Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason level 3 travel and tourism qualifications will not be funded after 2025; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of this decision on (a) the North East and (b) Newcastle.

The department has embarked on a technical education reform programme. The changes to post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below are designed to ensure that our qualifications system provides opportunity for young people from all backgrounds. We want as many people as possible to undertake world class A levels and T Levels, as evidence shows these qualifications provide the best foundation from which to progress either into higher education (HE), or skilled employment.

Data shows that, in the following year, of the approximately 3,100 16-18 students who completed a level 3 qualification in Travel and Tourism in 2018/19:

• Only 16% progressed into HE, of which just under half (44%) moved into Travel and Tourism related HE study.
• Just under half (45%) moved purely into employment, in a mixed range of sectors, including retail and wholesale (30%), hospitality (24%), administration (10%), health and social care (8%), and transport (6%).
• 26% of students went on to further further education study, the majority (64%) in the same area.

This shows mixed progression outcomes for these qualifications. Specifying that newly developed travel and tourism-related qualifications must be based on employer-designed, approved occupational standards at level 3 will ensure that students gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours employers in the travel and tourism industries need, leading to better and more consistent progression outcomes for young people.

The department will continue to fund travel and tourism qualifications at level 3 beyond 2025. Existing travel and tourism qualifications will remain funded until 31 July 2026, after which qualifications approved for funding in travel and tourism will need to be mapped against one of the relevant occupational standards at level 3 for technical qualifications. Further information can be accessed at: https://occupational-maps.instituteforapprenticeships.org/.

For future qualifications, the department is encouraging awarding organisations to work with schools, colleges and employers to develop new travel and tourism focused technical qualifications at level 3 which support young people to enter employment or further technical study.