grade 2- FS level 1

Hi Ilona,

Yes you could do this, only learners who hold a Grade 3/D must continue with GCSE in order to meet CoF so if they have a Grade 2 or lower you have the flexibility to put the learner on what would support the learner.

I would recommend reading the 13.3 - Demonstrating Progression part of 2025 to 2026 academic year: 16 to 19 funding: maths and English condition of funding - GOV.UK which confirms "Stepping stone qualifications are available for those students who have achieved a GCSE Grade 2 or below & are deemed not ready yet to continue towards a Level 2 qualification" which would be Level 2 FS or GCSE.

Our providers take on this is "most" learners should be doing L2 FS/GCSE if they come in with a Grade 2, so we enrol them onto GCSE initially & we allow staff to transfer down (in the first 6 weeks) we don't go down the route of enrolling on L1 & progressing learners up but that's an internal take.

Overall in your example, yes if the curriculum team believes after 2x attempts of GCSE Maths the learner can only get a Grade 2 & they think going down the route of a L1 FS is more appropriate you can do this. I would always trust the curriculums take on this because we're not teachers & they will know their learners/how to get the best out of them.

To confirm if a learner achieved a GCSE Grade 3/D in your example they must now continue with the GCSE or else they will impact your CoF & you will get this line in your Maths and English report: Has Maths GCSE Grade D or Grade 3, Not studying GCSE Maths