This is very good news indeed. #ProtectStudentChoice
Breaking: 157 level 3 qualifications, including some BTECs, have been saved from the chop
feweek.co.uk/revealed-lev...
feweek.co.uk/revealed-lev...
Revealed: Level 3 quals saved from the chop… for now
Ministers announce qualifications that will no longer be defunded next year
feweek.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 5:56 AM
This is very good news indeed. #ProtectStudentChoice
ASCL strongly urges the government to retain these popular and valued applied general qualifications. We support #Tlevels, but do not understand why this must be at the expense of other tried and trusted vocational qualifications which work well for many students.
#ProtectStudentChoice
#ProtectStudentChoice
🪓 Tens of thousands of youngsters are at risk of falling through a 'qualifications gap' in key areas of the economy because of the government’s plan to scrap BTECs, campaigners estimate feweek.co.uk/btecs-axe-wi...
BTECs axe will cause huge ‘qualifications gap’, ministers warned
Report claims key areas of the economy will be hit by scrapping ‘vital’ courses amid slow T Levels growth
feweek.co.uk
July 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
ASCL strongly urges the government to retain these popular and valued applied general qualifications. We support #Tlevels, but do not understand why this must be at the expense of other tried and trusted vocational qualifications which work well for many students.
#ProtectStudentChoice
#ProtectStudentChoice
It's good to see recognition that students should be able to choose from a range of qualifications - not just A levels and T levels. This is a win for the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-the...
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-the...
Revealed: the BTECs saved from the chop… for now
Popular level 3 qualifications, including 44 BTECs, that were facing the scrap heap have been given a stay of execution
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 9:32 AM
It's good to see recognition that students should be able to choose from a range of qualifications - not just A levels and T levels. This is a win for the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-the...
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-the...
It's welcome news that most post-16 qualifications which were to be scrapped have been saved. We urge the government to retain the others and #ProtectStudentChoice
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gove...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gove...
Government to scrap some T-levels as part of review into post-16 education
Education minister Janet Daby said about 70% of vocational courses that the Conservatives had slated to cut will be kept.
www.independent.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 9:10 AM
It's welcome news that most post-16 qualifications which were to be scrapped have been saved. We urge the government to retain the others and #ProtectStudentChoice
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gove...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gove...
This should increase confidence in AAQs moving forward, helping us continue to #ProtectStudentChoice and support a diverse post-16 landscape. 🌱
#qualificationreform #sixthform #college #FE 2/7
#qualificationreform #sixthform #college #FE 2/7
September 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This should increase confidence in AAQs moving forward, helping us continue to #ProtectStudentChoice and support a diverse post-16 landscape. 🌱
#qualificationreform #sixthform #college #FE 2/7
#qualificationreform #sixthform #college #FE 2/7
A packed member newsletter today, including the latest on the #Curriculum and #Assessment Review, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, and our new information paper on the National insurance Contributions Grant.
See @pepediiasio.bsky.social video briefing here: vimeo.com/1068156663
See @pepediiasio.bsky.social video briefing here: vimeo.com/1068156663
ASCL Weekly Briefing | 21 March 2025
ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. www.ascl.org.uk
vimeo.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A packed member newsletter today, including the latest on the #Curriculum and #Assessment Review, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, and our new information paper on the National insurance Contributions Grant.
See @pepediiasio.bsky.social video briefing here: vimeo.com/1068156663
See @pepediiasio.bsky.social video briefing here: vimeo.com/1068156663
There’s been
ups (pre-election pause and review promise),
downs (previous ministers digging their heels in)
and the frankly bizarre (Gordon Brown)
but all this could come to a head next week.
Here’s MPs’ last ditch plea to save BTECs and #ProtectStudentChoice
ups (pre-election pause and review promise),
downs (previous ministers digging their heels in)
and the frankly bizarre (Gordon Brown)
but all this could come to a head next week.
Here’s MPs’ last ditch plea to save BTECs and #ProtectStudentChoice
‘We hope ministers will listen to the evidence and retain popular, high quality AGQ and BTEC qualifications which provide vital routes to success for many young people alongside A Levels and T Levels’ - Education select committee chair Helen Hayes
feweek.co.uk/mps-plea-for...
feweek.co.uk/mps-plea-for...
MPs plea for BTEC reprieve ahead of crunch review
Parliament's education select committee said qualifications, like BTECs, should be available to students who don't want, or are not able, to do T Levels
feweek.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 7:54 PM
There’s been
ups (pre-election pause and review promise),
downs (previous ministers digging their heels in)
and the frankly bizarre (Gordon Brown)
but all this could come to a head next week.
