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CAVA: The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper: What it means for Adult Learners and Access to HE

Introduction The Department for Education’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out an ambitious programme to reshape England’s skills system. It places employers at the heart of planning, strengthens regional responsiveness, and expands opportunities for adults to study flexibly throughout their lives. For the many adults who begin their higher education journey through the Access to HE Diploma, this reform agenda is significant. It opens new pathways, particularly through modular learning, while placing greater expectations on providers to demonstrate how their provision contributes to local and national workforce needs. A Changing Skills Landscape The White Paper, alongside the updated Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Guidance published in November 2025, sets a direction of travel that will shape the environment in which Access to HE operates. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), developed by Employer Representative Bodies and Strategic Authorities, will incr...

When adults learn, everyone benefits: CAVA celebrates Get The Nation Learning Week

As Get The Nation Learning Week draws to a close, this week reminded us just how transformative education can be - for individuals, communities, and society. CAVA is proud to be part of around 100 organisations supporting the Get The Nation Learning campaign, led by the Learning and Work Institute. This brilliant campaign is built on one simple idea: when adults learn, everyone benefits – individuals, communities, and the whole economy. This growing movement includes organisations including Channel 4, the National Housing Federation, and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Access to HE Diplomas help adults take their next step into higher education, opening doors to new opportunities and careers. But we also know that opening that door can be incredibly challenging. Many adult learners face real barriers, financial pressures, family commitments, self-doubt, and simply finding the time. That’s why our providers play such a vital role. They meet learners and offer enco...

A Small Mark. A Big Future: New Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness of Access to Higher Education Diplomas

Every year, adults across the UK begin transformative journeys, returning to education, building confidence, and stepping into new careers. For many, the Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is the route that makes this possible: a nationally recognised one-year qualification designed to help adults progress to university, no matter their background. Yet thousands of potential learners - and even some educators -still don’t know this route exists. That’s why the Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA) has launched Pass the Mark, a new initiative designed to spread the word and spark new opportunities. At the centre of the campaign is a simple object with a powerful purpose: a bookmark. Each bookmark features a QR code that links to clear, accessible information about Access to HE, how it works, and how to get started. People are encouraged to pass it on - to colleagues, students, friends, family members, or anyone who might benefit. “Access to HE made me feel like I was not only c...

Celebrating Access to HE success: Nominations now open for the CAVA Awards 2025

We’re delighted to launch the CAVA Awards 2025, our annual celebration of the dedication, ambition, and achievements of Access to HE students and tutors. Recognising Student Excellence This year, tutors are invited to nominate students in the following two categories: Outstanding Academic Achievement Outstanding Commitment to Study These awards recognise students who have gone above and beyond-whether through academic excellence, determination, or personal growth during their Access to HE Diploma journey. Students are eligible for nomination if they are enrolled on an Access to HE course at the time of submission. Nominations must be submitted via the online nomination form by Monday 6 October 2025. To support tutors, we’ve also created a guidance document with helpful tips for completing the form. Please note: You’ll need to obtain the student’s permission before submitting any personal details to CAVA, and students must also complete a separate consent form confirming they’re ha...

Reflections on moving from HE to Access: Graeme Naylor, CAVA Director of Quality and Development

I joined CAVA in October 2024, after spending nearly twenty years working in a variety of more traditional and post-1992 public higher education institutions in England, as well as a private college. All of my working life until now has been spent in higher education. I have often worked alongside colleagues in further education institutions, mainly through longstanding partnerships, so I have long been aware of the sector, its positives and the challenges it faces. I also have experience of providing quality assurance advice, guidance and regulatory support to colleagues and students involved in Level 3 provision in universities. This last point in particular makes the move into Access to HE an interesting challenge. I was attracted to the role at CAVA as I feel very much aligned to CAVA's values, aims and mission . The themes of continuous improvement, integrity, transparency, inclusivity and acting as critical friends to colleagues in the sector all cut across the work I ...

The Lifelong Learning Revolution: A Thought Piece

CAVA staff were pleased to be part of an international audience of over 900 people who attended the QAA online Conference ‘High Quality Life-long Learning for All’ in September 2024. The event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including university faculty, media representatives and a fireside chat with Professor Dame Alison Wolf, Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, a key figure in the implementation of the 2023 Lifelong Learning Act. The conference focused on the impact of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement which comes into effect from September 2025. The QAA Conference highlighted the transformative potential of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) in reshaping the landscape of education and training in the UK. As the LLE approaches implementation, it's important for FE and HE providers to understand its implications and prepare accordingly. The LLE presents an opportunity to rethink traditional educational approaches. Instead of focusing solely on pre-career learning, institu...