Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Third Report - The future of post-16 qualifications
Education Committee
HC 55
Published 28 April 2023
Conclusions (5)
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 38
We strongly welcome the aspiration for T Levels to be a rigorous and ambitious new qualification which will level up our technical education system. T Levels have been developed alongside 250 employers and offer a prestigious, high-quality route for students to gain the skills needed by employers and the economy.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's positive assessment of T Levels, affirming they are central to Level 3 reforms, high-quality, employer-led, and include valuable industry placements.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Too many learners on the T Level Transition Programme do not progress on to a T Level. The reasons for this are unclear. Only 14% of the first Transition Programme cohort actually progressed to a T Level, and just under half (49%) were able to progress to a level 3 …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the T Level Transition Programme is new and states it is working with providers to better understand early progression outcomes and support more learners. They plan to review progression expectations as the programme matures and are reviewing options for recognising attainment for those who do not progress to a full T Level.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 64
The Department must work with providers to review the Transition Programme to determine why so few learners progress onto the full T Level. We would expect an effectively functioning Transition Programme to support at least half of learners to progress to the full T Level, with virtually all Transition Programme …
Government Response Summary
The government states it is working with providers to better understand early progression outcomes and support learners onto T Levels. They will review expectations and expect the Transition Programme to evolve, and are currently reviewing options to recognise attainment for students who do not progress to a full T Level.
21
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 75
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.
Government Response Summary
The government states it continually evaluates its marketing campaigns and its 2022 research showed increased T Level awareness among target groups. It will continue to monitor impact and inform future activity, with a focus on regional variances, without explicitly committing to annual publication of national and regional statistics.
23
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Regional variation in economic activity remains a significant obstacle to the success of T Levels. Evidence to our inquiry described T Levels as “a city-centric initiative”, and “the ‘urban qualification’ “. There is a risk that young people living in or near more affluent urban areas with access to a …
Government Response Summary
The government aims for equitable access to T Levels, stating they are available in every region and will be rolled out across the country by 2025. It monitors regional uptake and will ensure marketing strategies address specific regional challenges and promote T Levels in rural, coastal, and disadvantaged areas.