Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were enrolled on courses leading to Higher Technical Qualifications in the academic years 2023–4 and 2024–5.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of September 2025, there were 281 qualifications approved as Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). These encompass thirteen occupational routes:
The list of approved qualifications is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-higher-technical-qualifications.
In the 2023/24 academic year, the second year of the HTQ rollout, the department estimates that 4,370 students were enrolled on HTQs based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and Individualised Learner Record student records.
Data covering participation and completion rates for HTQs in the 2024/25 academic year is not currently available.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many qualifications are currently approved as Higher Technical Qualifications.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of September 2025, there were 281 qualifications approved as Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). These encompass thirteen occupational routes:
The list of approved qualifications is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-higher-technical-qualifications.
In the 2023/24 academic year, the second year of the HTQ rollout, the department estimates that 4,370 students were enrolled on HTQs based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and Individualised Learner Record student records.
Data covering participation and completion rates for HTQs in the 2024/25 academic year is not currently available.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the procedures required for recognition as a Higher Technical Qualification have been changed, or are in line to be changed, as a result of (1) the creation of Skills England and the abolition of the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education, and (2) the transfer of Skills England to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Following its creation, Skills England continues to accept Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) applications on a rolling basis. This function moved with Skills England when it transferred to be an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).