GovWire

This report previously called the Qualifications Price Index (QPI) aims to support competition in the market by highlighting annual price changes across the sector.

Key findings

• Average qualification price rises were below general consumer price inflation between 2021 and 2022 as well as 2022 and 2023.
• In February 2023, the average price of a General Qualification (GQ) (GCSEs, AS and A levels) was 57.28 and the average price of a Vocational and Technical Qualification (VTQ) was 64.82.
  • GQs consist of GCSEs, AS and A levels.
  • VTQs consist of all qualifications other than GQs and apprenticeship end-point assessments. Example of VTQs include, but are not limited to, T Level Technical Qualifications, BTECs, Cambridge Nationals and Performing Arts Graded Examinations.
• GQ prices rose by 2.6% between 2021 and 2022 and 6.5% between 2022 and 2023.
  • A levels had the highest price rises in both periods 2.7% between 2021 and 2022 and 6.7% between 2022 and 2023.
• VTQ prices rose by 1.2% between 2021 and 2022 and 4.7% between 2022 and 2023.
  • The sector subject area Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care had the highest rise between 2021 and 2022 (4.6%) while Education and Training had the highest rise between 2022 and 2023 (7.5%).
  • Level 1/Level 2 VTQs experienced the highest price rises between 2021 and 2022 (2.3%) while entry level VTQs had the highest rises between 2022 and 2023 (6.1%).