Memorandum 100

 

Submission from Edexcel

 

Dear colleague,

 

This letter constitutes Edexcel's evidence to the Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee's inquiry into the Government's decision to phase out support given to institutions for students taking second qualifications of an equivalent or lower level (ELQs) to their first qualifications.

Edexcel understand that the Government's key priorities are to increase and widen participation and to support fairness and the growth in high level skills, and that funding will follow these priorities. We appreciate that as a result of this, the decision has been made to phase out funding given to institutions for students taking second qualifications of an equivalent or lower level to their first qualifications.

We support the measures suggested in the consultation that will ensure continued to support certain types of qualifications, and certain types of students; qualifications in strategically important and vulnerable subjects, and support for part-time opportunities. We also support the intention to exempt Foundation Degrees from the withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level qualifications.

We strongly feel however, that Higher National qualifications should also be exempt. They also offer a route for students who wish to acquire new skills for use in the workplace. They are popular with both students, and recognised and valued by employers. Edexcel work with employers and their representatives in order to develop these qualifications and they are, like the Fd, designed to give students the technical and professional skills in demand from employers. HNs have offered work-related skills to students through Edexcel (BTEC) in England, (and in Scotland by SQA), in one form or another, for at least the past 30 years. Over 45,000 students have registered for an HN this year so far.

In addition to this, in order to up-skill the workforce, a range of appropriate qualifications is needed. This is especially so at higher levels where individuals are likely to have a clearer and more sophisticated idea of what they require. We believe that protecting both the Fd and the HN will ensure continued choice for students.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

Siān Owen

Policy Development Manager