The government are undertaking a review of what types of qualification will be availabe to 16-18 year old students from September 2025.
The previous Conservative government had planned to significantly change education options at Level 3, due to be effective from September 2025.
They had planned to remove many Level 3 vocational qualifications, leaving a T-Level as the only non-apprenticeship vocational qualification at Level 3 in many subject areas.
Since Labour have been in government, they have announced a review of this plan; the outcome of this review is expected in December 2024.
The review will decide whether to continue with the plan to remove many Level 3 qualifications or whether to keep them running as alternative options to A-Levels, T-Levels and apprenticeships.
While this review takes place, you can continue to apply for any of the Level 3 options at NCD.
If any of these courses are then made unavailable next year, we will get in touch with you to discuss your options.
You can currently apply for the following at Level 3:
Level 3 vocational courses
These two year programmes combined practical learning in workshops and industry-standard facilities with relevant theory. Think hands-on projects, interactive sessions and real-world simulations. You’ll be equipped with the skills and knowledge to hit the ground running in your chosen career.
A-Levels
A-Levels are two year, mainly theory-based courses with exams at the end. You will study three or four subjects which allows you to keep your options open.
A great choice for you if you perform well in exams and want to study more than one subject in depth, and if you want to progress to university.
T-Levels
T-Levels are two-year study programmes aimed at 16-18 year olds, focussing on a core technical subject area. It is a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience, with 80% of your time spent in the classroom and 20% on work-based placements. A T-Level is an equivalent to three A-Levels.
A great choice for you if you know what you would like to do for a career; T-Levels can lead to skilled employment, further study or higher apprenticeships. As they have been allocated UCAS tariff points, they can also provide entry to university.
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a real job with training so you can earn while you learn, and gain nationally recognised qualifications along the way.
Apprenticeships normally take one to four years to complete, depending on the level, and are available across a wide range of different sectors and industries.
Apprenticeships are designed with employers and provide a structured standard that takes you through the skills you need to do a job well. You will be in the workplace for most of the week, as your training takes place on-the-job, and will usually attend college one day a week to study towards nationally recognised qualifications and the end point assessment.
