First V Levels subjects revealed in post-16 reforms

The government has announced that the first V Level subjects that will be rolled out in England from 2027.

Education, finance and digital V Levels will be the first subjects introduced as part of the government's post-16 education changes.

New qualifications will be introduced next year for 16‑year‑olds, providing a year of study before progressing to V Levels, T Levels or A levels, with initial subjects in Education and Early Years, and Digital. A separate two‑year, employment‑focused route will also be available for those aiming to move straight into work or an apprenticeship, starting in Catering and Hospitality, and Education and Early Years.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the "bold reforms" will give parents much-needed confidence in a system that values every route to success – academic, technical or vocational.

V Levels will sit alongside A Levels and T Levels, and will be equivalent to one A Level, allowing students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they are unsure where to specialise. 
  
A Further Study pathway will be introduced, which provides a year of study to support students who want to go on to do V Levels, T Levels or A levels but aren’t ready to progress beyond GCSE-equivalent study due to lower attainment. It will be supported by a new Foundation Certificate qualification. 

There will also be an Occupational pathway, which is a two-year programme to provide extra support to lower attainers while developing the skills to go into employment or an apprenticeship. It will be supported by a new Occupational Certificate qualification. 

A consultation has also been launched on new qualifications that will be targeted at students with lower attainment in English or Maths as a stepping stone to better prepare them to resit their GCSEs the following year. This will support around a third of 16-year-olds who do not achieve a GCSE grade 4 or above in English and/or maths by the time they leave Year 11. 

Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, Bill Watkin, said: "We are pleased that a third qualification pathway will sit alongside A levels and T levels in the future. The changes announced to T levels today are also very welcome and should make it easier for more young people to study a T level and for schools and colleges to offer them."

There will be a phased, sustainable approach for providers to transition to the reformed system. Legacy Level 3 qualifications that are equivalent to the size of around two A Levels, including BTECs, or smaller will have funding approval removed where T Levels exist. V Levels will be introduced in those areas.