Responding to reforms with AAQs
The evolving qualifications landscape holds new opportunities for centres, employers and learners.
We've always made it our mission to be at the forefront of industry reforms and emerging qualifications. That's why we're excited to be adding Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) to our portfolio, ready for launch at the start of the 25/26 academic year.
What are AAQs?
AAQs are a new kind of qualification designed to help learners move into higher education with a greater sense of clarity and purpose. They sit alongside Technical Occupation Qualifications (TOQs) as part of significant reforms to the post-16 qualifications landscape.
Alternative Academic Qualifications are scholarly in nature and designed to support progression to further and higher education. So if learners want to head to university, this is the route for them.
Technical Occupation Qualifications develop technical skills and some have an element of work experience to them. Learners who want to get into the workplace sooner rather than later are best taking this route.
AAQs come in two different sizes:
Small AAQs can feature between 150 and 420 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). Our small AAQs have been designed to be studied alongside A levels in a mixed study programme, and have 180GLHs (equivalent to an AS level) and 360GLHs (equivalent to an A level).
Large AAQs can have either 720 or 1080GLHs and are designed to be studied on their own (1080GLH only) or alongside one A level (720GLH only).
Find out more about the differences between our AAQ offerings by downloading this quick reference guide.
Mixed study programmes with TQUK and AQA
To add even more value, we're working closely with our partners at AQA to create an enhanced mixed-study programme offer made up of our AAQs and AQA's A levels. We’re working out the details right now, but – as ever with our approach – meeting the needs of centres and learners is at the heart of what we’re doing. For more information on A level subjects from AQA, please refer to their website here. You can also reach out to us direct at qualifications@tquk.org if you’d like to know more about this unique offering.
What are the post-16 reforms?
The Department for Education (DfE) has spent the last few years casting its eagle eye over the post-16 qualifications landscape. Collaborating with stakeholders across the length and breadth of the educational landscape, they found that the current way of working was causing confusion for learners, who were struggling to understand how the options available helped them advance, and employers, who were finding qualified recruits hard to come by.
As a result, a new system is being introduced with a focus on increasing the value of learning and strengthening pathways into careers. The process is already underway and is split into three distinct phases.
Reform Phases
Phase 1
The Department for Education (DfE) has withdrawn funding from qualifications that have consistently low or no publicly funded enrolments in England.
Phase 2
The DfE has removed funding for 16-19 qualifications that overlap with T Levels, allowing T Levels to thrive.
Phase 3
A new integrated approval process has been introduced for qualifications that will receive public funding for the first time from September 2025. This process establishes quality criteria for all academic and technical qualifications. Only those qualifications that meet these criteria and provide future-oriented skills leading to positive outcomes will be approved.
Throughout the reform process, we’ll be collaborating with a wide range of people to shape the design of each qualification and their resources. Want to get involved? Visit our reforms page!
What’s TQUK’s rollout plan for AAQs?
We couldn’t be more excited to get the ball rolling on AAQs, which is why we’re getting underway as soon as possible. As ever, our approach is to prioritise the most in-demand areas, so Engineering, IT and Health and Social Care qualifications will be in our first cycle, starting in September 2025. A further eight subjects will follow 12 months later.
September 2025
Cycle 1 Qualifications
Engineering •
IT •
Health & Social Care •
September 2026
Cycle 2 Qualifications
Performing Arts • •
Sport • •
Art, Craft & Design • •
Uniformed Protective Services •
Sound Engineering •
Creative Digital Media •
Film and Video Production •
Policing •
• Small AAQ (subject to DfE approval) • Large AAQ (subject to DfE approval)
Looking for support materials?
We’ve got you covered! For the first cycle and before teaching in September 2025 (subject to approval), we want to ensure you have everything you need regarding the AAQs that we’re developing.
In providing you with everything you need, we’ll be publishing specifications for the qualifications below in March, so keep your eyes peeled! Download our latest AAQ factsheets below.
Find out more about AAQs
Get to grips with the AAQs, the reforms and the new qualifications landscape with our free, downloadable quick reference guide and the recordings of our webinars on the subject.