Here’s MPs’ last ditch plea to save BTECs and #ProtectStudentChoice
ups (pre-election pause and review promise),
downs (previous ministers digging their heels in)
and the frankly bizarre (Gordon Brown)
but all this could come to a head next week.
Here’s MPs’ last ditch plea to save BTECs and #ProtectStudentChoice
A post-16 system that maintains breadth of choice is the best way for @departmentforedu.bsky.social to meet our future skills needs.
Let’s protect what works while we build what’s new.
#ProtectStudentChoice #FE #skills #educationpolicy
7/7
Let’s protect what works while we build what’s new.
#ProtectStudentChoice #FE #skills #educationpolicy
7/7
September 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
A post-16 system that maintains breadth of choice is the best way for @departmentforedu.bsky.social to meet our future skills needs.
Let’s protect what works while we build what’s new.
#ProtectStudentChoice #FE #skills #educationpolicy
7/7
Let’s protect what works while we build what’s new.
#ProtectStudentChoice #FE #skills #educationpolicy
7/7
Many of the most subscribed BTECs are in these sectors (see pic).
With T-levels & AAQs not yet seeing the same uptake, maintaining AGQs is a sensible move.
Let’s not risk losing valuable routes for young people. 🚏
#ProtectStudentChoice #curriculumreform #sixthform
5/7
With T-levels & AAQs not yet seeing the same uptake, maintaining AGQs is a sensible move.
Let’s not risk losing valuable routes for young people. 🚏
#ProtectStudentChoice #curriculumreform #sixthform
5/7
September 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Many of the most subscribed BTECs are in these sectors (see pic).
With T-levels & AAQs not yet seeing the same uptake, maintaining AGQs is a sensible move.
Let’s not risk losing valuable routes for young people. 🚏
#ProtectStudentChoice #curriculumreform #sixthform
5/7
With T-levels & AAQs not yet seeing the same uptake, maintaining AGQs is a sensible move.
Let’s not risk losing valuable routes for young people. 🚏
#ProtectStudentChoice #curriculumreform #sixthform
5/7
Alongside this, a further pause in defunding Level 3 Applied General Qualifications (AGQs) is surely the best way forward - especially with slow AAQ and T-level uptake.
We must keep all pathways open into priority skills areas. 📈
#FE #skills #ProtectStudentChoice 3/7
We must keep all pathways open into priority skills areas. 📈
#FE #skills #ProtectStudentChoice 3/7
September 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Alongside this, a further pause in defunding Level 3 Applied General Qualifications (AGQs) is surely the best way forward - especially with slow AAQ and T-level uptake.
We must keep all pathways open into priority skills areas. 📈
#FE #skills #ProtectStudentChoice 3/7
We must keep all pathways open into priority skills areas. 📈
#FE #skills #ProtectStudentChoice 3/7
As part of the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, the Sixth Form College Association, ASCL and other campaign partners have written to Professor Francis this week to say it is possible for AGQs and T levels to co-exist, and it is essential for social mobility and growth that they do so.
⌛ The government is quietly pushing through plans to wipe out medium-sized alternative courses to T Levels during the independent curriculum and assessment review
AGQs could be ‘timed out’ before curriculum review ends
Campaigners sound alarm on DfE plans to drag diplomas into defunding controversy
feweek.co.uk
March 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
As part of the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, the Sixth Form College Association, ASCL and other campaign partners have written to Professor Francis this week to say it is possible for AGQs and T levels to co-exist, and it is essential for social mobility and growth that they do so.
Today's video briefing comes from #SLSConference, where @pepediiasio.bsky.social is joined by @tom-campbell.bsky.social to discuss attendance targets, plus @thenfer.bsky.social report on #SEND equity, 16-18 results, and #ProtectStudentChoice campaign survey on defunding: vimeo.com/1136888152?f...
ASCL briefing | 14 November 2025
ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. This edition includes updates on attendance targets,…
vimeo.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Today's video briefing comes from #SLSConference, where @pepediiasio.bsky.social is joined by @tom-campbell.bsky.social to discuss attendance targets, plus @thenfer.bsky.social report on #SEND equity, 16-18 results, and #ProtectStudentChoice campaign survey on defunding: vimeo.com/1136888152?f...
