We wanted to share a clear update about the current NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Art and Design.
NCFE has confirmed that this qualification is being withdrawn as part of a wider NCFE portfolio review.
Please do not worry. All learners who are currently enrolled with us on this course, and who have either paid for their course in full or have a current active subscription, will be registered with NCFE for the above course, if they have not already been registered.
Key dates
Final NCFE registration date: 31 July 2026
Final certificate claim date: 31 July 2028
Learners registered on this qualification will have until summer 2028 to complete the course, with the final deadline for us to claim certificates being 31 July 2028.
This means that learners who are registered by NCFE’s final registration date can continue working towards the qualification, with certificate claims available until 31 July 2028.
What this means for current Aced learners
For our Aced learners, there is no immediate change to your course access, support or marking.
Learners should continue working through their modules as normal. We will continue to support registered learners through the qualification and keep families updated with any further information where needed.
Learners will need to complete their current course by no later than Summer 2028. This is a deadline imposed by NCFE and therefore cannot be extended. Please see below if you have any concerns regarding completing within this timeframe.
As always, our aim is to make the process as calm and straightforward as possible.
What this means for new learners
For new learners, we will be following NCFE’s suggested alternative, the NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft: Art and Design. NCFE lists this as a suitable alternative to the current Level 2 Certificate in Art and Design.
This course will be available from September 2026, if not before, and will become our new Art and Design option. It will continue to offer learners a portfolio-based, exam-free, online qualification route with us.
The Creative Craft qualification is a strong alternative. We are already planning to offer the Creative Craft: Textiles option from September, and the Creative Craft set of qualifications is something I have previous experience delivering over a number of years, both in a mainstream school setting and as an online option for home-educated learners.
Completion timescales
While it is disappointing that the current qualification is being replaced, qualification withdrawals and updates do happen from time to time with awarding bodies.
We are disappointed that we will not be able to offer the usual three years to complete this course for newer learners enrolled on the course, due to NCFE’s final certificate claim date. However, our terms and conditions do explain that we are bound by awarding body requirements, policies and deadlines.
We hope this still gives learners enough time to plan and complete their course over the next 26 months, which is broadly in line with the usual timescale for completing a GCSE-style course in its entirety.
However, if you have any concerns about completing within this timeframe, please do get in touch. In some cases, there may be the option to transfer to the new Creative Craft: Art and Design qualification, where learners may have a little longer to complete.
Please contact us through the portal or by email if you have any questions or concerns.
You can reach us at ac****************@*****ok.com or via our website contact form, we’re always happy to answer any questions.
