Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted in Part
T Level programmes face significant challenges impacting student retention, satisfaction, and public awareness.
Recommendation
T Levels are a relatively new programme of study, and they should be given adequate time to develop and gain traction. However, if T Levels are to become the “gold-standard technical qualification” the Government must urgently address a number of challenges. T Level programmes have low retention rates compared to A Level and Applied General Qualification courses; the ineffectiveness of the T Level transition programmes; responses to student surveys suggest there can be poor levels of student satisfaction; there is limited understanding and awareness of the purpose and value of T Levels among students, parents and employers. (Conclusion, Paragraph 89)
Government Response Summary
The government states its commitment to expanding T Level uptake, improving retention, and raising awareness through campaigns and ambassadors, citing positive outcomes and pass rates for T Levels.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
T Levels, introduced in 2020, now cover 21 subjects with strong outcomes (91.4% pass rate in 2025). The government is committed to expanding uptake, improving retention, and raising awareness through campaigns and ambassadors. 71% of T Level learners feel their course prepared them for the workplace, significantly higher than students on comparable Level 3 courses with a difference of 10–15 percentage points, and 97% of T Level learners who applied for Higher Education through UCAS received at least one offer. Over two thirds of T Level students who take up apprenticeships go straight into higher or degree-level apprenticeships – far higher than for all Level 3 learners (where the vast majority go on to do an apprenticeship at the same or lower level). T Levels are helping to build employers’ talented workforce – around a third of T Level students who progress into employment get jobs with their T Level Industry Placement employer. Young people with a range of prior attainment are accessing T Levels–the GCSE grade split for students receiving T Level results is very similar to those receiving results for Applied General Qualifications (AGQs).