Government introduces V level qualification to help close skill gaps

The UK Government has announced plans to “put the post-16 education system on a firmer financial footing” with the introduction of V levels.

V levels are new vocational qualifications tied to rigorous and real-world job standards. They will replace other qualifications to sit alongside T Levels and A levels, providing a clear option for young people who want to get on in the world of work, university or apprenticeships, but want to explore different key sectors, which could include engineering, agriculture, digital or creative, before choosing where to specialise.

Unlike T Levels, which are equivalent to 3
A Levels, young people will be able to take a mixture of V Levels and A Levels – offering more choice and flexibility.

The Government says that the new qualification will streamline the confusing landscape of approximately 900 equivalent vocational qualifications at level 3 currently available to 16- to 19-year-olds, which mean learners and employers are unclear about the purpose and value of some qualifications.

Young people will also be supported to get the vital pass they need in English and Maths GCSEs, and “end the demoralising treadmill of repeated resits”. A new qualification will be targeted at
students with lower attainment to prepare them to resit these GCSEs.

The scheme is particularly aimed at White working-class pupils as, according to the Government, more than six in 10 White British pupils eligible for free school meals do not achieve a grade 4 or above in English and Maths by the end of Key Stage 4. This means that they are more than twice as likely to need to resit these exams post-16 than their more affluent peers.

Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at EngineeringUK, comments, “We cautiously welcome the announcement of V Levels,
designed to work alongside A Levels and T Levels. This signals a promising step towards strengthening work-focused training for young people in key sectors like engineering and technology.

“[The] Government must ensure that this new qualification is recognised and supported by employers and further and higher education institutions, and will lead to meaningful outcomes for both young people and employers. 

“And it is vital that any subsequent changes are followed by a period of stability, with young people, employers and providers alike crying out for some clarity. 

“The confirmation of the Government ambition for two-thirds of young people
to participate in higher-level learning by [the] age of 25 is also welcome, as is the data-driven approach that will drive investment in education and training in growth sectors.

“It is vital, however, that the focus on getting more young people trained at Levels 4 and 5 does not distract from the need to increase apprenticeship opportunities for young people at Levels 2 and 3. These serve as important entry routes into the engineering and technology sector.”

A consultation has been launched to support the introduction of V levels, designed to strengthen skills across industry, including in the government’s priority industries. T Levels will continue to expand to other subjects.