educators: protect student choice at 16+

Educators: The Future of Level 3

B0835 | Version 1.3 | B&A | Oct 2021 | DCL1: Public

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The Future of Level 3 ......................................................................... 03

Post-16 stats and facts by sector ................................................. 04

Educator update .................................................................................. 06

Get involved ........................................................................................... 09

Sign the #ProtectStudentChoice petition ................................ 10

Use the petition toolkit .................................................................... 11

- Letter to your local MP ...................................................................... 12

- Social media ......................................................................................... 13

- Poster ..................................................................................................... 14

- Checklist ................................................................................................ 15

Join the petition partners ............................................................... 16

Other ways to get involved ............................................................ 17

Contact us .............................................................................................. 18


The Future of Level 3In July 2021, the Government completed a review and consultation that impacts Level 3 BTECs and other vocational qualifications in England.

The main proposal is to introduce a choice between T levels and A levels at Level 3, where most young people pursue one of these routes at the age of 16. However, alongside this the DfE recognise that in certain areas there is a clear role for alternative qualifications to T Levels and A levels such as BTECs, and these qualifications will run alongside A levels and T Levels.

Please be reassured that you can continue to teach your BTECs with confidence in 2022/23 and only some BTEC qualifications will be affected in 2023/24. Students will be funded until completion for any courses they start. We are working through the implications for each of our BTEC qualifications in all sector suites and we will update all our centres where there are any changes to content, availability, and funding for BTECs.

Post-16 stats and facts by sector


IT and Computing

8,500 students take full-time BTEC IT qualifications.

The BTEC IT qualifications facilitate progression to a range of graduate Digital careers needed by the industry. The most popular higher education programmes taken by students with BTECs in IT & Computing are Computer Science, Information Systems, Games, Business and Software Engineering.

Applied Science

9,500 students take full-time BTEC Applied Science qualifications.

In 2020, UK tech employment had grown by 40% over the last 2 years, accounting for 9% of the national workforce with 2.93m jobs created.

In 2018, there were over 130,000 software developer vacancies - the most in-demand tech position – and this still holds true in 2020.

Students with a full-time BTEC in Applied Science accounted for over 7,500 higher education enrolments, with the most popular courses being Allied Health, Biology, Nursing and Forensics.

Research shows a need for the sector to recruit, reskill and develop employees in both specialist and non-specialist roles as the demand for innovation and integrated skills in life sciences intensifies.


of learners progress to Drama/ Cinematics and Photography*30%

Over

of entrants for Music hold a BTEC*30%

Nearly

of entrants for Design Studies, hold a BTEC in the Creative sector*25%

Nearly

of Games degree entrants hold a BTEC qualification* 50%

Nearly

Providers across NHS England are reporting a shortage of over 100,000 staff. Adult social care is facing even starker recruitment and retention challenges, with an estimated 122,000 vacancies. Research suggests the NHS workforce gap could reach almost 250,000 by 2030.

Over one fifth of entrants to nursing degrees hold a BTEC Level 3 National qualification and 65% of these students study BTEC in Health & Social Care.

Health and Social Care

15,000 students take full-time BTEC Health & Social Care qualifications.

Creatives

14,000 students take full-time BTEC Creatives qualifications.

BTECs in the Creative sector contribute a high volume of students for arts-based degrees who progress to higher education:


Update on the DfE Review of post-16 qualifications at Level 3 and the future of BTEC qualifications

In July 2021, the Government completed a review and consultation that impacts Level 3 BTECs and other vocational qualifications in England. The reforms come after consultation with the education sector, students and parents.

A clear role for BTEC qualifications alongside A levels and T Levels The main proposal is to introduce a choice between T levels and A levels at Level 3, where most young people pursue one of these routes at the age of 16. However, alongside this the DfE recognise that in certain areas there is a clear role for alternative qualifications to T Levels and A levels such as BTECs, and these qualifications will run alongside A levels and T Levels. These include qualifications in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), IT, Applied Science, Health and Social Care, Sport, and Performing and Creative Arts.

Please be reassured that you can continue to teach your BTECs with confidence in 2022/23 and only some BTEC qualifications will be affected in 2023/24. Students will be funded until completion for any courses they start. We are working through the implications for each of our BTEC qualifications in all sector suites and we will update all our centres where there are any changes to content, availability, and funding for BTECs.

http://enews.pearson.com/rsps/m/AK_QVDeJMuv5OKRESzWSSATDsgHVXLUSD60P2pGhNYA


The future of Level 3 technical qualifications from 2023 The DfE has made no decisions about individual qualifications.

