We are asking learners for their views on changes we are planning to make to the design of ESW qualifications in:
- application of number
- communication
- digital literacy
Our consultation covers:
- what these qualifications are for and what they aim to achieve
- what knowledge and skills these qualifications include
- how these qualifications will be assessed
- what these qualifications will be called
Key changes we are proposing:
- Remove ESW qualifications at Level 3 in all subjects.
- Remove ESW qualifications at Entry 1 and Entry 2 in Digital Literacy.
For each subject, we will ask how removing these qualifications might affect learners and others.
When creating these proposals, we looked at:
- how ESW qualifications are used now
- how they compare to similar qualifications in England (Functional Skills) and Scotland (Core Skills)
We want to hear what you think. Share your views by 5 February 2026.
