Recommendation 24

For benefits to be realised, the Department needs to increase the number of students enrolling but also then completing and passing T Levels.74 Given that the Department withdrew some T Levels due to lack of demand, we questioned the Department on its confidence in achieving its latest forecast for increasing student numbers. The Department confirmed it is confident that it will meet its forecast of 66,100 students starting in September 2029.75 On completion rates, the Department told us this jumped from 68% for those starting in September 2021 at 16 years to 73% for those starting in 2022 at 16 years. This compares to 78% for large vocational technical qualifications, which are the most similar qualification. The Department told us that, even with progress so far, it would like to close this gap.76