Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Student T Level awareness and enrolment hindered by unclear offer and excessive assessment burden.
Conclusion
We heard of various reasons for students not being aware of T Levels or keen to enrol. Written evidence we received described students being unclear about what T Levels offered and uncertainty over their position particularly following government’s announcement to reverse introducing a new qualification, the Advanced British Standard, which would have incorporated T Levels.15 It also described excessive workload and assessment burden as challenging for students.16 In response to the assessment volume impacting students completing their T Level, the Department told us that IfATE has been using colleges’ feedback to change assessments, specifically across digital T Levels.17 When we pressed the Department on its plans to further streamline assessments and T Level content, it committed to taking onboard this feedback and continually looking for opportunities while retaining the quality of the qualification.18 9 Qq 7, 12, 33; C&AG’s Report, para 7 10 C&AG’s Report, para 14 11 Qq 25- 26 12 C&AG’s Report, para 10 13 Q 28 14 Qq 20; 33; C&AG’s Report, para 15 15 Edge Foundation (ITL0003); National Foundation for Educational Research (ITL0006); Make UK (ITL0012); EngineeringUK (ITL0014) 16 Thomas Pocklington Trust (ITL0001); Association of Schools and College Leaders (ITL0002); Association of Colleges (ITL0005); ITL0006; Education and Training Foundation (ITL0008); Pearson plc (ITL0011); City and Guilds (ITL0013) 17 Qq 8, 21; C&AG’s Report, para 2.7 18 Q 35 9