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Open Consultations

AoC Policy Team regularly respond to government consultations, Select Committee Inquiries and Calls for Evidence throughout the year on behalf of the sector across a breadth of issues impacting colleges, staff and students to ensure the voice of colleges is continually represented.

We strongly recommend colleges feedback to the Policy Team and submit their own responses to the current open consultations listed below:

Key stage 4 performance measures and Targeted RISE extension

Department for Education (DfE) is seeking views on proposals to improve key stage 4 academic performance measures and to extend school improvement support from the DfE's Targeted RISE service.

Closing date: 4 May 2026.

Feedback to Cath Sezen

Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school and colleges

This consultation proposes new guidance for managing medical conditions and allergies in schools. One of the consultation questions asks about extending to colleges some statutory duties, for example a duty to publish a medicines policy and to produce Individual Healthcare Plans.

AoC has published a draft response here.

Closing date: 15 May 2026.

Comments to David Holloway

SEND reform: putting children and young people first

Proposed changes to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, including: early, local and fair support, effectively grounded in evidence, and with shared accountabilities across local partners.

Closing date: 18 May 2026

Feedback to David Holloway

Growing up in the online world: a national consultation

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) national social media consultation. Focused on consent and access, mainly pre-16s, but it may be of interest to college staff and students. We think it is important to stress digital and media literacy so young people are well-equipped to deal with social media.

Closing date: 26 May 2026.

Feedback to Cath Sezen

16–19 Level 1 English and Maths Qualifications

Department for Education (DfE) consultation on plans for new 'stepping stone' qualifications for 16-19 students with grade 2 or below in GCSE English and maths to make progress towards achieving GCSE grade 4+.

The questions cover cohort, qualification structure, content, achievement and grading and equalities impacts.

Closing date: 2 June 2026.

Feedback to Cath Sezen and Nina Chorzelewski

Post-16 L2 and L3 qualifications: 2027 proposed subject content

Department for Education (DfE) content consultation for the first V Levels and Foundation Certificates across education and early years, finance and accounting, digital and hospitality and catering.

Closing date: 4 June 2026.

Feedback to Cath Sezen and Nina Chorzelewski

Industry Training Board reform

Department for Work & Pensions consultation on proposal to bring together the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to create a single, unified Industry Training Board (ITB) to act on behalf of the construction and engineering construction sectors. The consultation also seeks initial views on 2 areas for future ITB reform.

Closing date 14 June.

Feedback to Claire Barker

Regulating post-16 vocational and technical qualifications at Levels 2 and 3

Ofqual consultation on assessment for the new qualifications. This includes details on grading and assessment design for V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates. It also covers a proposal to introduce greater flexibility for T Level core assessment retakes.

Closing date: 2 July 2026.

Feedback to Cath Sezen and Nina Chorzelewski

Office for Students consultation on consumer protection

The Office for Students (OfS) is proposing stronger protections for students to ensure institutions are treating them fairly. The new ongoing condition C6 will replace condition C1 (on compliance with consumer protection law) and removal of condition C3 (on student protection plans).

These proposals will apply to higher education students at colleges.

Closing date 9 July 2026

Please contact Arti Saraswat to share your views.