Asked by: Alex Ballinger (Labour - Halesowen)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to consult (a) teachers and (b) students in relation to its planned phase-out of BTEC qualifications.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government has not set out plans to phase out applied general qualifications.
In July, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced the review of qualifications reform. The rapid review is focused on Level 3 qualifications currently scheduled to have funding removed on 31 July 2025.
The department has an extensive programme of engagement underway, to ensure that the views of colleges, schools and teachers are fed into the review of qualifications reform. The department has already held a Ministerial chaired round table with key leaders in the college sector and is undertaking a series of focus groups and interviews with colleges, schools and other organisations to ensure that the views of stakeholders are fully considered. These events include key leaders from across the further education sector, as well as subject teachers and leaders of curriculum in institutions. In addition, departmental officials are using the latest student data and information available to inform the review.