Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Paragraph: 73
Low recognition of T Levels among employers and young people threatens success and levelling up.
Conclusion
Recognition of T Levels remains low. If unaddressed, this will impede the success of T Levels. A 2021 Department survey showed that just under a quarter (24%) of employers were aware of T Levels. Other research indicates that 63% of young people had not heard of T Levels. Within this, there was significant and concerning regional variation—49% of young people in London had heard of T Levels, compared to 29% of young people in Yorkshire and the Humber. This is a potential risk to the levelling up agenda.
Government Response Summary
The government states it has a robust, continually reviewed marketing and communications strategy in place, has increased investment, and campaign research shows increased T Level awareness. It commits to continue working with partners, focusing on regional variances.
Paragraph Reference:
73
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Department is committed to raising awareness and understanding of T Levels among young people, parents and employers. We have a robust marketing and communications strategy in place which is continually reviewed, adapted and delivered in response to the changing education landscape, market insight and audience understanding. We continue to increase investment in T Level marketing and communications campaigns as the programme matures and more T Levels become available across the country. Our T Level communications strategy aims to address different audiences, including: young people (ages 14-19), parents, schools and colleges, careers advisers, and employers, using a multi-channel approach. This includes: • Advertising campaigns across broadcast, digital, radio, print, and out-of-home channels, that target young people and parents, • Digital content (including social media) targeting specific audiences, • Direct email communications to schools, colleges, employers and careers advisers, • Partnership activity with stakeholders, including employers, to develop content and promote T Levels, • PR and stakeholder engagement activity. We have also undertaken activities with careers leaders across schools, colleges, and Local Authorities through the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC). The CEC provides a range of resources and support for careers leaders to help them promote T Levels. We have also commissioned dedicated support for employers, including the Employer Engagement Programme, to help providers engage with employers and offer industry placements for T Level students. We continually evaluate our campaigns to understand their impact and inform future activity. Our 2022 campaign research showed an increase in T Level awareness among young people, parents, and employers. Since our last wave of research in January 2022: • Awareness of T Levels amongst young people (aged 14–19) has increased from 46% to 54%. • Awareness amongst parents of young people aged 14–19 has increased from 42% to 46%. • Awareness amongst employers has increased from 36% to 41%. We will continue to work with a range of partners and stakeholders to drive awareness, with a particular focus on addressing regional variances.