Part 1: Skills and Education for Work Technical education qualifications Section 7: Additional powers to approve technical education qualifications
Subsection (1) sets out that this section amends ASCL 2009 to provide the Institute with additional powers to approve technical education qualifications.
	Subsection (2) inserts new sections A2D1 and A2D2. Section A2D1 provides an overview of the framework for approval of technical education qualifications by the Institute. It sets out two schemes for approval of technical education qualifications by the Institute:
The scheme under section A2D3 provides for qualifications that can lead to the award of a technical education certificate by the Secretary of State and in relation to which copyright in relevant course documents can transfer to the Institute (for example, T Levels).
The other scheme (under new section A2D5 inserted by subsection (4)) provides for the approval of new categories of technical education qualification where the Institute does not consider it appropriate for these categories of qualification to be approved under A2D3. Qualifications approved under this scheme are those which do not lead to the award of a technical education certificate by the Secretary of State and in relation to which no copyright may transfer to the Institute on approval.
	New section A2D2 provides for the Institute to specify the categories of technical education qualification that will be approved under new sections A2D3 and A2D5. It sets out requirements for the Institute to publish information showing the categories and their associated requirements. For the categories of qualification approved under section A2D5, the Institute is also required to identify and publish information showing the test against which it will approve qualifications within that category.  The test must be one of the three tests set out in new section A2D5(3)-(5). Section A2D2(7) places a requirement on the Institute to consult prior to specifying the categories, including consultation with the Secretary of State and other appropriate persons (for example, employers).
	Subsection (3) amends section A2D3 (as renumbered) of ASCL 2009 as a consequence of the provision for the Institute to specify categories of technical education qualification.
	Subsection (4) inserts new section A2D5 which gives the Institute the power to approve technical education qualifications within the categories that will be approved via the scheme described in paragraph 56.ii. It sets out the circumstances in which the Institute may approve such qualifications and the tests that it must apply. To be approved, a qualification must meet the employer demand test (A2D5(6)) as well as the appropriate test for its category (A2D5(3)-(5)). The tests under sections A2D5(3)-(5) provide for the approval of qualifications that relate to employer-led standards in different ways. They set out the outcomes that must be attained when a person obtains the qualification. The outcomes are contained in employer-led standards or relate to occupations that are published by the Institute.
	New sections A2D6 and A2D7 allow the Institute to make any arrangements that it considers appropriate to ensure that technical education qualifications are available for approval. The sections provide the supplemental powers that the Institute needs to run its scheme of qualifications approval, including the ability to withdraw approval.
	Section A2D6(4) places a requirement on the Institute to publish the matters it will take into consideration when making decisions about approval and or withdrawal under either section A2D3 or new section A2D5. These criteria may differ depending on the category or occupation that the technical education qualification relates to. New section A2D7 sets out requirements in relation to publication of information regarding approved qualifications. This includes information about how approved qualifications relate to occupations published under section ZA10(5). Under section A2D7(3) the Secretary of State may make regulations authorising the Institute to charge fees in connection with approvals.
	New section A2D8 places a duty on the Institute to review approved technical education qualifications at regular intervals and to publish information about when the reviews will occur. In conducting such reviews, the Institute will determine whether each qualification should continue to be approved, whether approval should be withdrawn or whether qualifications should be revised.
	New section A2D9 allows the Institute to impose a moratorium on the approval under A2D5 of qualifications of a particular kind, should it determine that there is an appropriate number of qualifications of that kind already approved. It sets out a requirement for the Institute to consult the Secretary of State in relation to the introduction and ending of a moratorium. The purpose of this power is to give the Institute an additional function to manage the proliferation of technical education qualifications.
	Subsections (5) and (6) make amendments to ASCL 2009 which are consequential on there now being more than one scheme for approval.
	Subsection (7) inserts new section A12 which provides for interpreting chapter A1 of ASCL 2009.