Today's video briefing with @pepediiasio.bsky.social and #ASCLmembers newsletter includes next week's expected announcement on the new #Ofsted framework, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, together with school-based nurseries, and updates on pay: vimeo.com/1116155860
#education
#education
ASCL weekly briefing | 5 September 2025
ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. This week’s edition highlights school-based nurseries,…
vimeo.com
September 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Today's video briefing with @pepediiasio.bsky.social and #ASCLmembers newsletter includes next week's expected announcement on the new #Ofsted framework, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, together with school-based nurseries, and updates on pay: vimeo.com/1116155860
#education
#education
We welcome that the Committee understands the need to retain AGQs alongside A levels and T levels, ensuring students have a range of pathways to work and further study, with the flexibility to choose the best route for them.
#ProtectStudentChoice
Read the Committee's report: ow.ly/WsX550X1sk2
#ProtectStudentChoice
Read the Committee's report: ow.ly/WsX550X1sk2
Power growth and boost young people’s life chances with investment and reforms to further education, MPs tell Govt - Committees - UK Parliament
The Education Committee has laid out a blueprint for how the Government should spread prosperity and achieve its mission of economic growth by investing in the further education (FE) and skills sector...
committees.parliament.uk
September 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
We welcome that the Committee understands the need to retain AGQs alongside A levels and T levels, ensuring students have a range of pathways to work and further study, with the flexibility to choose the best route for them.
#ProtectStudentChoice
Read the Committee's report: ow.ly/WsX550X1sk2
#ProtectStudentChoice
Read the Committee's report: ow.ly/WsX550X1sk2
#ASCLmembers: Pepe Di’Iasio is at Westminster for today's video briefing, with updates on today's good news from the government that they have agreed to pause the defunding of Applied General Qualifications (AGQs): https://vimeo.com/1172186248?fl=tl&fe=ec
#ProtectStudentChoice #post16
#ProtectStudentChoice #post16
ASCL briefing | 10 March 2026
ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. www.ascl.org.uk
vimeo.com
March 10, 2026 at 4:02 PM
#ASCLmembers: Pepe Di’Iasio is at Westminster for today's video briefing, with updates on today's good news from the government that they have agreed to pause the defunding of Applied General Qualifications (AGQs): https://vimeo.com/1172186248?fl=tl&fe=ec
#ProtectStudentChoice #post16
#ProtectStudentChoice #post16
Today's video briefing with @pepediiasio.bsky.social includes our response to today's deeply disappointing announcement about the #Ofsted framework, how to join our Ofsted webinar on Friday for #ASCLmembers, plus an update on the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign:
ASCL weekly briefing | 9 September 2025
ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. This week’s edition highlights the Ofsted framework,…
vimeo.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Today's video briefing with @pepediiasio.bsky.social includes our response to today's deeply disappointing announcement about the #Ofsted framework, how to join our Ofsted webinar on Friday for #ASCLmembers, plus an update on the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign:
News from our conference this week! Our CEO Bill Watkin explained: “In the autumn, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign shared compelling evidence with the DfE to support a pause... since then, we have welcomed the opportunity to engage in constructive bilateral discussions with govt officials."
⏳️ The defunding of BTECs and other applied general qualifications could be delayed further, the skills minister has indicated feweek.co.uk/dfe-consider...
DfE considers BTEC defunding delay
Transition plan to new V Levels set to be published alongside level 3 and below pathways consultation response
feweek.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 5:32 PM
News from our conference this week! Our CEO Bill Watkin explained: “In the autumn, the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign shared compelling evidence with the DfE to support a pause... since then, we have welcomed the opportunity to engage in constructive bilateral discussions with govt officials."
Delighted to hear from Baroness Smith, our minister, on govt's plans to make sure young people get the skills they need for HE and good work. On the pace of de-funding and V level rollout, she hears the need to #protectstudentchoice and has 'no intention' of leaving young people without options.
February 4, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Delighted to hear from Baroness Smith, our minister, on govt's plans to make sure young people get the skills they need for HE and good work. On the pace of de-funding and V level rollout, she hears the need to #protectstudentchoice and has 'no intention' of leaving young people without options.
Check my LinkedIn post for more detail on the context of the Level 3 landscape behind this blog too: www.linkedin.com/posts/claire...
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Check my LinkedIn post for more detail on the context of the Level 3 landscape behind this blog too: www.linkedin.com/posts/claire...
'The ongoing defunding of larger vocational qualifications in key sectors…remains a major concern'
Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson Qualifications
Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson Qualifications
feweek.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM