Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with teaching professionals in (a) St Helens North constituency and (b) nationally on the future of RSL vocational qualifications as they relate to school and college performance measures.

There are currently five RSL qualifications included in the 16 to 18 performance tables for 2022 awarding. Of these, one is at level 2 and four are at level 3.

The department is streamlining and improving the quality of the post-16 qualifications system at level 3 and below. We set out our plans for reform of level 3 qualifications in July 2021. We have not pre-judged which subject areas will be funded in future but there are several areas where we see a clear role for qualifications alongside A levels and T Levels. These include performing and creative arts. These must meet new quality criteria to be approved for funding. Full details of the process for adding qualifications to the performance tables, performance points and approach to discounting will be published alongside the funding approval criteria later this year. RSL, like other awarding organisations, will be able to submit qualifications that meet these criteria for approval.

We will shortly set out our proposals for qualifications at level 2 and below.

The north-west regional delivery team are in regular dialogue with St Helen’s College and discuss their curriculum and strategy through these channels. As part of the annual strategic conversations they are having with all further education colleges, they pick up any key strategic risks and issues, as well as opportunities and strengths. These have not yet been held with St Helen’s or Carmel College, but both are likely to take place early in 2022. Curriculum, quality, and performance measures will also be part of the annual strategic conversations.