T-Level underrepresentation
Significant underrepresentation of women, disadvantaged students, and those with SEND in T-Level programmes.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears in multiple source types, suggesting a recurring issue across the public record.
59 committee recs
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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Select committee recommendations(59)— showing 50 strongest matches
#44 — Film and HETV sectors remain highly under-representative despite progress towards inclusion.
Recommendation: The industry’s attempts to become more inclusive and representative of communities across the UK have made some progress in terms of the stories that are being told and the people working in front of and behind the camera. But the …
Response attribution not verified
#11 — T Levels continue to show significant underrepresentation of women, disadvantaged, and SEND students.
Recommendation: We challenged the Department on the underrepresentation of women in engineering and manufacturing T Levels, which mirrored the current workforce, and what it could learn from others internationally. This included the Supporting Adolescent Girls’ Education programme in Zimbabwe, which supports …
Response attribution not verified
#35 — Adult apprenticeship maths and English changes risk widening attainment gaps and age-based inequalities
Recommendation: The current apprenticeship system faces inconsistencies as a result of recent changes to maths and English requirements for those aged 19 and over. Whilst removing the requirement for adult apprentices to attain grade 4 maths and English before completing their …
Response attribution not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: T levels combine classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during a work placement of around 45 days (20% of the overall time) over the two-year course.26 Committee Members have heard from college principals about difficulties in recruiting students, largely because of …
Response attribution not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: Successful implementation of the new T level qualifications risks being delayed by a lack of work placements. In May 2018, the then Permanent Secretary at the Department requested and was given a ministerial direction, as he had concerns about the …
Response attribution not verified
#35 — Employer interest in T Level placements remains insufficient to meet future demand
Recommendation: We have been told that demand for T level placements could reach up to 250,000 placements. The Department’s own research has concerningly identified that fewer employers were interested in providing T Level placements in 2021 than in 2019 (30% vs. …
Response attribution not verified
#33 — Unclear number of students with protected characteristics disadvantaged by reforms, risking rise in NEET.
Recommendation: The Department’s equalities impact assessment identifies that some students with protected characteristics may be disadvantaged by the reforms as they may no longer be able to progress to a level 3 qualification. We heard that this could result in a …
Response attribution not verified
#32 — Equalities assessment reveals disproportionate negative impact on vulnerable student groups from qualification reforms.
Recommendation: We are disappointed that the Department’s equalities impact assessment identifies that students with special educational needs and disabilities, Asian ethnic groups, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and males are disproportionately likely to be affected by the Department’s qualification reforms. The Department’s …
Response attribution not verified
#28 — Address urgent concerns regarding T Level dropout rates, accessibility, employer interest, and regional availability.
Recommendation: The evidence we have so far from the roll out of T Levels reveals major concerns that must be addressed as the programme moves forward. Around one-fifth of the first T Level cohort are estimated to have dropped out. Concerns …
Response attribution not verified
#23 — Regional economic variation poses a significant obstacle to equitable T Level access and success.
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#19 — Low recognition of T Levels among employers and young people threatens success and levelling up.
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#12 — T Levels high-risk for students due to lack of lower qualification pathways
Recommendation: T Levels offer no pathway to a lower level of qualification for students who might otherwise drop out completely. This makes it a high-risk option for students, particularly in comparison to existing post-16 options such as A levels or Applied …
Response attribution not verified
#33 — Foundation apprenticeships fail to target everyday sectors crucial for youth employment
Recommendation: Foundation apprenticeships have been welcomed by the sector. However, whilst these shorter apprenticeships rightly aim to help young people enter critical sectors, there are concerns about the Government’s decision not to target “everyday sectors”, such as the hospitality, retail and …
Response attribution not verified
#21 — 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#13 — Youth Guarantee eligibility too narrow, excluding 16-17 and 22-24 year olds.
Recommendation: The number of young people currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England is unacceptable both for the life chances of young people and for economic growth. The Government’s Youth Guarantee goes some way to support 18–21-year-olds to …
Response attribution not verified
#8 — Government devolution plans for skills are welcomed but exclude 16-19 education and training.
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s plans to deepen and widen the devolution of skills and employment support in England. Devolving further powers to Strategic Authorities will help to drive growth, encourage the co- ordinated delivery of education and training services across …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: The Department acknowledged that the move to T levels was challenging, particularly delivering work placements which were an important element of the new qualifications.28 The ESFA emphasised the additional funding it had given to colleges to create work placements, and …
Response attribution not verified
#37 — Introduce moratorium on defunding Applied General Qualifications until T Levels prove superior effectiveness
Recommendation: The Department must place a moratorium on defunding Applied General Qualifications. Tried and tested Applied General Qualifications should only be withdrawn as and when there is a robust evidence base proving that T Levels are demonstrably more effective in preparing …
Response attribution not verified
#36 — Require robust T Level success and placement capacity before scrapping further Applied General Qualifications
Recommendation: The ability of businesses to offer sufficient, high-quality industry placements, and a clear track record of T Level success as well as evidenced improvement in equalities outcomes, should be prerequisites to scrapping further Applied General Qualifications on the basis of …
Response attribution not verified
#34 — Applied General Qualifications play crucial role in promoting social mobility distinct from T Levels.
