ASDAN is preparing to launch two new project-based qualifications that will give learners more opportunities to build confidence, develop transferable skills and progress in ways that feel meaningful to them.
From September 2026, ASDAN members will be able to register learners for the Foundation Project Qualification (FPQ, Level 1) and Higher Project Qualification (HPQ, Level 2) (pending Ofqual approval). They will sit alongside the existing Extended Project Qualification (EPQ, Level 3), creating a complete progression pathway.
For ASDAN, this development is much more than a portfolio expansion. It’s a natural continuation of its learner-centred ethos.
“Project qualifications are so closely aligned to our DNA as an organisation,” says Cath Moss, ASDAN’s Qualifications Manager. “They allow learners to demonstrate their skills in a context that’s meaningful to them – whether that’s through an academic dissertation, an artefact, or a project linked to work experience. That freedom is incredibly powerful for engagement.”
Building on firm foundations
Project qualifications were introduced nationally in response to concerns that too many young learners lacked the skills needed to succeed beyond school. Independent research, including the Wolf Report review of vocational education, highlighted the need for qualifications that could strengthen independence, critical thinking, and applied learning.
All awarding organisations that deliver project qualifications do this against the same regulator-defined objectives. The difference lies in how they are supported and contextualised.
Where some awarding bodies focus mainly on written dissertations, ASDAN embraces a wider range of evidence – including artefacts and work experience projects. This aligns directly with ASDAN’s tradition of flexible, skills-based learning and ensures that learners from diverse backgrounds and pathways can participate fully.
Why project qualifications matter
The benefits of FPQ, HPQ and EPQ are broad and significant:
- choice and autonomy – learners select their own project topic, giving them ownership and motivation
- transferable skills – planning, research, evaluation and communication are embedded throughout
- recognition – EPQ carries up to 16 UCAS points; FPQ and HPQ provide stepping stones with GCSE equivalence
- engagement – learners who may struggle in traditional settings can thrive when learning is contextualised
Cath highlights the impact:
“Being able to choose the context for their study is transformative. It allows learners to demonstrate what they can do through a topic of personal interest, rather than being limited to what a syllabus dictates.”
Seamless progression
The introduction of FPQ and HPQ strengthens ASDAN’s progression ladder. Learners can move from ASDAN’s Short Courses and Personal Development Programmes (PDP) into its Personal Effectiveness Qualifications (PEQ), and then on to project qualifications at Levels 1, 2 and 3.
This means providers have options at every stage. Learners not ready for Level 2 can start with the FPQ, while those building towards higher education can aim for the EPQ with the confidence and skills developed along the way.
“Wherever your learner is at now, we can take them from where they are and support them towards achieving a project qualification at the right level,” Cath explains.
Relevant and recognised
For employers, parents and higher education institutions, project qualifications are easy to recognise and understand. They carry the same weight and kudos as general qualifications such as GCSEs, while offering learners greater flexibility in subject matter and an alternative way of being assessed.
This dual value of credibility in the system and relevance to the learner, makes them particularly powerful in today’s education landscape, where engagement and progression remain key challenges.
Looking ahead
First teaching of the FPQ and HPQ is planned for September 2026, but ASDAN is already working with their members to prepare for delivery. Their arrival will give providers new tools to keep learners engaged, build core skills and offer credible routes to further study or employment.
For ASDAN, they represent more than new qualifications. They reaffirm the organisation’s mission: enabling learners to flourish by connecting learning to their interests, aspirations and real-world experiences.
Find out more
ASDAN’s new project qualifications will offer a powerful way to motivate learners, strengthen progression, and deliver results that matter.
To learn more, visit asdan.org.uk and fill out this expression of interest form – the ASDAN team are ready to speak to you about your options.
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