Assessment, Young people

Functional skills to remain as DfE unveils ‘stepping-stone’ GCSE resit courses

New level 1 quals could have modular assessment to 'bank progress' and improve student confidence

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Young people

Ministers shrink T Levels to boost take-up and manageability

New T Levels will be smaller than any existing course, with content and assessment trimmed to ease delivery pressures

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Young people

DfE misses 2025-26 T Level starts target by nearly a fifth

It comes a year after the NAO cast doubt on the scalability of the technical qualifications

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Young people

DfE agrees to BTECs defunding delay

Funding for the level 3 courses will now continue into the 2026-27 academic year as ministers amend ‘aggressive’ approach

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Young people

Revealed: The first three V Level subject areas

Teaching of the new vocational courses will begin next year in digital, education and finance

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Young people

Diplomas get a reprieve, and learners avoid the gap

The government’s decision to pause the defunding of diplomas and extended diplomas is a major victory for common sense

Jessica Hill
James Kewin
Young people

Three pathways, one goal: Getting young people back on track

Our phased transition to new qualifications will provide the certainty providers need, while ensuring no young person falls through...

Jessica Hill
Jacqui Smith
Higher education, Young people

Old-school class snobbery will not solve the university funding crisis

Dismissing students with vocational entry qualifications as ‘not really capable of graduating’ is steeped in prejudice, not evidence, writes...

Shane Chowen
Hannah McCarthy
Awarding, Teaching, Young people

Student AI confessions prompted rethink, says Bauckham

Ofqual to assess awarding orgs' AI cheating policies while chief commits to 'no easy' V Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen