Event Report – Linking London BTEC Practitioner Group Online Meeting

After a warm welcome from Andrew Jones, Director at Linking London, delegates heard first Noni Csogor, Research and Policy Manager at The Sixth Form Colleges Association who gave the group an overview of the government’s decision to pause the defunding of applied general qualifications and outlined the revised transition timeline, including delayed defunding and continued availability of diplomas and extended diplomas in most subject areas.

Following this we then heard from Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement Pearson who gave the group a useful overview summarising the key headlines from the government’s consultation response, outlining the proposed structure and purpose of V Levels, the rollout timeline, ongoing uncertainties around design and assessment, and the wider implications for T Levels and Level 2 pathways.

We then heard from Noni again who shared The Sixth Form College Associations response and next steps for the Protect Student Choice Campaign highlighting concerns about the size and flexibility of V Levels, the need for broader subject combinations, and the risks to progression, and confirming that the Protect Student Choice campaign will be retired but collaborative sector engagement will continue.

Lastly attendees had a chance ask any questions and discuss the potential impact on learners and schools, colleges and universities of planned changes to 16-19 level 2 & 3 qualifications.