Introduction of T Levels
#TLevels are due to be introduced from the academic year 2020 to 2021. Find out what they are and what they mean for you.
Information about the new T Level study programmes including:
- what T Levels are
- how and when they will be introduced
- what they will cover
- how qualifications will be awarded
- how education providers can get involved in delivery
T Levels: what they are
T Levels are new courses coming in September 2020, which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work.
T Levels will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days). They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.
Students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas:
- accounting
- agriculture, land management and production
- animal care and management
- building services engineering for construction
- catering
- craft and design
- design and development for engineering and manufacturing
- design, surveying and planning for construction
- digital business services
- digital production, design and development
- digital support and services
- education and childcare
- finance
- hair, beauty and aesthetics
- health
- healthcare science
- human resources
- legal
- maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing
- management and administration
- engineering, manufacturing, processing and control
- media, broadcast and production
- onsite construction
- science
When they will start
The first 3 T Levels will be available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England in September 2020.
A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021 with the remaining courses starting in either 2022 or 2023.
We have published a list of the providers who’ll be offering T Levels in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
How T Levels will work with other qualifications
T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside:
- apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
- A levels for students who wish to continue academic education
We are currently reviewing post-GCSE qualifications to create a simpler, high-quality system that students, parents and employers will all understand.
T Levels will be based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). We expect the total time for a T Level to be around 1,800 hours over the 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses.
This differs from an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who know what occupation they want to pursue, want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.
How T Levels are being developed
Employers and providers are working together to develop each T Level, with support from DfE and the Institute. Groups of employers define the skills and requirements for each T Level course by participating in T Level panels. This ensures that students taking T Levels will develop the technical knowledge and skills required by employers in that industry.
The T Level panels have been developing the content for the qualification, based on the same standards as apprenticeships and these plans are being tested and reviewed with students, education providers and employers.
The technical qualifications for the first 3 T Levels have now been approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships and accredited by Ofqual for teaching from September 2020. These will be in:
- design, surveying and planning for construction
- digital production, design and development
- education and childcare
Structure of a T Level
T Level courses will include the following compulsory elements:
- a technical qualification, which will include
- core theory, concepts and skills for an industry area
- specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career
- an industry placement with an employer
- a minimum standard in maths and English if students have not already achieved them
Industry placements
Every T Level will include an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. These will last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer. Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary.
Providers will support employers offering industry placements. This will include assistance with the necessary paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and National Apprenticeship Service (part of ESFA) will work with employers and providers on industry placements.
Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements can contact 08000 150 600, email [email protected] or visit the employer section of the T Levels website.
Grading and certification
Students who complete their T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. They will get a nationally recognised certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.
The T Level certificate will include:
- an overall grade for the T Level, shown as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
- a separate grade for the core component, using A* to E
- a separate grade for each occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction
It will also include confirmation that the student has:
- met the minimum requirements for maths and English qualifications
- completed the industry placement
- met any additional mandatory requirements
A student’s overall T Level grade will be worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialism(s).
Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level will get a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.
UCAS tariff points
T Levels will provide several progression options to students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and higher education.
To help T Level students get into higher education, UCAS tariff points will be allocated to T Levels.
UCAS points will only be allocated to the overall T Level grade. Students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.
| UCAS tariff points | T Level overall grade | A level |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism) | AAA* |
| 144 | Distinction | AAA |
| 120 | Merit | BBB |
| 96 | Pass (C or above on the core) | CCC |
| 72 | Pass (D or E on the core) | DDD |
Funding and support for providers
We recognise that significant additional funding will be needed for the successful introduction and delivery of T Levels.
We have already announced additional funding of £500 million a year, once T Levels are fully rolled out, to help providers meet the costs of additional teaching hours and organising industry placements.
Eligible providers will be able to apply for funding for up-to-date equipment and facilities. They will also be able to access training to help prepare their teachers and leaders.
We have now published how we intend to fund T Levels, visit T Levels: next steps for providers for more information.
Timeline
Autumn 2020
The first T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- design, surveying and planning for construction
- digital production, design and development
- education and childcare
Autumn 2021
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- building services engineering for construction
- digital business services
- digital support and services
- health
- healthcare science
- onsite construction
- science
Autumn 2022
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- accounting
- design and development for engineering and manufacturing
- engineering, manufacturing, processing and control
- finance
- maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing
- management and administration
Autumn 2023
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- animal care and management
- agriculture, land management and production
- catering
- craft and design
- hair, beauty and aesthetics
- human resources
- legal
- media, broadcast and production
Find out more
If you’re interested in finding out more, visit our T Levels website where you can add your postcode to find colleges, schools or other providers who’ll be offering the first 3 T Levels in 2020.
Watch our industry placement videos to hear from students and employers who have benefited from industry placements.
Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements, can contact 0800 0150 600, email [email protected] or visit the employer section of the T Level website.
Read the T Level action plan for detailed information about how we’re developing the T Level qualifications for post-16 students.
Documents
Introduction of T Levels
Published 9 March 2018
Last updated 7 July 2020 + show all updates
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Removed cultural heritage and visitor attractions from the list of subjects. Moved human resources and legal from autumn 2022 to autumn 2023.
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Added 2022 T level providers and updated course titles.
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Updated with information for technical qualifications, 2020 course titles and new content on the T Levels website.
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Updated information following the publication of the T Levels action plan 2019 and the launch of the new T Levels campaign.
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Added new information about T Level grading, certification and UCAS points.
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Updated information about how long industry placements must last.
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Changed the name of the Institute for Apprenticeships to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
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Updated information on how T levels fit with other post-GCSE choices, the structure, funding and grading. Added a link to the expression of interest and a section on industry placements.
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Updated content following the publication of the action plan including the important dates.
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Added link to the consultation response and list of 2020 providers. Updated the important dates.
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First published.
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