Recommendation 13

HM Government Deferred

The future of post-16 qualifications 11 The campaigns are monitored closely in line with robust Key Performance Indicators to track engagement and awareness, and are supported through local and regional media outreach, to showcase the benefits of T Levels to employers, young people and their parents. The Department is also raising awareness with schools through its Apprenticeship, Support and Knowledge Programme and its work with the Careers and Enterprise Company. This is supported by a suite of resources to help teachers and careers leaders explain T Levels to their students. This is in addition to the ongoing awareness raising activity by T Level providers, where the Department amplifies case studies and positive stories across social channels and in both national and regional media. The Department also creates bigger key communications moments during the year, such as T Level results day in August and T Levels Week in October, to boost interest and engagement. The Department will continue to look for and maximise opportunities to raise awareness of T Levels, ensuring more young people can benefit from them. There is nothing more powerful than students sharing their positive T Level experiences with their peers, parents and employers. The T Level Ambassador Network raises the profile of T Levels with employers, parents and students. There are currently 18 students signed up as ambassadors, and the Department aims to increase this number over time. 21. The Department must monitor the success of its T Level marketing and communications strategy through the publication of annual statistics—at both national and regional level—on T Level awareness among young people and employers. (Paragraph 75) The Department’s omnibus surveys track pupil, teacher and parent awareness of T Levels. The survey on pupil and parent awareness asks pupils in years 9, 10 and 11 whether they are aware of T Levels and how likely they are to take them. In June 2022, 33% of pupils were aware of T Levels. Of those who were aware of them, 26% of pupils in years 9 and 10 said they were likely to consider them. 34% of parents were aware of T Levels. The School and College Panel survey found that in June 2022 68% of key stage 4 and 5 teachers were aware of T Levels. Awareness by employers is tracked as part of the Employer Skills Survey series, the most recent report is from 2021 and showed that 24% of establishments surveyed had heard of T Levels. Both of the Department’s Skills for Life campaigns are closely monitored in line with robust Key Performance Indicators and success measures. The resulting data are used internally to inform policy making and next steps as part of a comprehensive strategy with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of T Levels among key audiences, and ultimately driving up the number of student registrations. The Department engages regularly with T Level providers to monitor and track their recruitment and support their communications and marketing to young people. 12 Government Response: The future of post-16 qualifications The Department published figures on student recruitment for the first time this year, through the T Level Action Plan. These figures showed a positive increase in student recruitment—with providers recruiting around 10,200 new students to T Levels in September 2022—more than double the 2021 figure. Updated figures will be published in the same way through the annual Action Plans. 22. The Department must work with small and medium-sized businesses as well as with the network of careers hubs supported by the Careers and Enterprise Company to promote T Levels to a wider audience. (Paragraph 76) To aid employers in delivering industry placements, the Department has in place an extensive programme of focused support, offering guidance, workshops and webinars, as well as tailored advice and direct hands-on support, to build their confidence, capability and capacity. The Department engages directly with employers to develop a pipeline of industry placements and is working with key intermediaries to develop innovative ways to stimulate the SME market. The T Level Ambassador Network alongside the Apprenticeship Ambassadors network is also enabling employers to engage with others in their industries on T Levels and placements, via events and webinars. This network comprises 296 employers and other members and will continue to grow and amplify the peer-to-peer voice of employers. The Department is providing grant funding of up to £29.7 million to The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) in 2023–24. We have agreed with CEC that their strategic priorities this year will include ‘amplifying technical and vocational pathways’. The CEC will embed apprenticeships and technical education (ATE) into all Careers Leader training and resources. We are continuing to fund the national rollout of the CEC’s network of Careers Hubs and over 90% of secondary schools and colleges in England are now part of a hub. C