Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Public Accounts Committee
HC 822
Published 27 June 2025
Recommendations
2
Accepted
Publish plan to improve employer awareness of T Levels, capitalising on local arrangements.
Recommendation
There is a risk that colleges cannot secure enough industry placements for more students to complete their T Levels. Industry placements are a mandatory part of a T Level. While 98% of students finishing their T Level in summer 2024 …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and is improving employer awareness through the T Level Ambassador Network, planning to appoint regional chairs this year. It has also introduced new flexibilities and targeted funding for placements and will set out further plans to grow high-quality industry placements by December 2025.
HM Treasury
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3
Accepted
Publish clarity for students, colleges, and teachers on T Levels' alignment with other qualifications.
Recommendation
The Department has not provided clarity on how T Levels align with other technical qualifications and career pathways. After pausing the previous government’s decision to defund qualifications overlapping with T Levels, in December 2024 the new government announced funding would …
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Government Response Summary
The government will publish a post-16 education and skills strategy in autumn 2025, which will clearly set out how T Levels fit with other funded qualifications. Skills England has also published occupational maps to provide clarity on career routes.
HM Treasury
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Conclusions (4)
4
Conclusion
Accepted
T Levels are intended to address skills gaps and meet employers’ needs, but they cannot quickly be adapted to meet this objective. T Levels have been developed and approved by employers to, for example, better meet their needs and improve students’ employment prospects. It will take time to develop course …
Government Response Summary
The government states it already has agile processes for reviewing T Level content and is implementing changes where identified, such as the revised T Levels in health and science with a first teach in September 2026. It will continue to work with Skills England for regular content review and updates.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
The Department has not yet provided complete clarity over what good progress looks like in T Levels becoming established and when benefits will be realised. The Department has identified four potential benefits associated with T Levels, including progression to further study or skilled employment, and higher earnings than those studying …
Government Response Summary
The government states it uses several published datasets to measure T Level benefits and KPIs, and commits to updating the economic benefit assessment at regular intervals. It will also continue to review its benefits management strategy annually to track progress.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Various factors, such as teacher recruitment and awarding organisation fees, will influence colleges’ uptake of T Levels particularly given their wider financial challenges. The Department recognises the additional burden faced by colleges to recruit T Level teachers, especially given that T Levels themselves are addressing areas of skills shortages. It …
Government Response Summary
The government will publish a post-16 education and skills strategy in autumn 2025 that includes strengthening support for the FE workforce and will provide updates on teacher recruitment and retention, aiming for 6,500 additional teachers. It is also developing a new FE Teacher Industry Exchange scheme and investing over £1.2 billion annually in Skills, including continued Targeted Retention Incentives.
1
Conclusion
Accepted
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Education (The Department) and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) on introducing T Levels.2
Government Response Summary
The government outlined a comprehensive plan to increase T Level awareness, enrolments, and quality, including removing funding for overlapping qualifications and continuing the 'Skills for Life' campaign. Updated specifications will be introduced from September 2025, with full implementation by September 2029.