AQA’s new Tech-level qualifications created to tackle skills shortages will count towards performance tables from 2018, the Department for Education has confirmed.

AQA developed the new Tech-level qualifications in collaboration with employers, professional bodies including Siemens and the Chartered Institute of Marketing and schools and colleges. They were designed to give students a greater choice and to help meet demand from employers for young people with work-based skills.

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Carole Bishop, AQA Head of Technical and Vocational Qualifications, said: “AQA made the decision to create our new Tech-levels in response to schools and colleges wanting motivational qualifications for students and employers wanting more work-ready young people. DfE has recognised the value of our vocational qualifications by including all of our Tech-levels on their list.

“After two years of designing, structuring, and concept testing, we have a suite of class-leading Tech-levels that are totally up-to-date, relevant and on a par with A-levels. We’ll be setting young people up with the right knowledge and skills to hit the ground running.”

A key feature of the Tech-levels is that students are taught and assessed on crucial transferable skills such as team working and communication. Young people with Tech-levels will be able to go straight into employment, a higher or advanced apprenticeship, or on to university.

The qualifications are backed by industry and designed to address skills gaps in Business, Engineering and IT. Tech-levels are available in subjects including: Marketing, Cyber Security, Design Engineering and Entertainment Technology.