Recommendation 15

T levels combine classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during a work placement of around 45 days (20% of the overall time) over the two-year course.26 Committee Members have heard from college principals about difficulties in recruiting students, largely because of the challenge of securing enough work placements, and 17 Q 84 18 C&AG’s Report, para 11 and Figure 8 19 Q 69; C&AG’s Report, para 2.20 20 Sixth Form Colleges Association, Sixth Form Colleges: 2020 Key Facts and Figures, June 2020 21 Q 70; ESFA, College accounts academic year 2018 to 2019, June 2020 22 Q 69 23 Department for Education, Introduction of T Levels, September 2020 24 Q 73; Department for Education, T Levels: ministerial direction, May 2018 25 Qq 60–61; Department for Education, Introduction of T Levels, September 2020 26 Department for Education, Introduction of T Levels, September 2020; https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/ about Managing colleges’ financial sustainability 11 their consequent fears about colleges losing income. This situation had been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic as it was difficult for students to undertake physical work placements and the ESFA would not accept virtual work placements.27