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Ryan Davies
Growth Relationship Team Leader
T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.
T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.
T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).
In time, students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas:
The first 3 T Levels are now available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.
A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021 with the remaining courses starting in either 2022 or 2023.
GOV.UK have published a list of the providers who are offering T Level courses up to September 2022.
T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside:
GOV.UK are currently reviewing post-GCSE qualifications to create a simpler, high-quality system that students, parents and employers will all understand.
T Levels are based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). We expect the total time for a T Level to be around 1,800 hours over the 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses.
This differs from an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who know what occupation they want to pursue, want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.
Employers and providers have been working together to develop each T Level, with support from DfE and the Institute. Groups of employers have defined the skills and requirements for each T Level course by participating in T Level panels. This ensures that students taking T Levels will develop the technical knowledge and skills required by employers in that industry.
The T Level panels have developed the content for the qualification, based on the same standards as apprenticeships and these plans are then tested and reviewed with students, education providers and employers.
The technical qualifications for the first 3 T Levels have now been approved by the Institute and accredited by Ofqual for teaching from September 2020. These are in:
T Level courses include the following compulsory elements:
Every T Level includes an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. These will last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer. Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary.
Providers will support employers offering industry placements. This will include assistance with the necessary paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and National Apprenticeship Service (part of ESFA) are working with employers and providers on industry placements.
Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements can contact 08000 150 600, email tlevel.placement@education.gov.uk or visit the employer section of the T Levels website.
Students who complete their T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. They will get a nationally recognised certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.
The T Level certificate will include:
It will also include confirmation that the student has:
A student’s overall T Level grade will be worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialism(s).
Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level will get a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.
T Levels will provide several progression options to students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and higher education.
To help T Level students get into higher education, UCAS tariff points will be allocated to T Levels.
UCAS points will only be allocated to the overall T Level grade. Students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.
| UCAS tariff points | T Level overall grade | A level |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism) | AAA* |
| 144 | Distinction | AAA |
| 120 | Merit | BBB |
| 96 | Pass (C or above on the core) | CCC |
| 72 | Pass (D or E on the core) | DDD |
We recognise that significant additional funding will be needed for the successful introduction and delivery of T Levels.
We have already announced additional funding of £500 million a year, once T Levels are fully rolled out, to help providers meet the costs of additional teaching hours and organising industry placements.
Eligible providers will be able to apply for funding for up-to-date equipment and facilities. They will also be able to access training to help prepare their teachers and leaders.
We have now published how we intend to fund T Levels, visit T Levels: next steps for providers for more information.
The first T Level courses start in these subject areas:
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
If you’re interested in finding out more, visit our T Levels website where you can add your postcode to find colleges, schools or other providers who’ll be offering the first 3 T Levels in 2020.
Watch our industry placement videos to hear from students and employers who have benefited from industry placements. Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements, can contact 0800 0150 600, email tlevel.placement@education.gov.uk or visit the employer section of the T Level website.
Read the T Level action plan for detailed information about how we’re developing the T Level qualifications for post-16 students.
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Ryan Davies
Growth Relationship Team Leader
Fiona Anderson
Growth Relationship Manager
Karen Tyrrell
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Matthew Heath
Recovery Grant Project Manager
Jonathan Alderman
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Luke West
Business Growth Executive
Andrew Kerry-Bedell
Interim Growth Relationship Manager
Richard Butcher
Interim Growth Relationship Manager
Carolyn Bentley
Interim Growth Relationship Manager
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