03 November 2025
Will V-levels improve vocational education?
In an article in The Conversation, Elizabeth Gregory from University of Manchester explores what is currently known about the newly-announced V-levels and looks at whether they will improve vocational education.
V-levels are intended to replace many existing technical routes (we’ve seen elsewhere up to 900 quoted as being replaced) for post-16 learners, and enable learners to combine academic and vocational courses, The overall aim is to make vocational pathways clearer.
They will begin in September 2027 as part of a four-year roll-out and the qualifications will be equivalent to one A-level. If this sounds a lot like a BTEC, that may be because they are intended to replace them. V-levels will have much less exam-based assessment than A-levels.
The article argues that, if the new system genuinely allows a combination of academic and vocational qualifications then it could help break down the perceived divide between the routes. However if young people don’t see the parity, or if universities don’t see them as being as robust, then the status of the V-levels will be problematic.
Read the full article on V-levels.
V-levels are intended to replace many existing technical routes (we’ve seen elsewhere up to 900 quoted as being replaced) for post-16 learners, and enable learners to combine academic and vocational courses, The overall aim is to make vocational pathways clearer.
They will begin in September 2027 as part of a four-year roll-out and the qualifications will be equivalent to one A-level. If this sounds a lot like a BTEC, that may be because they are intended to replace them. V-levels will have much less exam-based assessment than A-levels.
The article argues that, if the new system genuinely allows a combination of academic and vocational qualifications then it could help break down the perceived divide between the routes. However if young people don’t see the parity, or if universities don’t see them as being as robust, then the status of the V-levels will be problematic.
Read the full article on V-levels.
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