How will Alternative Academic Qualifications and the Post-16 Reforms Impact the Adult Education Budget?

The educational landscape is set for change, with the Department for Education (DfE) introducing new alternative academic qualifications (AAQs) as part of their post-16 reforms . AAQs will remove the ambiguity surrounding young learners' options and create a more distinctive divide between academic and technical qualifications.???

Not only will the reforms streamline the post-16 learning experience, they will also play a significant role in upskilling the workforce and enhancing the educational opportunities for adult learners eligible for AEB funded qualifications .?

Want to stay up-to-date? Join our upcoming AAQs and Reforms webinar to learn all there is to know about the post-16 reforms.

What are AAQs?

Launching at the start of the 25/26 academic year, the AAQs are a new level 3 pathway that can be taken instead of or alongside A-Levels and will support progression in academic subjects that are not currently offered through A-Levels and T-Levels.??

As an Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisation, we have been hard at work developing the new AAQs and are excited to bring them to life!??

Our Head of Product Development, Chris Tubbrit , shares an insight into what we have been working on:?

“In our AAQs, we have listened to feedback from providers and developed a nested approach that supports existing flexibilities for managing success, retention and achievement, whilst also developing a high-quality model that meets the new technical guidance for AAQs. In our developments, we’ve enlisted some of the very best subject experts to support us in the development of our AAQs, ensuring we are able to secure continued recognition with HE institutions." - Chris Tubbrit, Head of Product Development

At TQUK, we make it our mission to provide quality services that give learners a seamless, educational experience. To ensure the positive impact of AAQs, we are sharing all the essential information centres and learning providers need to know in our AAQs Quick Reference Guide !??

What do the post-16 reforms entail?

To make the process as smooth as possible, the post-16 reforms will be rolled out in three phases .??

Phase 1: In August 2022, funding was removed from around 5,500 qualifications at Level 3 and below with little to no enrolment.??

Phase 2: Funding will be removed from Level 3 qualifications that overlap with the new AAQs and T-Levels.??

Phase 3: New funding approval criteria for technical and vocational qualifications at Level 3 and below will be introduced.?

What is the AEB?

The adult education budget is a government-funded scheme used to train adults over the age of 19. Shared across different UK regions, the budget focuses on boosting career progression, upskilling the workforce and helping unemployed adults gain job opportunities.??

How will the AEB be affected by AAQs and the post-16 reforms?

With phase 1 already underway, phase 2 of the post-16 reforms will be set into motion from September 2025. This means that, starting with Level 3 qualifications and working down, any qualifications that overlap with the new AAQs and T-levels will be defunded from one sector subject area (SSA) to another. The defunding process will also apply to AEB funded qualifications, meaning adults learners can benefit from a higher-quality learning experience.?

AEB funding transferred to The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

As part of the reforms, the LLE, a financial support system offering a loan that covers the equivalent of four years post-18 education, will be introduced from 2025.?

The LLE will help train, upskill and improve the workforce and will give adults, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, learning opportunities that wouldn’t normally be made available to them.??

What should you do next?

Stay informed about the AAQs we plan to offer and the timescales for their development by downloading our Quick Reference Guide !??

Ensure that learners are benefitting from qualifications that have the power to improve their educational progression and career prospects, by writing letters of support.

Have your say and contact [email protected]