Post-16 reforms

Supporting you now and in the future

Updated 13 March 2026

In October 2025, the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper set out plans for reform in England. Since then, further details have been confirmed by the Department for Education (DfE), including updates published on 10 March 2026 as part of the government’s consultation response.

The reforms introduce major changes to qualifications, pathways and the structure of post-16 learning. This includes what qualifications are available, how they’re assessed, and when they’ll be introduced.

The consultation response confirmed that new V Levels will begin teaching in colleges from September 2027, initially in digital, education and early years, and finance and accounting.

The changes only affect 16–19 learners and aim to simplify the landscape of vocational and technical education at Level 3 and below.

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Post-16 reforms overview (updated March 2026)

In this latest webinar posted March 2026, NCFE’s Technical Education expert, David Rowley, shares a clear overview of the key takeaways from the Department for Education’s consultation response to the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. He breaks down the key takeaways, what new information has been shared and what the future timelines look like for providers and learners.

What does this mean for your delivery?

The 16-19 qualification landscape is being simplified

From 2027 onwards, the post-16 qualification landscape will begin transitioning towards three main qualification routes for 16–19 learners, introduced on a phased, sector-by-sector basis:

A Levels

T Levels (large, occupational qualifications)

V Levels (new vocational certificates).

V Levels are small, 360 guided learning hours (GLH) and are designed to be combined in a ‘pick and mix’ fashion. They’ll be available in key sectors like education, health and social care, travel and tourism, sport, and protective services.

These will replace the current mix of vocational qualifications such as Technical Occupational Qualifications (TOQs) and Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs). Subjects have been determined by the Department for Education (DfE) based on evidence of need.

T Levels remain the only large vocational qualification

T Levels will continue to be the main full-time technical qualification. The Government has confirmed that additional T Levels will be introduced in phases between 2028 and 2031, expanding the current offer.

This is something that we will monitor closely to ensure sector needs are represented and met.

Level 2 is getting a clearer structure

There will be two new pathways at Level 2:

Further Study Pathway (1 year): includes a new Foundation Certificate and supports progression to A, T or V Levels.

Occupational Pathway (2 years): includes an occupational certificate with both core and job-specific content.

All content will be set nationally by the DfE, and assessment and grading decisions will be set by Ofqual. The qualifications will allow learners to transfer between the Further Study and Occupational pathways. Subjects will mirror those available at Level 3, with some grouped together for simplicity.

Content will be centrally written and mapped to standards

The new qualifications will be based on centrally developed content, selectively mapped to occupational standards. Ofqual will set design rules for V Level structure, assessment and grading, and a consistent grading scale is expected across all V Level qualifications.

There will be no awarding organisation branding on V Levels. This approach aims to ensure consistency, quality and relevance to employers, while reducing duplication across the system.

These changes will be rolled out in a phased approach

Some new V Levels, Foundation Certificates, and Occupational Certificates will be available for first teaching from 2027,.

The Government has confirmed a provisional implementation timeline in its consultation response. See full consultation response. Existing qualifications will be defunded as new T Levels and V Levels are approved for delivery. 

Blog: What you missed in the post-16 consultation response

Product Manager for Technical Education, David Rowley, unpacks what the latest consultation response reveals — and what the sector should prepare for.

Previously reformed qualifications

In the previous round of qualifications reforms NCFE gained approval for 23 technical qualifications across Level 2 and 3, going live in either August 2025 or 2026.

These qualifications span the Education and Early Years, Digital, and Health and Social Care. This includes our new social care TOQ, going live in 2026.

Visit our dedicated sector pages for further details and support on each of the qualifications now approved and funded for delivery from either August 2025 or August 2026.

Get more information from the government’s dedicated qualification reform toolkit.