Recommendation: T Levels are a rigorous technical qualification which will offer the ideal pathway for many students, but they will not be the right choice for all learners. Applied General Qualifications serve a distinct and different purpose to T Levels, and …
Response attribution not verified
#31 — Reforms risk inadvertently narrowing opportunities for young people's progression and success.
Recommendation: We welcome the Department’s ambition to simplify and declutter the post-16 landscape by tackling the 5,000 plus qualifications at level 3 and below with low or no enrolments. This will create a system that is clearer and easier to navigate, …
Response attribution not verified
#26 — Convene an employer-led industry placement taskforce with SMEs to tackle T Level scaling issues.
Recommendation: Scaling up T Level placements could have inadvertent negative consequences for other parts of the skills agenda by reducing employers’ willingness to continue with existing programmes such as apprenticeships, and supported internships which also require placements. The Department must convene …
Response attribution not verified
#24 — Lack of T Level industry placement forecast threatens the programme's successful rollout.
Recommendation: The Department has not published its own forecast of the number of industry placements that might be required once T Levels are fully rolled out. A clear acknowledgement of the scale of the challenge is needed, particularly as we have …
Response attribution not verified
#21 — Monitor T Level marketing success by publishing annual awareness statistics nationally and regionally.
Recommendation: 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.
Response attribution not verified
#17 — Publish T Level and Transition Programme drop-out data, broken down by student characteristics.
Recommendation: The Department must publish data on the Transition Programme and T Level drop- out rate, broken down by key student characteristics. This should track whether students who took the Transition Programme have increased likelihood of dropping out of the T …
Response attribution not verified
#15 — Review the Transition Programme to understand low learner progression to full T Levels.
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#14 — T Level Transition Programme shows inadequate progression rates to full T Levels
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#11 — T Levels lack balance between rigour and accessibility, limiting student uptake
Recommendation: T Levels are a rigorous qualification, and this is key to ensuring they equip students with the gold-standard technical skills required by employers and the economy. Nonetheless, we do not think that there is yet the right balance of rigour …
Response attribution not verified
#10 — Examine government and UKRI efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion in STEM.
Recommendation: Should our successor Committee wish to consider levels of diversity and inclusion in STEM, we recommend it considers: • Examining whether the trends in STEM education, particularly in subject uptake and attainment, as well as the delivery of STEM curriculum …
Response status not verified
#2 — Require Ofcom to prioritise age diversity in broadcasting workforce EDI strategies and reports.
Recommendation: We welcome Ofcom’s prioritisation of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and its annual report on EDI in the broadcasting workforce. We note, however, that, despite glaring underrepresentation of older people in radio and television, this is not currently a priority …
Response attribution not verified
#16 — T Levels have not yet become the main technical qualification for young people.
Recommendation: In 2019, the Department stated that T Levels would become the main technical qualification option for 16- to 19-year-olds.46 In response to questions around how T Levels fit into its plans to address critical skills gaps across the economy, the …
Response attribution not verified
#15 — Department addresses employer concerns regarding T Level placements through funding and flexibility.
Recommendation: The Department also described its work to address employers’ concerns and challenges in offering placements.40 For example, we received written evidence from Make UK and EngineeringUK describing the health and safety concerns associated with hosting students.41 The Department described reintroducing …
Response attribution not verified
#14 — Colleges face significant challenges securing sufficient industry placements across diverse T Level sectors.
Recommendation: Colleges play a key role coordinating and securing industry placements for T Level students. They will need to find more placements as student numbers increase, ensuring employers can offer placements but also that they have the capacity to source and …
Response attribution not verified
#13 — Shortages in mandatory industry placements could limit future T Level student numbers.
Recommendation: Industry placements are a mandatory part of T Levels. Of those finishing their T Level in summer 2024, 98% had completed a placement. However, in August 2023, the Department estimated that shortages in placements could limit T Level places to …
Response attribution not verified
#12 — Many employers, particularly SMEs, remain unaware of T Level qualifications.
Recommendation: Employers play a critical role across T Levels, through helping to develop qualification content that meets their requirements and providing students with industry placements.27 However not all employers are aware of T Levels – the Department told us that currently …
Response attribution not verified
#7 — Department’s T Level starter forecasts are significantly higher than current enrolment numbers.
Recommendation: The Department’s latest forecast of 66,100 T Level starters in September 2029 is significantly more than the 25,508 students starting in September 2024. We asked the Department about its confidence in meeting this forecast – it told us it was …
Response attribution not verified
#2 — Publish plan to improve employer awareness of T Levels, capitalising on local arrangements.
