs, will continue only if they meet strict criteria and do not overlap with the new provision. 

The government has pursued a revised 16 to 19 education landscape for 2025, pushing students to study A-levels, a T Level or an apprenticeship. 

The Department for Education will publish a list of new qualifications that will replace the current suite of BTECs and other applied generals in July 2024, for schools and colleges to start delivering in September 2025. 

In a letter last week to Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, 360 school and college leaders described the timescale as “simply not credible,” and urged her to push back the plans by at least a year. 

The delay to four of September’s new T Levels prompted further questions over whether the timeline for defunding BTEC and other applied general qualifications would change too. 

However, in a written parliamentary response this week, Keegan said: “Qualifications that overlap with the three T Levels moved back to 2024 were already due to have funding removed in 2025 and this will not change; there will still be dual running for one year.” 

“We will confirm implications for qualifications that overlap with the catering T Level when we provide an update on the timetable for introduction,” she added.  

David Hughes, the Association of Colleges chief, said the T Level delay “highlights the risks involved in implementing new qualifications”. He called for at least two full cohorts to complete each T Level before any decision on defunding other qualifications. 

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association said it “makes absolutely no sense” to press on with axing existing level 3s. 

Last summer, when health and science T Level exams were regraded based on other assessments after they were deemed an inadequate measure of students’ performance, the cull of overlapping levels 3s was paused. 

“It is astonishing that DfE has not at least taken the same approach with these wave 4 T Levels. The government’s dogmatic approach to level 3 reform will leave many young people without a viable pathway to higher education or employment,” Kewin said. 

Latest education roles from

Principal & Chief Executive – Bath College

Principal & Chief Executive – Bath College

Dodd Partners

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Functional Skills reimagined: Drive success in English & Mathematics with modern qualifications.

In today’s educational landscape, supporting learners with essential English and maths skills goes beyond traditional teaching. It’s about providing...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Do you want to be part of The Bedford College Group’s next chapter?

At The Bedford College Group, we are passionate about transforming lives and communities through education. As one of the...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Framing the future of creative education: new BTEC HTQ in Photography nurtures talent beyond the lens

The creative industry is evolving rapidly, and so is the way we teach photography. Discover how Pearson's new BTEC...

Advertorial

More from this theme

BTECs, T Levels

71 courses face the axe in favour of wave 4 T Levels

Popular BTECs in media and animal management to be scrapped, DfE announces

Anviksha Patel
BTECs, Skills reform, T Levels

155,000 young people to ‘fall through the gap’ left by BTECs, report warns

‘Desperate’ ministers also accused of misusing data to overstate performance of T Levels

Billy Camden
BTECs, Ofsted, Skills reform, T Levels

Students ‘misled’ and teachers struggling: Ofsted’s verdict on T Levels

Watchdog calls for rethink of controversial plans to axe BTECs amid 'teething issues' with replacements

Billy Camden
BTECs, DfE

MPs blast DfE for refusing to pause BTEC cutback

Education select committee ‘disappointed’ with government response

Joshua Stein

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *