Post‑16 qualification reforms

Supporting sixth forms and school-based providers through qualification reforms

A new vocational system needs a vocational education specialist

City & Guilds is a global skills organisation, working with schools, colleges, training providers and employers to support high‑quality vocational education. We focus on skills that open doors to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

With deep expertise in employer-led qualification design, assessment and system change, we support sixth forms to navigate reform with confidence. We help you understand what’s changing, make informed curriculum decisions and deliver in the classroom achieve the best outcomes for learners.

An overview of the new post‑16 landscape

A new chapter for post‑16 education is emerging as the government undertakes a major reform of the qualifications system. The post-16 education and skills white paper lays out plans to make choices clearer and more flexible with a mix of academic, technical and vocational programme options after GCSEs.

These reforms are driven by the urgent need to tackle critical skills shortages while improving progression and building a more responsive skills pipeline that directly supports national skills needs.

Qualification pathways in the reformed landscape

The reformed post-16 system introduces new pathways at level 2 and a new vocational route at level 3, helping learners progress into further study, apprenticeships and employment, with first teaching from September 2027.

Level 2 reforms: Two new pathways

Two new level 2 qualifications are being introduced to support learners with different progression goals.

Foundation Certificates: – Supporting progression into level 3 study.
Occupational Certificates: – Preparing learners for a specific occupation or apprenticeship.

Level 3: Three pathways, including the new vocational V Level

At level 3, three pathways sit alongside one another, giving equal prominence to academic, technical and vocational routes:

A Levels: Academic route
T Levels: Technical route
V Levels: Vocational route

Other existing level 2 and 3 post-16 qualifications are set to be defunded as the post-16 reforms continue.

What are V Levels?

V Levels: Vocational qualifications with flexible progression

Focused on applied, work-related learning, V Levels are aimed at learners who want to explore a broad vocational area before specialising. Each V Level is the size of one A Level and can be combined with A Levels and other V Levels, giving learners flexibility to build a study programme that reflects their interests and ambitions.

Level: 3
Size: 360 guided learning hours (GLH)
Duration: Two years
First subjects (from 2027): Digital systems & data; education; finance & accounting.*
Progression routes: Higher education, higher technical education, apprenticeships and employment.

What V Levels mean for sixth forms

Increased opportunity to deliver mixed academic and vocational programmes
New, smaller qualifications designed to sit alongside A Levels
Clearer progression routes for learners not best suited to a full A Level programme

Level 2 Foundation and Occupational Certificates

Foundation Certificates: Preparation for Level 3 study

Foundation Certificates are designed to build confidence and core skills. They provide a broad introduction to a vocational area, helping learners build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to take the next step.

Size: Typically 240-300 GLH
Duration: One year
First subjects (from 2027): Digital systems and data; education & early years.*
Progression routes: V Levels, A Levels, T Levels.

Occupational Certificates: Preparation for work and apprenticeships

Occupational Certificates are designed to build practical, job-related skills. They signal that a learner is ready to progress into employment or an apprenticeship, but needs further training to become occupationally competent.

Size: Typically 540-720 GLH
Duration: Two years
First subjects (from 2027): Catering & hospitality; education & early years.
Progression routes: Level 2 employment and apprenticeships.

^{*Further subjects will be phased in from 2028 to 2030 as part of the 16-19 reforms.}

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Key dates and timelines

September 2026:

Example progression pathways for 2027 V Levels published
Further qualification details expected to become available

December 2026

Content consultation for 2028 V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates closes

Additional V Levels introduced
T Levels refined and expanded

Early 2027

Subject content for 2028 V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates due to be published
Final list of 2028 V Level, Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate subjects and subject titles confirmed
2029 V Level, Foundation Certificate, Occupational Certificate and T Level subjects confirmed
Publication of the list of qualifications due to have funding approval removed from 1 August 2028

Spring 2027:

Qualification materials become available for 2027 V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.

July 2027:

Funding for large legacy qualifications removed in existing T Level subject areas (apart from Health and Social Care).
Funding for legacy qualifications in Education & Early years (levels 2 and 3), Digital (level 3) and Accounting & Finance (level 3) is removed.
Strategic Transition Planning Statements for 2027 teaching due.

