Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath on 21 October (HL Deb col 679), when they expect to launch and publish the public consultation on V Levels; and whether that consultation will set out how universitie
Answer
The government consulted on the policy design and principles for V levels between October 2025 and January 2026, and published its response in March 2026. It set out our ambition that once all V levels are introduced and in steady delivery, a student will be equally likely to progress into level 4+ study whether they take A levels or V levels. In September 2026, UCAS confirmed that V levels will attract the same UCAS tariff points as A levels at grades A* to E. We are now progressing detailed subject content development for V Levels, working closely with higher education institutions, providers, awarding organisations and employers to support students to progress into higher education. The department published the national subject content in July 2026 for the first V levels that will be taught from September 2026, following public consultation. Further consultations for V levels content will take place in November 2026. Further context is available at: https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2288333/details .
Verdict: AMBER (46/100)
The reply gives a concrete timing for the next round of V levels consultations (November 2026), though it does not clearly confirm that the consultation will be launched then. On the question of how universities will treat V levels, it says they will carry the same UCAS tariff points as A levels, but it does not say whether the consultation will set out university admissions treatment. The asker would likely need to seek further detail on the consultation's scope and the university position before feeling fully answered.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the Government expects to launch and publish the public consultation on V Levels. | Addressed | Direct | The reply gives a concrete date for the next round of V levels consultations (November 2026), which is the closest available answer to when the consultation will be launched. It does not name the consultation as a 'public consultation on V Levels' in those exact words, and it does not confirm the timing has been set, so the match is not certain. |
| Whether that consultation will set out how universities would be treated under V Levels (the question text is truncated in the source, so the exact wording after "how universities" is not available). | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply says V levels will carry the same UCAS tariff points as A levels, which bears on how universities would treat them for admissions. It never says whether the consultation will set out university treatment, and the item's truncated wording limits how fully it can be matched. |