Follow this link to watch the announcement. Further detail was released on 25 July in a written statement.

It means that:

• The DfE will place a one year pause on the removal of 16 to 19 funding from qualifications assessed as overlapping with T Levels in construction and the built environment, digital, education and early years, and health and science. These qualifications were originally scheduled to have their funding approval removed in the 16 to 19 offer after 31 July 2024 but will now continue to remain available up to 31 July 2025.

• This will allow time for a review of post-16 level 3 and below reforms to conclude by the end of the year. The DfE will conclude and communicate the outcomes of this review into qualification reforms at level 3 and below before the turn of the year. Defunding decisions will be taken after the short review, and the Curriculum and Assessment Review will reflect these decisions.

• The DfE will also publish, as soon as possible, a list of reformed level 2 qualifications that will be funded from August 2025, in Construction and the Built Environment, Education and Early Years, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Health and Science.

Pearson welcomes that the new Labour Government is listening to the concerns of the sector. This announcement, made before the summer break, gives some stability to the sector ahead of the 2024 academic year. We look forward to fully engaging with Government on the review to deliver the skills and knowledge needed to support progression and success for all learners.

Ensuring our school and college customers can continue to offer a wide choice of qualifications to their learners is – and will remain – our primary objective. We will update our dedicated webpages: Level 3 Level 2 and Level 1 and below - to let you know exactly what this means for your BTEC provision and will continue to keep you informed.