In a recent report, the Public Accounts Committee warned that the government must increase efforts to encourage student enrolment in T-Levels and to engage employers with the qualification if it is to have the intended impact.
The T-levels were introduced in the UK as a technical alternative to A levels. They are designed to address persistent UK skills shortages and provide young people with qualifications that are tailored to employers’ needs. The PAC is concerned about low enrolment, limited awareness and the slow adaptability of qualifications to changing economic needs.
Just 25,508 T-level students were enrolled as of September 2024 – significantly lower than original projections. The Department for Education (DfE), however, remains confident it can reach 66,100 students by September 2029. MPs, however, say that this goal will not be achieved without more action.
The qualification is not well-known. In a survey conducted in 2023, only half of the students from years 9 to 11, had heard of T levels. Just a third were aware that T-levels are required by employers to provide industry placements.
The committee found that students from underrepresented groups such as women, pupils with disabilities, and those with special needs were less likely than others to enroll in certain T-levels, especially engineering courses.
The PAC urges the government to develop a campaign strategy that will increase student and employer involvement. The curriculum should be tailored to reflect the different backgrounds of students while still being aligned with employer needs.
MPs expressed concerns over the long process of adapting T level content to reflect new job market trends. A course can only be revised every 18 months, which limits its ability to adapt to new developments. For example, the increase in government defence spending that is planned to begin in February 2025 will create more employment and training opportunities.
The PAC has recommended that to ensure T-levels are relevant and effective the DfE should develop faster and more agile methods for updating course content in order to reflect the changing skills landscape.
A lack of clarity was also identified as a key problem in relation to how T-levels are integrated into the larger technical education system. The changes in the status of qualifications that overlap have caused confusion. The government originally announced that it would defund alternative qualifications, but then paused the plan. In December 2024, they confirmed that some alternatives will continue to be funded until 2027. The PAC called on the DfE for clearer guidance in order to help students and college navigate their options, and understand how T levels compare to other vocational routes.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, chair of the PAC, warned that T-levels would not reach their full potential without widespread awareness. “T-levels can be a force for good by equipping young people to succeed in their careers.” T-levels could remain a minority pursuit without a greater awareness of the industry and a critical mass in student enrollment.
He said: “Government needs to enter campaign mode in order to breathe new life into the T-levels. They should focus on and capitalize on local employment requirements. Demands for changing skills have never been so volatile. The government must provide more flexibility in the qualifications so that it can quickly meet demands wherever they may arise.
The report calls for immediate and sustained actions to help T levels fulfill their promise as the cornerstone of UK’s technical educational system and a driver of long-term growth.
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