Ofqual has launched a new consultation on (what it currently refers to as) ‘alternative academic’ and ‘alternative technical’ qualifications taken post-16.

Proposals cover grading for academic qualifications, and titling for qualifications in both the academic and technical route that sit alongside A Levels and T Levels at Level 3.

For alternative academic qualifications, Ofqual is proposing that awarding organisations should set and mark at least 40% of the assessment to be undertaken by all students, at the same time, and is considering a move to a smaller number of common grading scales in the future.

Changes to titling are proposed in order to clarify the future landscape and help students and other users to navigate and identify these qualifications more easily.

The consultation also covers detailed regulatory requirements including proposals for the requirements around content, assessment, purpose and standards.

This second regulatory consultation forms part of the wider reforms to post-16 qualifications in England, and takes forward the outcomes from a previous Ofqual consultation.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is consulting separately on proposals for the approval of Level 3 alternative technical qualifications.