What is this research project about?
The project aims to better understand how to support learners on Level 2 vocational programmes to complete and successfully progress to a Level 3 programme.Achieving a Level 3 qualification by the age of 19 gives young people more options for work and further study, and is associated with a significant income return compared with achieving only a Level 2. However, in 2023/24 only 57.6% of young people educated in the state sector in year 11 achieved a Level 3 by age 19, falling to just 38.5% among those who had been eligible for free school meals for six years during their schooling. The represents a disadvantage gap of 25 percentage points, which has remained broadly unchanged for 15 years.
What are the benefits of the project?
The research has two key objectives:
- To identify good practice in 16 – 19 providers that enables learners to progress from Level 2 to Level 3 by age 19 within 16 – 19 study programmes
- To investigate what systems, structures or strategies help learners complete a Level 2 qualification by age 17 and successfully progress to a Level 3 qualification that is completed by 19
This qualitative research will be conducted through case study visits to around 20 providers over 18 months, carried out in two rounds. The first 10 visits will focus on producing case studies of existing practice. Interim findings from this round will be published in autumn 2026. These findings will help identify patterns and challenges in supporting learners at Level 2 and inform the focus of the second round of visits. A full report is planned for publication in summer 2027.
What does the project hope to achieve?
Insights from this project will allow organisations like the EEF, the Department for Education and other stakeholders, as well as 16 – 19 training providers, to better understand the systems, structures and strategies that support Level 2 learners complete their programmes and progress to Level 3 learning.
About the research team and the funder
This project is a collaboration between Charlynne Pullen, Principal Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, and the EEF, and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
What happened in this project?
If you are interested in hosting a visit or want to share any information with us about this topic, please contact Charlynne on c.pullen@shu.ac.uk.