On Monday 20th October, the sector received the long-awaited Government Whitepaper on Post 16 Education and Skills. There was a lot to take in, some of which we are sure would have caused concern amongst many. However, there were also some encouraging announcements.
The intention of investment to provide further upskilling of those working in the Post 16 sector, is in AIM’s view recognition of the fantastic knowledge and passion, which teachers bring to the sector.
At AIM, we want to help bring some clarity to the whitepaper, helping the Post 16 community to understand the changes, the difficulties and challenges and our commitment to you throughout the process.
7 Key Changes from the Reform Paper
- A joined-up skills system: Skills England will lead a more integrated approach, bringing together employers, colleges, and universities to plan and invest in priority sectors using improved data and local partnerships.
- Youth Guarantee: Every young person will have access to education, training, or support to get into work, including an automatic guaranteed college place for all 16-year-olds after GCSEs.
- New qualifications landscape: ‘V Levels’ will become the main vocational pathway at Level 3, alongside A Levels and T Levels. There will also be new pathways at Level 2, one leading to further studies and another to occupational, this is something which we will continue to review along with the updated English and Maths qualifications at Level 1.
- Lifelong Learning Entitlement: Everyone will have access to four years’ worth of loan funding for higher-level education or training, including short, modular courses, to support upskilling and career changes throughout life.
- Specialist and prestigious further education: Technical Excellence Colleges will be established, with a focus on high-quality teaching, clear pathways to employment, and investment in FE infrastructure.
- Teacher training and high-quality FE: There will be a major drive to recruit, train, and retain expert FE teachers, with a new national framework for professional development, reforms to initial teacher education, and targeted investment to raise standards and support staff wellbeing.
- Employer engagement and flexible training: New sector skills packages, more flexible use of the Growth and Skills Levy, and incentives for employers to invest in training and apprenticeships, including short, modular courses.
Possible Difficulties & Challenges
- Tight implementation timeframes: The rapid introduction of new qualifications (such as V Levels) and systems (like the Youth Guarantee and Lifelong Learning Entitlement) could put pressure on providers, awarding organisations, and staff to adapt quickly.
- Complex transition for qualifications: Replacing hundreds of existing vocational qualifications with V Levels may cause confusion for learners, employers, and centres, especially during the transition period.
- Workforce readiness and capacity: Recruiting and upskilling enough FE teachers and staff to deliver new qualifications and pathways will be challenging, particularly in high-demand sectors and with ongoing retention issues.
- Funding uncertainties: While new investments are promised, the scale and timing of funding for colleges, technical excellence centres, and support services may not match the pace of reform or local needs.
- Digital and data demands: The shift to data-driven planning, digital skills, and modular learning will require significant upgrades to IT systems, data sharing, and digital infrastructure across the sector.
- Supporting disadvantaged learners: Ensuring that reforms genuinely “leave no learner behind” will require robust support for those at risk of becoming NEET, as well as for learners with SEND or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Stakeholder engagement and communication: Achieving meaningful collaboration between employers, providers, local authorities, and government agencies will take time and may face resistance or capacity issues, especially as reforms are rolled out nationally.
How AIM Qualifications & Assessments Will Support You
At AIM Qualifications & Assessments, we are committed to being proactive and supporting our centres through every stage of these reforms, from providing these initial observations right through to the implementation and delivery of the new V Levels:
Clear guidance: We will be at every major update event so we can provide regular updates, briefings, and easy-to-understand summaries to help you interpret the latest policy changes and what they mean for your provision and how AIM can support you.
Training and CPD: Our team will offer targeted training sessions and professional development opportunities to help staff understand new qualifications, assessment methods, and regulatory requirements.
Transition support: We will work closely with centres to plan for the transition to new qualifications, including mapping existing provision, identifying gaps, and supporting curriculum redesign.
Resource development: AIM will develop and share high-quality resources, templates, and toolkits to help you implement changes efficiently and confidently.
Dedicated advice: Your dedicated AIM Business Growth Manager and the Quality Advisor for your centre. Our expert advisors are will be on hand to answer your questions, provide bespoke support, and help you navigate any challenges that may arise.
Collaboration and feedback: We will facilitate forums, online clinics, and networking events where you will be able to opportunities for centres to share best practice, raise concerns, and influence our ongoing response to the reforms. And don’t forget our ongoing AIM In Your College events where you can speak directly to our Business Growth Managers.
Advocacy: AIM will continue to represent the interests of our centres and learners to policymakers, ensuring your voice is heard as the reforms are implemented.
But for Now: We will continue to work with all our AIM centres to offer the friendly support and guidance that we are known for, as for the time being, it is business as usual.
The Personal View
The underlying principle of the reform is a good one. If it works, it will mean that anyone going through education will end up in the careers they want and succeed. Therefore, adult education and training outside of initial HE/apprenticeships would become more about upskilling to develop roles further, such as management and leadership training.
On a personal level, I like the idea of V-Levels, but it is sad to see the likes of Extended Diplomas being replaced as I took this path, as I’m sure many of you reading this also did. Extended Diplomas are very clear transparent, and perfect for someone who doesn’t like the idea of A-levels. I will be very keen to ensure the vocational aspect of assessment and skills development transfers over.
In addition to the principle above, here are some things I really like:
I am happy to see FE teaching getting the recognition it deserves and not just a passing comment. It reads like they will be investing not just in new teachers but in upskilling and resources, including the use of AI. There are a series of good points about AI and supporting the next generation with its use, for both teachers and learners. It is good to see it not being ignored.
However, there are concerns:
Can this achieved in the timescales stated? There are a lot of parties involved, and a lot of talks needed. For example, my own experiences with T-Levels one of the most difficult was getting employers on board.
In addition, there is no mention of Access to HE. The closest we get are the following Advanced Learner Loan comments which are also discussing alongside the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement for level 4 onwards and simplifying the HE regulatory framework. I need to do some more research on this, but it is not 100% clear.
“We will do this through requiring all providers who wish to offer Lifelong Learning Entitlement-funded provision, including for courses leading to Ofqual-regulated level 4
or higher qualifications, to register with the Office for Students, which will no longer introduce a third category of registration for providers currently offering Advanced Loan provision”
I also need more clarity on the two new level 2 pathways based around further study and occupational, something which I will continue to review in the consultation document and in future meetings.
Importantly, the latest reform will not take away our focus from the apprenticeship reforms. We will watch and support in both areas.
The coming months will bring a lot of discussion and no doubt confusion. I, along with my colleagues at AIM, will be monitoring this closely and look forward to what the future brings.