New entitlement for people under 25 to free training up to A level or equivalent

The entitlement was proposed in the FE White Paper last year, and will be introduced from August 2007.

The new entitlement is supported by an expanded Adult Learning Grant (ALG), funding for both of which was announced in the Budget on 23 March 2006.

Examples of Level 3 qualifications are:

• NVQs at Level 3
• two or more A-levels, including vocational
  A-levels
• one or more A-level double awards
• Access to HE certificate (regulated by QAA)
• OCR National Diplomas and Extended National
  Diplomas
• Edexcel National Certificates and National
  Diplomas
• International Baccalaureate

Provision can be full or part -time.

Funding for apprenticeships for 19-25 year olds is unaffected by this new entitlement.

The new entitlement will be available from colleges of further education and other providers of high quality education and training who have satisfied the Learning and Skills Council quality assurance process.

For further information on the Level 3 Entitlement contact Kevin Street (Kevin.Street@lsc.gov.uk).

Text added 23 May 2007