Post-16 L2 and L3 Qualifications 2027 Proposed Subject Content Consultation
Summary
The Department for Education is consulting on proposed subject content for new post-16 qualifications at levels 2 and 3, first taught from September 2027. The consultation covers foundation certificates (digital systems and data; education and early years), occupational certificates (early years practitioners; culinary skills; hospitality), and V Levels (digital systems and data; education; accounting and finance as part of legal, finance and accounting route). Responses are being accepted until 11:59pm on 4 June 2026, with final subject content published in July 2026.
“We are seeking views on the proposed subject content for new qualifications at level 2 and level 3 to be first taught from September 2027.”
Awarding organisations planning to offer these new qualifications should treat the 4 June 2026 comment close date as the key internal deadline for preparing and submitting consultation responses. Schools and colleges currently delivering equivalent qualifications at L2 and L3 should begin mapping potential curriculum transitions to the new framework, as delivery is first scheduled for September 2027.
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What changed
This consultation proposes subject content for new post-16 pathways at levels 2 and 3, including foundation certificates, occupational certificates, and V Levels across digital, education, early years, culinary, hospitality, and accounting and finance routes. Awarding organisations intending to offer these new qualifications should review the proposed content and submit responses via the consultation portal. Schools, colleges, further education institutions, and employers are also encouraged to provide input.
Affected parties should note the June 2026 comment deadline and that Ofqual is conducting a parallel consultation on the regulatory framework for these qualifications. Institutions planning curriculum for the 2027-28 academic year should monitor for the final subject content publication in July 2026.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Open consultation
Post-16 L2 and L3 qualifications: 2027 proposed subject content
From: Department for Education Published 23 April 2026 Get emails about this page
Applies to England
Summary
We are seeking views on the proposed subject content for new qualifications at level 2 and level 3 to be first taught from September 2027.
This consultation is being held on another website.
This consultation closes at
**
11:59pm on 4 June 2026
**
Consultation description
We have worked with experts and stakeholders to develop subject content for new post-16 pathways at:
- level 2 - foundation certificates and occupational certificates
level 3 - V Levels
We’re seeking consultation responses on the proposed content for the first routes in the 2027 to 2028 academic year for:foundation certificates:
- digital systems and data
- education and early years
occupational certificates:
- early years practitioners
- culinary skills
- hospitality
V Levels:
- digital systems and data
- education
- accounting and finance (as part of legal, finance and accounting route) The consultation is for anyone with an interest in post-16 education for 16 to 19-year-olds in England. This includes but is not limited to:
awarding organisations who intend to offer foundation certificates, occupational certificates and V Levels, and their representative bodies
schools, colleges, students, and their representative bodies
further and higher education institutions and their representative bodies
employers and their representative bodies
We will take into account the findings from the responses when finalising the final subject content. The final subject content will be available in July 2026.
Ofqual’s consultation on the regulatory framework for these qualifications is also available.
Find out what these qualification levels mean in England.
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Published 23 April 2026
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