T Level

The concept of a unified technical qualification with equal status to A-levels was first raised in a government-commissioned review by Lord Sainsbury. This major education change was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, 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.{{cite web |last= |title=T Level results: academic year 2021 to 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-results-academic-year-2021-to-2022-provisional |access-date=3 September 2022 |website=GOV.UK}}

Speaking at the October 2023 Conservative Party Conference, Rishi Sunak announced that T Levels and A Levels would be merged to form the Advanced British Standard (ABS).{{cite web |title=Advanced British Standard: Sunak qualification will replace A-levels and T-levels |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-67008206 |website=BBC News |date=4 October 2023}} However, the proposed ABS was scrapped by Rachel Reeves after the 2024 United Kingdom general election on financial grounds,Reeves, R., [https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-statement-on-public-spending-inheritance Chancellor statement on public spending inheritance], published on 29 July 2024, accessed on 15 September 2024 so this will not occur.

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 or sixth form. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/mar/08/t-levels-aim-to-improve-technical-education-and-improve-uk-productivity|title='T-levels' aim to improve technical education and improve UK productivity|website=The Guardian|date=9 March 2017|access-date=30 May 2018}} The T Levels will be a Level 3 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.

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",HM Government, [https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/ T Levels: the next level qualification], accessed 4 December 2020 offering training and 45 days of work experience. The total programme time for the course should be over 1900 hours.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has said that the highest T Level qualification, a starred distinction, will be worth the equivalent of three A*s at A Level when a student is being considered for a place in higher education,{{Cite web |last=Bryan |date=2023-11-02 |title=Study T Levels In The UK: Here's All You Need To Know |url=https://britannia-study.co.uk/boarding-schools/t-levels/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Britannia UK |language=en-GB}} giving them 168 UCAS points; the highest A Level result is worth 56 points.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-49410325 |title=New T-level study to be worth three A-levels |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=20 August 2019 |accessdate=20 August 2019}}

As announced in 2017, it is envisaged that there will be 15 pathways:{{cite news |last1=Gathercole |first1=Gemma |title=11 things you need to know about 'T-Levels' |url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/what-are-t-levels/ |accessdate=16 November 2020 |work=Schools Week |date=6 March 2017}}

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• 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

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Within these pathways there are multiple specific courses.{{Cite web|title=Introduction of T Levels |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels/introduction-of-t-levels |access-date=2021-03-22 |website=gov.uk |language=en}}

Digital, construction, education and childcare courses were launched in September 2020, and Health and Science courses in September 2021.{{cite web |title=What are T Levels? |url=https://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/plan/workforce-supply/education-and-training/t-levels/what-are-t-levels |website=nhsemployers.org |accessdate=16 November 2020 |language=en}}

As of September 2021, the following T Levels are available:GOV.UK https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects

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• 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
• Science

• Advanced British Standard, a proposed replacement
• Skills England

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/find College locator]

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Category:Education in England

Category:Educational qualifications in England

Category:School examinations