T Levels are technical-based qualifications in

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, developed in collaboration with employers and businesses, with content that meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training, or study. T Levels are two-year courses which can be studied by 16-18 year olds after finishing their studies at

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...

level. T Levels are based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) was an employer led organisation that helped shape technical education and apprenticeships in the United Kingdom. They did so by developing, reviewing and revising occupational sta ...

. They are the responsibility of the

Minister of State for Skills The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills (also known as Apprenticeships and Skills Minister) is a junior ministerial position in the Department for Education in the Government of the United Kingdom, British govern ...

in the

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History

The concept of a unified technical qualification with equal status to

A-level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...

s was first raised in a government-commissioned review by Lord Sainsbury. This major education change was announced by the

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, in his budget statement in 2017. The proposal was tentatively welcomed by professionals. In September 2020 there were 193 colleges planning to offer some T Levels by 2022. The first qualifications were awarded in August 2022. Speaking at the October 2023

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announced that T Levels and A Levels would be merged to form the Advanced British Standard (ABS). However, the proposed ABS was scrapped by

Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...

after the

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on financial grounds, so this will not occur.

Aim and content

The aim of a T Level qualification is to improve the teaching and administration of technical education which will enable students to directly enter employment on completion of a programme in

further education Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is additional education to that received at secondary school that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. It ...

sixth form In the education systems of Barbados, England, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepa ...

. These qualifications will be a mix of theoretical work learnt in the classroom in a Further Education (FE) College or in a sixth form in a secondary school and two industry practical placements with employers working in partnership with the college or sixth form. The T Levels will be a Level 3 qualification on the

Regulated Qualifications Framework The national qualification frameworks in the United Kingdom are national qualifications framework, qualifications frameworks that define and link the levels and credit values of different qualifications. The current frameworks are: * The Regulated ...

. Students can expect to gain * a broad knowledge; with skills and behaviours necessary for employment in an occupation or industry related to their field of study * an opportunity to develop specialist technical skills relevant to at least one occupation * the relevant English, Maths, Science and Digital skills. Students can expect to be taught the core subjects of English, Maths, Science and Digital skills. Soft-skills are also embedded into the courses. This will be classroom based. They will learn as well the specialised skills necessary to embark in a career in their chosen field, spending 80% of the overall course in the classroom and the other 20% in a "meaningful industry placement", offering training and 45 days of work experience. The total programme time for the course should be over 1900 hours.

Reaction

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (

UCAS The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS ) is a charity and private limited company based in Cheltenham, England, which provides educational support services. Formed on 27 July 1993 by the merger of the former university admis ...

) has said that the highest T Level qualification, a starred distinction, will be worth the equivalent of three A*s at

A Level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...

when a student is being considered for a place in higher education, giving them 168 UCAS points; the highest A Level result is worth 56 points.

Pathways

As announced in 2017, it is envisaged that there will be 15 pathways: *Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care *Business and Administrative *Catering and Hospitality *Childcare and Education *Construction *Creative and Design *Digital *Engineering and Manufacturing *Hair and Beauty *Health and Science *Legal, Finance and Accounting *Protective Services *Sales, Marketing and Procurement *Social Care *Transport and Logistics Within these pathways there are multiple specific courses. Digital, construction, education and childcare courses were launched in September 2020, and Health and Science courses in September 2021. As of September 2021, the following T Levels are available:GOV.UK https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects * Building Services Engineering for Construction * Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction * Digital Business Services * Digital Production, Design and Development * Digital Support Services * Education and Childcare * Health * Healthcare Science * Onsite

Construction Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...

* Science

References

External links