GovWire

Before submitting the level 2 technical qualification, we ask that you register that you are intending to submit a technical qualification by 5 June 2023.

Having this information from the level 3 registration process has given us an early indication of the number and type of qualifications that will be submitted. This helped us to plan and process the submissions more efficiently. It also allows us to make sure you understand the process and provide clarification if you need it.

Completing this registration is not mandatory but we ask for your participation to facilitate planning and to help us deliver a quality service.

For additional specialist technical qualifications, if the specialist area is not on IfATEs predefined list you will need to submit a proposal.

The window to submit proposals will open on the 19 June 2023.

You need to submit proposals by 30 June 2023.

The single access point for awarding organisations submitting qualifications for approval has more information.

Technical qualifications must be submitted using the form for technical qualifications.

The submission window will open on 13 November 2023 and close on 24 November 2023.

IfATE will provide more information about the submission process.

Before submitting the qualification, you need to ensure that the qualification is within your scope of recognition.

Within the form, you will be asked to provide information that IfATE, Ofqual and DfE will require to complete their respective reviews, such as qualification related materials.

More information about the evidence required is outlined below.

The qualification has evidence of demand

For the common approval criteria the qualification has evidence of demand, you must submit evidence a qualification has demand from colleges and other training organisations.

You need to ensure that the evidence:

• clearly shows the qualification that it relates to (qualification title)
• is from a college or other training organisation that has an current Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding agreement
• relates to demand through 16 to 19 study programmes, skills fund (or, if it is an existing qualification, adult education budget) or advanced learner loans evidence for traineeships or apprenticeships will not be accepted
• shows demand for at least 100 enrolments in a funding year this demand can be across multiple colleges or other training organisations
• show what the expected demand will be and the time it will take to get to that level of demand if it is a new qualification
• show what the level of demand was in the last funding year if it is a new qualification that is replacing an existing qualification (funding years are from August to July)

Where the demand cannot reach at least 100 enrolments in a funding year, you will need to provide:

• a rationale with supporting evidence for why demand is less than 100, for example, because the qualification leads to entry into an occupation that is highly specialist with a low number of people employed each year or where employees work seasonally
• information about what the expected level of demand will be

In order to begin the process of reviewing a qualification for funding approval we will require confirmation from Ofqual that the qualification submitted is within your scope of recognition.

We advise you to:

• check your scope of recognition before submitting qualifications for funding approval
• if necessary, apply to Ofqual to expand your scope of recognition before submitting a qualification for funding approval

For technical qualifications at level 2, you must ensure you are recognised by Ofqual to offer qualifications at level 2 in the associated SSA.

If the qualification is not within your scope of recognition it will not be considered for funding approval.

Once your scope of recognition is confirmed we will use the information you provide in your submission for technical qualification to undertake our funding approval review.

Adding qualifications to the Ofqual Register

For level 2 technical qualifications, on 14 June 2024, prior to completing the funding approval review, we will take a download of the information held on Ofquals Register of Regulated Qualifications.

Qualifications submitted to the funding approval process as technical qualifications should be added to the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications between 27 May 2024 and 13 June 2024 as new qualifications. These qualif

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