Qualifications considered to overlap with T Levels In Waves 1 and 2 will be removed for funding in 2023/24 .

The confirmed list of these qualifications will be made available by Summer 2022. Any students part way through a qualifications will be able to complete their course.

This process will be repeated for qualifications that overlap with T Levels in Waves 3 and 4 in 2024/25.

NEW technical qualifications aligned to the T Level Digital route will be introduced from 2023/24 .

NEW technical qualifications aligned to Wave 1 and 2, and Wave 3 Engineering and Manufacturing T Level routes will be introduced from 2024/25 .

NEW technical qualifications aligned to remaining Wave 3 and 4 routes T Level routes will be introduced from 2025/26.

The DfE recognise the needs of adults are more diverse and will fund a broader range of technical qualifications for adults than for 16- to 19-year-olds.

The future of Level 3 academic qualifications from 2024/25The DfE has made no decisions about individual qualifications.

NEW academic qualifications aligned to Wave 1 and 2, and Wave 3 Engineering and Manufacturing T Level routes will be introduced from 2024/25 .

NEW academic qualifications aligned to remaining Wave 3 and 4 routes T Level routes introduced from 2025/26.

The same options will be available for adults as for 16-19-year-olds.

What new technical qualifications can be developed?

Alternatives to T Levels

Technical Qualifications which deliver against employer-led occupational standards not served by T Levels.

Technical Qualifications which deliver against employer-led occupational standards but where occupational competence cannot be attained in an education setting, for example, in hospitality.

Small specialist qualifications to sit alongside T Levels

Qualifications that develop more specialist skills and knowledge than could be acquired through a T Level or occupational-entry qualification alone.

What new academic qualifications can be developed?

Alternatives to A levels

Larger qualifications that support progression to specialist HE courses in areas not covered by T Levels and not well-served by A levels will also continue to be available as alternative programmes of study to A levels. These will have a strong practical focus and offer breadth and depth that is valued at HE.

Small qualifications taken alongside A levels (one A level size or smaller)

Qualifications that have a more practical element that enable progression to HE, including those designed to enable progression to more specialist HE. Even if A level exits in same broad subject.

T Level Waves

Timeline From 2023/24

New technical qualifications which align to employer-led occupational standards in the Digital T Level route and enable entry into Digital occupations will be introduced.

Technical qualifications removed where replaced by Wave 1 and 2 T Levels.

A confirmed list of qualifications which will no longer continue to attract funding in 2023/24 will be published by Summer 2022. Any students part way through a qualification will be able to complete their course.

From 2024/25

New technical qualifications available, including BTECs, which align to employer-led occupational standards in Wave 1 and 2 T Level routes, and Wave 3 Engineering and Manufacturing T Level route.

Technical qualifications removed where replaced by Wave 3 and 4 T Levels.

New academic qualifications, including BTECS, which align to employer-led occupational standards in Wave 1 and 2 T Level routes, and Wave 3 Engineering and Manufacturing T Level route which can be taken as alternatives to A levels or alongside A levels.

From 2025/26

New technical qualifications which align to employer-led occupational standards in the remaining Wave 3 and 4 T Level routes will be introduced.

New academic qualifications which align to employer-led occupational standards in the remaining Wave 3 and 4 T Level routes will be introduced.

Other technical and academic qualifications that do not have a place in the new landscape will be removed.

T Level Waves 1-2• Digital• Construction • Education & Childcare• Health & Health Science• Science

If you have any questions about the Review and how this will impact the BTECs you deliver, you can email us at [email protected]

T Level Waves 3-4• Engineering • Manufacturing• Accounting/ Finance/

Management & Administration• Legal• Agriculture/ Animal Care• Catering• Craft & Design• Hair & Beauty• Media



Get involved There are so many ways that you, your colleagues and your learners can get involved with influencing the reforms at 16+.

Get involved in #ProtectStudentChoice and sign the petition

Use the petition toolkit

Join the petition partners

Other ways to get involved

Get involved in #ProtectStudentChoice and sign the petitionProtect student choice: do not withdraw funding for BTEC qualifications

Reverse the plan to withdraw funding for most applied general qualifications such as BTECs and guarantee they will continue to play a major role in the qualifications landscape. Students should not be forced to choose between studying A levels or T levels from the age of 16.

Sign here


https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/592642

Use the petition toolkit Our Protect Student Choice toolkit provides a range of ways for you to show your support for the campaign.

This could be by signing the petition, supporting the campaign on social media, sending your local MP a letter, sharing with colleagues or all the above.

