Recommendation 26

Colleges play a critical role in providing T Levels – as well as sourcing industrial placements, they must have enough teaching staff with the right expertise, industry-standard facilities and specialist equipment to teach T Level students.79 Alongside introducing T Levels, colleges are also facing difficulties recruiting and retaining teachers and wider financial challenges. In 2021 the previous Public Accounts Committee reported that financial pressures, such as rising staff pension costs, were affecting provision for students, including through colleges narrowing curriculums and reducing enrichment activities.80