September 2027:

First V Levels launched: Digital systems & data, Education, Finance & Accounting.
First Occupational Certificates launched: Catering & Hospitality and Education & Early Years.
First Foundation Certificates launched: Digital systems & data and Education & Early Years

2028

Additional V Levels introduced
T Levels refined and expanded

2029

Additional V Levels introduced
T Levels refined and expanded

2030

Additional V Levels introduced
T Levels refined and expanded

View timeline for new subjects

Why City & Guilds?

Sixth forms need clarity and confidence as post-16 reforms evolve. City & Guilds brings long-standing expertise in skills-based education, delivering qualifications that prove what learners can do and open pathways to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

We focus on learner outcomes

65% of learners studying City & Guilds qualifications progress into employment within six months, compared to 56% of learners studying with other providers.

Deep employer partnerships

We work with 147 industry partners across sectors to ensure our qualifications stay current, credible and valued in the labour market.

Unrivalled support

Support from specialist advisors, including access to regular webinars, network events, and curriculum planning guidance.

Built from 1878. Built for the future

Almost 150 years of experience designing vocational qualifications, technical assessments, and employer informed competency frameworks.

25%

of learners studying City & Guilds qualifications progress into employment within six months, compared to 56% of learners studying with other providers.

80

We work with 147 industry partners across sectors to ensure our qualifications stay current, credible and valued in the labour market.

Support for sixth forms

City & Guilds supports sixth forms to deliver vocational programmes that deliver future-proofed skills for learners. We draw on expertise in skills-based qualification design and employer collaboration to help you plan, prepare and deliver high‑quality programmes such as V Levels and the new level 2 pathways, alongside existing A Level and/or T Level provision that support progression into work, apprenticeships and further study.

Whether you're planning for 2027 or shaping your long-term strategy, we can support you throughout the transition.

Our support includes:

Sector specific curriculum guides to help you shape coherent programmes.
Regular briefings with the latest policy, funding and implementation updates.
Regular insights straight to your inbox, keeping you informed as timelines and subject details evolve.
Live webinars and events to unpack reforms and share best practice.
One-to-one consultations to support curriculum design, progression planning and readiness for first teaching of V Levels.

Frequently asked questions

Can students combine V Levels with A Levels?

Yes. Each V Level is the size of one A Level, enabling personalised mixed programmes.

How are V Levels different from T Levels?

T Levels are large (equivalent to three A Levels) with a mandatory industry placement; V Levels are smaller vocational options that can be combined with A-Levels.

When do V Levels start and what are the first subjects?

First teach is September 2027, in Digital; Education & Early Years; Finance & Accounting.

why first-rate provider support is the difference news cover

26 May 2026

Why first-rate provider support is the difference between surviving reform and thriving through it

Every time education reform accelerates, providers are pushed into uncertainty, raising questions. Overnight, familiar processes change. Assessment approaches shift.

20 May 2026

Post-16 pathways: What the new implementation plan means for providers

Today the Department for Education (DfE) published its Post-16 Pathways Implementation Plan which is the detailed roadmap for the biggest shake-up to vocational and technical qualifications in a generation.

24 April 2026

Working together to shape a post‑16 system that works for all sectors: government opens consultations

Reform of England’s post‑16 education system is accelerating, with several key government consultations now open that will directly shape vocational, technical and foundational learning pathways over the coming years.

08 April 2026

Why effective qualification and assessment design matters during vocational education reform

As vocational education reform accelerates, qualification and assessment design decisions are carrying more weight than ever.

17 March 2026

Key takeaways from our latest funding and policy webinar on apprenticeship and qualification reforms

Our latest funding and policy webinar took place at a pivotal moment. Less than 24 hours earlier, the Department for Education released key updates shaping the next phase of post-16 reform.

12 March 2026

The new V Level qualification and the government’s latest reforms of post-16 pathways explained

The first V Levels will be introduced from September 2027, representing one of the most significant shifts in England’s post‑16 education landscape for more than a decade.

19 January 2026

City & Guilds response to the Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper

We welcome the ambition of these reforms. They have the potential to strengthen vocational and technical education, simplify choices and increase social and economic impact for learners, employers and the wider economy.

23 July 2026

Post-16 pathways: 2027 subject content finalised as implementation moves into delivery

When the Department for Education (DfE) published its Post-16 Pathways Implementation Plan in May, it provided the framework for the biggest overhaul of technical and vocational qualifications in a generation. The focus was on the direction of travel: a new qualification landscape, a phased rollout and a clearer progression system for learners.

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