Recommendation: There is a risk that colleges cannot secure enough industry placements for more students to complete their T Levels. Industry placements are a mandatory part of a T Level. While 98% of students finishing their T Level in summer 2024 …
Response attribution not verified
#68 — Ensure adult education policy reflects diverse motivations and safeguards lifelong learning opportunities
Recommendation: As adult education policy and funding transitions to the Department for Work and Pensions, the Government must ensure that learning and training opportunities remain accessible to anyone seeking to enhance their skills, broaden their knowledge, or take incremental steps toward …
Response attribution not verified
#17 — Strengthen support and intervention measures for Baker Clause compliance.
Recommendation: There is a stark disparity between how post-16 technical and vocational education and training pathways are presented to pupils and how academic pathways are presented, and fundamental differences in the levels of support and guidance that students receive about each. …
Response attribution not verified
#14 — Expand Youth Guarantee eligibility to include all young people aged 16-24.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government expands eligibility for the Youth Guarantee to include all 16–24-year-olds so that all young people are given the same opportunities to re-enter education or access employment. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: T levels are new technical qualifications which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A levels.23 In May 2018, the then Permanent Secretary at the Department had concerns about the feasibility of delivering T levels by the target date of …
Response attribution not verified
#40 — Expand flexi-job apprenticeship scheme to 5,000 by 2025, supporting SMEs and fair pay
Recommendation: Subject to positive evaluation, the Department must expand the flexi-job apprenticeship scheme with an ambition to support 5,000 apprentices on the scheme by 2025. The Department must maintain a particular focus on supporting small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) to …
Response attribution not verified
#39 — Commission independent review to boost young people's apprenticeship starts through levy reform
Recommendation: The Department must set out how it will address the long-term decline in apprenticeship starts among young people, and ensure apprenticeships are the gold-standard ‘earn and learn’ option for school and college leavers. The Department must commission an independent review …
Response attribution not verified
#38 — Prioritisation of older workers for apprenticeships limits opportunities for young people
Recommendation: The 19% increase in apprenticeship starts among under-19s between 2020/21 and 2021/22 is a positive step forward. However, all too often older, more highly qualified workers are being prioritised for apprenticeships at the expense of young people trying to get …
Response attribution not verified
#30 — Reinstate the £1,000 T Level placement incentive for small, medium, and micro businesses.
Recommendation: Up until July 2022, employers could claim £1,000 for every T Level industry placement. The Department must reinstate this incentive for small and medium enterprises, and microbusinesses, in order to facilitate their participation with T Levels. (Paragraph 104) The future …
Response attribution not verified
#29 — Monitor and annually publish evaluations on hybrid versus in-person T Level placement outcomes.
Recommendation: The Department must closely monitor how learner satisfaction, attainment and progression for those undertaking hybrid T Level placements compares with those undertaking fully in-person placements. Evaluations on this should be published annually.
Response attribution not verified
#27 — Ensure hybrid T Level placements maintain workplace component quality and overall student experience.
Recommendation: We welcome the Department’s introduction of a hybrid model for T Level placements in certain subjects. This could help reduce the travel burden for students, and widen access to placements. It also reflects the preferences of some employers who called …
Response attribution not verified
#25 — Publish national and regional forecasts on potential industry placement demands and shortfalls.
Recommendation: The Department must publish forecasts on potential industry placement demands and shortfalls as soon as possible, at both national and regional level.
Response attribution not verified
#22 — Work with SMEs and careers hubs to promote T Levels to a broader audience.
Recommendation: 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.
Response attribution not verified
#20 — Improve T Level recognition among students, parents, and employers through an awareness campaign.
Recommendation: The Department must improve recognition of T Levels among students, parents and employers through a T Level awareness campaign that raises the profile of the new qualification at both a national and local level.
Response attribution not verified
Independent reviews(5)
Roberts Review (STEM) — Rec 2.1
The Review notes that, despite some recent progress, the proportion of girls studying mathematics and the physical sciences post-16 is still considerably lower than that of boys, which contributes to the under-representation of women in science and engineering more generally. The Review is clear that the under-participation of women in …
Education
Skidmore Review — Rec 61
Government and the Green Jobs Delivery Group should explore a variety of targeted options, including: • Increasing the flexibility of the Apprenticeship Levy, and assessing whether the Levy aligns with Government net zero and growth priorities, whether shorter, more intensive courses should be available alongside exploring the role of T …
Other
Sewell Commission — Rec 16
Open up access to apprenticeships The Commission recommends that the government conducts a highly-targeted apprenticeships campaign to persuade young people to do apprenticeships in growth sectors. Our view is that such a campaign could be of particular benefit to young people who face discrimination or disadvantage and currently lack access …
Other
Sewell Commission — Rec 15
Empower pupils to make more informed choices to fulfil their future potential The Commission proposes improvements to the quality of, and access to, careers advice for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Stronger guidance should be issued by the Office for Students (OfS) to higher education institutions on funding outreach programmes …
Other
Sainsbury Review — Rec 1
We recommend the Government develops a coherent technical education option which develops the technical knowledge and skills required to enter skilled employment, which leads from levels 2/3 to levels 4/5 and beyond, and which is highly valued because it works in the marketplace.
Education