Every signature, tweet and letter shows we are united in the campaign to protect student choice and give everyone the best chance of success with their education.


The toolkit includes these campaign resources:

Letter to your local MP

Social media examples and assets

Poster

Checklist

Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms [ENTER MP NAME] MP,

At (insert school/college name) we currently educate (insert number of students) and passionately believe that every student deserves a first-class education. As many of our students progress to higher education or skilled employment after studying applied general qualifications (AGQs) such as BTECs, we are deeply concerned by the government’s plans to remove funding for most of these qualifications by the end of academic year 2023/24.

The government has set out a vision in its review of post-16 qualifications at Level 3 where A levels and T levels are the qualifications of choice for 16- to 18-year-olds. However, we believe that the newly reformed AGQs also have a vital role to play in the future qualifications landscape. AGQs have transformed the life chances of thousands of our students and made a huge contribution to both social mobility and the local economy.

Removing funding for AGQs will leave many of our students without a viable pathway at the age of 16 and will hamper progress to higher education or skilled employment. The government’s own impact assessment concludes that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have the most to lose if AGQs are defunded.

The Department for Education is currently working on its criteria for defunding AGQs, and plans to publish these criteria next year, which will give students, employers, exam boards, and providers like us one year to make radical changes to our curriculum offer if the plans go ahead along the lines proposed. As MP for (insert local area), I am writing to seek your support for the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign aimed at ensuring AGQs will continue to be available alongside A levels and T levels in the future. This statement, signed by seventeen education organisations, summarises our position.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

[ENTER YOUR NAME]

Letter to your local MP



#ProtectStudentChoice Please sign the petition to make sure we protect BTECs and not limit students’ learning opportunities http://protectstudentchoice.org

Sign the petition to #ProtectStudentChoice urging the government to reconsider restricting students’ choice of qualifications at the age of 16. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/592642

#ProtectStudentChoice and sign the petition to protect BTECs. http://protectstudentchoice.org

Removing BTECs will reduce the number of viable pathways for students post-GCSEs. #ProtectStudentChoice so AGQs continue to play a key role in the future qualifications landscape. Sign the petition at http://protectstudentchoice.org

Support the @SFCA_info campaign to #ProtectStudentChoice. Removing BTECs will leave many students without a viable pathway after their GCSEs; help safeguard the future of these vital qualifications and sign the petition now. http://protectstudentchoice.org

Social mediaThese are some examples of tweets that have already been posted in support of the campaign, you can share them too! Make sure you link to the petition and use the hashtag #ProtectStudentChoice

Social media assets Download the assets

https://sfcacampaign.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/jpg.zip?t=1631608178

Protect Student Choice at 16+Reverse the plan to withdraw funding for most applied general qualifications such as BTECs and guarantee they will continue to play a major role in the qualifications landscape.

Removing BTECs will reduce the number of viable pathways for students after their GCSEs so help safeguard the future of these vital qualifications and sign the petition now.

Sign the petition at protectstudentchoice.org

Print out and use this poster to promote the Protect Student Choice campaign

http://protectstudentchoice.org/


Campaign checklist

Sign the petition

Promote the Protect Student Choice petition on social media

Send the petition to staff, parents and governors with a request to sign and share with their own contacts

Send the petition to students with a request to sign (using personal tutor sessions, student portals and VLEs has proved effective) and share with their own contacts. Engage student unions

Promote the campaign on your website and via newsletters

Write to your local MPs, asking them to support the campaign and visit your institution to meet BTEC students

Contact local schools (and those in your MAT if applicable) and colleges to ask them to support the campaign and carry out joint activities

Contact local employers and universities to ask them to support the campaign

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/592642

http://protectstudentchoice.org/

Join the petition partners

Join over 20 organisations driving the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign .

Contact

[email protected]


https://www.protectstudentchoice.org/

mailto:info%40protectstudentchoice.org?subject=


Other ways to get involvedYou can get involved in other ways to influence the post-16 reforms:

• Provide us with a quote sharing your thoughts/feedback on the impact the reform could have on learner choice and the future talent pipeline and diverse workforce.

• Publish articles/ blogs on the impact via networks and publications.

• Let us know of a former BTEC student in a key job role that we could work with for a case study.

Contact usIf you have any questions or queries, please get in contact at

[email protected]

Find out more on our website


mailto:fecentresupport%40pearson.com?subject=

https://www.pearson.com/uk/campaigns/level-3-review.html

educators: protect student choice at 16+

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