Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 41
Work with universities to prevent unreasonable T Level entry requirements and clarify A-level compatibility
Conclusion
We have heard that some universities are requiring an A level alongside a T Level for entry onto degree programmes. Department guidance on whether an A level can feasibly be studied alongside a T Level appears inconsistent, and the Department must clearly set out its position on this. The Department must work with universities to ensure they fully appreciate the value of, and commitment required by T Levels and do not therefore specify unreasonable entry requirements such as specific A levels on top of a T level course.
Government Response Summary
The government clarified its unchanged position on A Levels being taken alongside T Levels, stating it supports students doing so. It has written to universities to raise awareness of T Levels and encourage transparent entry requirements, and will continue to work with the HE sector to explain qualification overlap, but did not commit to ensuring universities do not specify unreasonable entry requirements.
Paragraph Reference:
41
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Department’s position on students taking an A Level alongside their T Level has not changed since the published consultation response in May 2018 (Implementation of T Level programmes: Government consultation response (publishing.service.gov.uk)). The Department remains supportive of students who want to take an A Level alongside their T Level, particularly where it supports progression options, and there is provision for this within the current T Level funding arrangements. A student who takes an A Level and gets a grade B or better, plus a Merit in their T Level would attract funding for this through the Large Programme Uplift (LPU). Where providers are expanding the number of students taking a Level 3 maths qualification then they will also attract additional funding through the Advanced Maths Premium (AMP). As well as the LPU and the AMP, T Level funding arrangements will include an average of 75 hours EEP (employability, enrichment and pastoral) per year, per student. As with existing study programmes, providers may choose to use EEP hours to help fund an A level. Individual T Levels differ in size depending on their industry and occupational specialism and they are substantially larger than many current technical qualifications—at least the size of a 3 A Level programme. Therefore, providers will need to consider the best way to support students that are considering taking an A Level alongside their programme and manage the impact on the student’s timetable. I have written to all universities to raise awareness of T Levels, encouraging them to be transparent and make a clear statement which sets out their approach to T Level entry requirements for 2022 and beyond. We will continue to work with the Higher Education (HE) sector to explain the overlap in content between T Levels, A levels and other qualifications used for entry to HE. We have developed mapping documents which show the maths content that is embedded within T Levels—and how this compares with A Level maths and further maths, and relevant BTEC units.