Part 1Apprenticeships, study and training

CHAPTER A1Apprenticeships and technical education: England

Technical education qualifications

F1A2D2Categories of technical education qualification

(1)

The F2Secretary of State—

(a)

may specify one or more categories of technical education qualification in relation to England that may be approved under section A2D3, and

(b)

may specify one or more categories of technical education qualification in relation to England that may be approved under section A2D5.

(2)

The F2Secretary of State may specify a category under subsection (1)(b) only if F3the Secretary of State considers that it would not be appropriate for qualifications in the category to be approved under section A2D3.

(3)

For any category specified under subsection (1)(b), the F2Secretary of State must specify which of the following is the appropriate test for the purposes of section A2D5—

(a)

the alternative approval test (see section A2D5(3));

(b)

the additional specialist competence test (see section A2D5(4));

(c)

the significant outcomes test (see section A2D5(5)).

(4)

The F2Secretary of State may revise or withdraw any category specified under subsection (1).

(5)

A technical education qualification does not cease to be approved merely because the category is revised or withdrawn under subsection (4).

(6)

The F2Secretary of State must publish information showing—

(a)

the categories of technical education qualification that are for the time being specified under subsection (1), and

(b)

for each category, whether qualifications in the category may be approved under section A2D3 or A2D5 and, if under section A2D5, the appropriate test.

(7)

Before specifying a category of qualification under this section, the F2Secretary of State must consult F4such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.