Fears of 'qualifications gap' if BTECs scrapped

Tens of thousands of young people in England could be left without a viable post-16 education route as the government presses ahead with plans to scrap many popular vocational qualifications, the Protect Student Choice campaign has warned.

Currently, 16-year-olds in England can choose from three main types of Level 3 qualifications: academic routes like A levels, technical pathways such as T levels, and applied general qualifications (AGQs) like BTECs, which combine academic learning with practical skills. Many AGQs are studied alongside A levels and are available in various sizes, including diploma (equivalent to two A levels) and extended diploma (equivalent to three A levels) formats.

However, in December 2024, the government announced a blanket ban on all large AGQs in subject areas that overlap with T levels. The move, aimed at “directing” students towards T levels, will see the removal of AGQs in high-demand subjects such as Health and Social Care, Applied Science, and IT from 2026, with Business and Engineering to follow in 2027.

The decision has sparked alarm among educators and campaigners, who say it risks creating a significant qualifications gap. While government figures project that just over 91,000 students will be studying T levels in 2027, more than 277,000 are currently enrolled on AGQs – and funding for these qualifications is set to end after that year.

According to research from the Protect Student Choice campaign, the ban could lead to a 45% drop in students taking Health and Science courses – amounting to around 52,000 fewer learners annually. Digital courses could see an annual drop of 11,000 students, or 33%. These subjects are among those identified by the government’s own Industrial Strategy as critical for future economic growth.

Campaigners argue that slashing student numbers in these areas will undermine national efforts to upskill the workforce and boost productivity. They also warn that the changes will disproportionately affect disadvantaged students and those with lower prior attainment, for whom AGQs have long been a vital stepping stone into higher education and employment.

Uncertainty is already causing issues across the education sector, making it harder for schools and colleges to plan their curricula, hire the right staff, and give accurate guidance to students choosing their post-16 options.

In response, the Protect Student Choice campaign is calling on the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) to recommend reversing the AGQ ban when it delivers its final report in the autumn. Campaigners are also urging both the CAR and the government to commit to retaining the existing three-route system of academic, applied, and technical qualifications – with AGQs forming an essential middle pillar.