AQA supports new V Levels and stepping stone qualifications
AQA stands ready to work with colleges and post-16 providers to introduce new vocational qualifications, including V Levels.
Published
Tuesday 10 Mar 2026
AQA supports new V Levels and stepping stone qualifications
AQA stands ready to work with colleges and post-16 providers to introduce new vocational qualifications, including V Levels, following the Government’s announcement today.
As the UK’s biggest exam board, we also welcome the new consultation which seeks to provide stepping stone qualifications for pupils who are preparing to resit English and maths GCSEs.
Young people will be able to start studying for the first V Levels in education, finance, and digital skills in September 2027, under the reforms to post-16 education announced today.
V Levels will sit alongside A-levels and T Levels and will be equivalent in size to one A-level, allowing students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they’re unsure where to specialise. The Government also confirmed the introduction of new level 2 qualifications, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates.
AQA’s CEO Colin Hughes said: “We stand ready to work with the post-16 sector to introduce V Levels, expand opportunities for post-16 students and transform technical and vocational education.
“Action taken to tackle the repeated cycles of resits is especially welcome as we know this a significant problem that impacts large numbers of students each year. We must support them to secure the skills needed to progress to their chosen careers or further learning.”
Find out more about the two consultations here: