Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 2
2
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Set ambitious target for 75% of young people to achieve Level 3 by 2030.
Conclusion
The Department must set an ambitious target for at least three-quarters of young people to be qualified to level 3 by 2030. Within this target there should be a concentrated effort to ensure that skills for the future economy and the skillsets required to meet the net zero and nature gain challenges are prioritised. (Paragraph 24) T Levels
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response describes existing work by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and the National Careers Service to provide information and guidance on T-Level progression opportunities. It does not address the recommendation to set an ambitious target for Level 3 qualifications by 2030.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
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HM Government · verbatim extract
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The Department already has a key aim of ensuring as many people as possible have the opportunity to achieve a Level 3 qualification. This is through the Free Courses for Job offer, introduction of T Levels as a valuable Level 3 technical qualification and a legal entitlement to a first full Level 3 qualification for 19–23 year-olds through the Adult Education Budget. Launched in April 2021, the Free Courses for Jobs offer allows eligible adults to access over 400 Level 3 qualifications (A-level equivalent) for free. Some of our highest levels of uptake have been seen in subject areas which are critical to supporting the green economy such as building and construction. We are keeping the qualifications lists under review for the offer in a bid to include any qualifications which could help achieve the Government’s Net Zero ambitions. Devolved authorities also have additional flexibility to fund qualifications via the offer. The cumulative number of enrolments on the offer, reported between April 2021 and January 2023, stands at 39,430 (with 4,780 having started in the 2020/21 academic year, 19,700 in 2021/22 and 14,960 reported so far for the first six months of 2022/23). This includes those taking up free courses for jobs under the extended offer from April 2022. This offer complements the Legal entitlement that those aged 19–24 have to a full first Level 3 Qualification. Together with T levels, we are providing a wide range of options for learners of all ages to achieve valuable and recognised Level 3 qualifications. In 2021/22, 62.9% of 19 year olds (379,346) were qualified to Level 3 which is the highest figure record. For the same period, 177,960 learners aged 19–24 participated at Level 3. Our skills system is working to support people into skilled, high paying occupations, including those in the green economy. In April 2022, DfE published a strategy for sustainability and climate change in the education system which sets out our action on green skills and careers. Across Free Courses for Jobs, Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, T Levels, and the whole skills ecosystem, the Government is investing in green skills to support people into jobs for net zero, environmental recovery and a sustainable future. An evaluation of Skills Bootcamps delivery in FY2021–22 shows 710 learners started a Skills Bootcamp in green or green engineering. Through our robust national procurement exercise, we have established around 45 separate Skills Bootcamps delivering new skills supporting greener construction, transport and green energy and industry sectors. DfE recognises workforce and skills challenges exist within the green economy, and we are working to ensure our skills programmes are designed to mitigate them.
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