The government is planning to introduce vocational GCSEs, in place of BTECs, with business management and finance among subjects for the new curriculum.

Vocational GCSEs could be available from September 2029 ‘in some subjects’, the Department for Education said, including business management & finance, creative media production, digital technology, child development, and building and construction.

‘The same size as GCSEs, these new qualifications will be nationally set, with subject content based on subject expert advice. Assessment and grading will be regulated by Ofqual to ensure full parity with traditional GCSEs,’ the Department for Education said.

The government stressed the qualifications will be created to ‘sit alongside traditional GCSEs and will replace the current Technical Awards’.

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