Connecting curriculum, assessment and trust – qualifications for the next decade
Ofqual’s Chief Regulator outlines plans to introduce V Levels from 2027, expanding post-16 vocational options alongside A and T Levels to broaden student pathways.
Sir Ian Bauckham, Chief Regulator at Ofqual, highlighted the global standing of England’s qualifications system, including GCSEs and A Levels, which have shaped educational experiences across generations. He noted their role in contributing to recent strong performance in assessments like PISA, while acknowledging the need for evolution in a changing world.
Bauckham announced the introduction of V Levels from 2027, designed as smaller, level 3 qualifications to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels in the post-16 landscape. Unlike T Levels, V Levels will not require full-time study or industrial placements, offering flexibility for students who wish to explore vocational fields while keeping options open.
V Levels will be teachable in both school sixth forms and colleges, providing a new progression route for students who may have taken recently announced vocational GCSEs at key stage 4. The qualifications aim to introduce students to vocational areas without the commitment of a single occupational focus required by T Levels.
Addressing concerns that V Levels might resemble BTECs, Bauckham clarified that BTEC is a proprietary brand owned by Pearson, and V Levels represent a distinct, publicly regulated qualification designed to complement existing pathways.