Background
In September 2020, the Department for Education (DfE) launched T Levels, with the aim for this new technical qualification to become one of students’ main choices after finishing compulsory schooling. A T Level focuses on a vocational skill such as health, construction, digital or agriculture. It equates to three A levels and includes a 45-day industry placement.
DfE and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education have contracted organisations to develop and award T Levels, which young people can study at schools and colleges across England. T Levels are then developed with employers, aiming to provide the skills needed by industry.
In 2017, DfE initially planned to have implemented T Levels by 2022. DfE began rolling out T Levels in 2020, and as of September 2024 it had introduced 21 T Levels, with up to a further three still to be implemented. In 2023/24, a total of 7,380 students completed a T Level, with 88.7% receiving a pass or above.
Scope
This report will set out the government’s implementation of T Levels to date including:
- what progress has been made in the rollout of T levels
- how DfE has developed its implementation approach
NAO Team
Director: Emma Willson
Audit Managers: Tosin Omole and Elisabeth Moore