The new post-16 vocational landscape
The Department for Education (DfE) published the outcome of their review of post-16 qualification reform on 12 December 2025. The review was set up to determine which qualifications will be funded for 16-19 learners in England for the 2025/26 academic year. The funded post-16 qualifications will sit alongside A Levels and T Levels.
Summary
Following a sector-by-sector analysis, qualifications in sectors key to the government’s economic growth mission that were previously scheduled for defunding will continue to receive funding from September 2025 for one or two years depending on the sector, until “reformed alternatives” become more established. Qualifications that overlap with T Levels will also be able to coexist whilst reformed qualifications are developed and improved. The DfE confirmed it is committed to the long-term delivery of T Levels as the large technical qualification of choice for young people.
What does the review mean for OCR Cambridge Technicals in 2025?
The DfE has provided comprehensive guidance on the outcome of the review. Our Level 3 qualifications page sets out at a glance the funding status for our Level 3 vocational qualifications.
OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQs)
Cambridge Advanced Nationals, our new Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualifications are funded for first teach from September 2025. All our Level 3 150 GLH, 180 GLH (AS Level size) and 360 GLH (A Level size) Cycle 1 qualifications can be taken alongside A Levels as a part of a post-16 programme of study.
Rules of combination
A key change is that the DfE have announced that they will not tell providers and students which types of qualifications they can combine. They believe colleges and sixth forms to work with students, employers, higher education and mayors to devise the best mix for each individual and to meet the needs of the local economy. This means AAQs and A levels can be combined in any way as a part of a post-16 programme of study.
Low or no enrolments
The DfE has confirmed that over 200 post-16 qualifications that had either no or below 100 enrolments per year over the last three years will have their funding withdrawn from 1 August 2025. Awarding organisations have had the opportunity to appeal. The following OCR qualifications have not been approved for future funding because they fall into this category.
- Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in Engineering (540GLH)
- Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care (180GLH)
- Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (540GLH)
- Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Applied Science (1080GLH)
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Background
Post-16 level 3 qualifications in England are undergoing major reform. What reforms are taking place? What's already happened? What's still to come? Discover the routes and options available to students from September 2025 including the DfE's plan to approve reformed academic qualifications, known as Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs).
Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualifications - Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQs)
Our new Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualifications - Cambridge Advanced Nationals - are for first teach in September 2025. Our new qualifications will complement existing A Level study programmes by providing students with the practical and essential skills and knowledge they need to better prepare themselves for entry into higher education and university.
Our Post-16 Programme of Study
16 to 19 year old students who want to progress onto further or higher education, but don't want to study only A Levels (or a T Level programme), can choose a mixed study programme. We offer over 30 A Level qualifications alongside vocational qualifications such as our existing Cambridge Technicals which can be supplemented with Core Maths or an EPQ.
Level 2 Post-16 qualifications
The DfE has confirmed it's moving ahead with post-16 level 2 reforms. Its aims are to improve quality and better prepare individuals to progress to further study/training at level 3, or directly into skilled employment in sectors and occupations where level 2 skills are needed. Discover how this affects your current curriculum and existing Level 2 Cambridge Technicals.
Funding Status of our current Cambridge Technicals
The Department for Education published the outcome of their review of post-16 qualification reform in December 2025. The review was set up to determine which qualifications will be funded in England in 2025/26. Check out the funding status of all our Level 3 Cambridge Technicals qualifications on our Level 3 qualifications page.
Get involved in the development - join our teacher panel
Would you like to have your say about the re-development of our new Alternative Academic Qualifications? What should content look like? What support do you need? What's important to you when delivering new qualifications? Sign up to our teacher panel and tell us your thoughts about our qualification re-development. We'd love your feedback.
Frequently asked questions
Browse our frequently asked questions to find answers to some commonly asked questions about post-16 reform including what reform means to you and what's going to happen to Cambridge Technicals. If you have a question that you can't find the answer to, please contact one of our support team on partnerships@cambridge.org
