Post-16 level 3 and below qualifications with low and no enrolments in schools and FE colleges
Removal of ESFA funding
As a result of the first stage of the DfE’s Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England, the ESFA have announced the qualifications with low or no funded enrolments that will have post-16 funding removed after 31 July 2021.
What does this mean for you?
A number of post-16 Pearson qualifications offered by schools and further education colleges in England are affected.
In many cases the qualifications have an alternative option either available to teach now or in development.
Where the removal of funding would have an adverse impact on specific individuals or schools, or on specific occupational or geographical areas, we will be submitting requests to retain public funding in line with the ESFA process. The deadline for awarding bodies to make requests to retain funding is Friday 27 March 2020.
Affected and delivered in schools
Download the full list of qualifications
If you’d like to talk to us about the qualifications delivered in further education colleges please contact fecentresupport@pearson.com.
FAQs
As a result of the first stage of the DfE’s Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England, the ESFA have announced the qualifications with low or no funded enrolments that will have funding removed from 31 July 2021. The ESFA have published the announcement on their website along with the full list of qualifications affected.
The DfE refers to this removal of funding as ‘securing early progress’ towards a simpler post-16 vocational system before the next stage of the review is released in spring/summer 2020. In the next stage, the DfE will say more about the criteria that will be used to manage the funding approval of all post-16 level 3 and below qualifications in the future. We expect the changes to the funding approval of qualifications to take place from September 2023 onwards, in line with the rollout of T Levels.
The qualifications affected are all post-16, vocational qualifications, at level 3 and below, and currently have low, or no, funded enrolments.
Funding approval will be removed for qualifications taken by 16-18 year-olds on study programmes, and 19+ year-olds funded under the Adult Education Budget, the European Social Fund (ESF), or accessing Advanced Learner Loans.
Funding will be removed by the ESFA after 31 July 2021.
Yes, in many cases qualifications that will have funding removed, have an alternative option either available to teach now or in development.
The ESFA are aware that there may be valid reasons why a qualification that has low or no enrolments should continue to receive public funding. They have therefore also published a process for awarding organisations to make a case for the qualification where funding needs to be retained.
Awarding organisations can make a case for funding to remain where we can show that 1) the number of funded learners taking these qualifications will increase, or 2) where the removal of funding will have an adverse impact on i) students, ii) providers, iii) the subject or occupational sector, or iv) a geographical area/local authority or combined mayoral authority.
Please see the contact details below for how to get in touch to help us retain funding for any qualifications you would like to continue to offer. If you would like to help us please do get in touch by Friday 13 March 2020. The deadline for awarding bodies to appeal to retain funding is Friday 27 March 2020.
A number of post-16 Pearson qualifications offered by schools and further education colleges in England are affected by the announcement.
affected in schools - access the full list of qualifications
affected in further education colleges - access the full list of qualifications
More Information and the full list of qualifications offered by work-based learning affected by the announcement can be found on our website.
Post-16 Level 3 and below qualification with low and no enrolments in work-based learning
The ESFA announcement applies to funded provision in England only. We will inform you as usual if we withdraw any provision you offer with us in Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you are a school and have any questions about the list, or would like to get in touch to support a case to retain funding approval, please contact 0161 855 7587 or VQManchester@pearson.com.
If you are a further education college and have any questions about the list, or would like to get in touch to support a case to retain funding approval, please contact fecentresupport@pearson.com.
The deadline for awarding bodies to appeal to retain funding is Friday 27 March 2020.
