Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
T levels are new technical qualifications which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A...
Conclusion
T levels are new technical qualifications which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A levels.23 In May 2018, the then Permanent Secretary at the Department had concerns about the feasibility of delivering T levels by the target date of 2020. He requested, and was given, a ministerial direction to proceed to that timetable.24 Delivery of the first three T levels – in construction, digital, and education and childcare – started on time in September 2020, with further subjects to be introduced over the following three years.25
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4: PAC conclusion: Successful implementation of the new T-level qualifications risks being delayed by a lack of work placements. 4: PAC recommendation: The Department should write to the Committee before the start of the next academic year setting out what up-to-date assurance it has that there will be enough work placements for T levels. This should cover what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the availability of placements and plans to incorporate virtual placements. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: July 2021 4.2 It is crucial that industry placements are high-quality to ensure that students have a successful T Level experience. 4.3 The department is monitoring the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the delivery of industry placements. The first cohort of T Levels is relatively small, with approximately 1,300 students. The department has introduced some temporary flexibilities to placements to support their delivery, which includes reducing the number of minimum placement hours required for students on the Early Years Educator Occupational Specialism. The department has invested over £165 million since the 2018-19 academic year to help providers build capacity to deliver placements and is providing dedicated support to providers to help them source placements. The department has also implemented a package of support for employers, where they can access advice, workshops and webinars, and is running a pilot to test what financial support employers need to deliver placements. The department will continue to work closely with providers and employers to ensure it understands the delivery challenges and how to overcome them. 4.4 The department will write to the Committee in July 2021 to set out what assurances it has that there will be enough industry placements for T Levels; what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the availability of placements; and what further support the department will put in place to ensure there are enough high-quality placements available for students.