UA’s response to the Post‑16 Level 3 and Below Pathways Consultation.

Published on January 16, 2026

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University Alliance has responded to the DfE’s Post‑16 Level 3 and Below Pathways Consultation.

To protect student progression, UA are urging a pause to AGQ defunding until V Levels are available.

We broadly welcome the introduction of a third revised pathway at level 3, including the
recognition that each V Level subject will need to have currency with higher education
providers. Applied General Qualifications such as BTECs have been an important lever for
upward mobility and widening access to higher education, which we hope to see replicated
through V Levels.

However, it is vital that the government pauses the defunding of diploma and extended
diploma sized AGQs until V Levels are available and can be scaled alongside T Levels to
meet growing demand and the needs of all types of learners.

V Levels should also be available in larger qualification sizes in some subjects. Without these changes, we are concerned that progression to certain higher education destinations and professions could be affected and there will be a disproportionate impact on some groups of students.

In our response we call on the government to:

• Pause the defunding of diploma and extended diploma sized AQGs until V Levels are
  available.
• Allow some V Levels in large qualification sizes to ensure existing successful
  qualifications can be retained.
• Keep students’ progression pathways at the centre, including by securing UCAS
  recognition of V Levels as quickly as possible and involving HE providers at an early
  stage in developing the outline content, ‘rules of combination’ and IAG on V Levels.
• Accelerate plans to remove duplication from the regulatory system that governs the
  approval of technical qualifications.
• Ensure the pace of reform matches the capacity and readiness within the system to
  design and implement V Levels and expand the range and availability of T Levels.
• Address systemic funding challenges to ensure the post-16 system can
  accommodate growing demand, effectively deliver the skills the UK needs and
  support students from all backgrounds to thrive.

Read our response here.

For further information, please contact Ellie Russell, Deputy Director of Policy
ellie@unialliance.ac.uk