Schools, colleges and training providers take a broad view and consider a range of factors when deciding which vocational and technical (VTQ) qualifications to offer to 16-19 year olds.

Findings from a recent Ofqual-commissioned survey indicate that students’ needs, the capacity or facilities of the individual educational establishment, and the needs of employers are all drivers of centres’ choice for VTQs.

While all three feature in decision-making, the research indicated that meeting students’ needs and serving their interests is a common priority across educational settings. Students interests, the intrinsic educational value of qualifications, and how qualifications position learners for further study commonly and consistently influenced choices across centre types. This shared commitment to students prompted centres to continue offering courses, even when they were not financially viable.

Across all types of centres, staff regularly reviewed their offer and made decisions to change qualifications.

When choosing awarding organisations, very similar sets of factors were reported across the different centre types. Course content and the ability to tailor it to students, results and the reputation of the qualification, and awarding organisation, were the main reasons that centres chose a particular awarding organisation’s qualification.

More than 500 responses to the survey from across England were received from people in a range of roles and from all of the main types of provider of VTQs. Responses related predominantly to Level 3 qualifications and to a range of subject areas.