Taking your T-levels

On 15 August, students across England, Northern Ireland and Wales received their Level 3 qualification results. This year marked four years since the introduction of T-levels as an option for 16 to 19-year-olds to take.

T-levels in a nutshell

T-levels are technical-based qualifications in England that focus on more practical subjects than academic ones. The qualification includes a mixture of both classroom learning and on-the-job experience, with a work placement making up about 20 per cent of the course. T-levels are designed to cater for students who want an alternative to A-levels but do not wish to take an apprenticeship.

One T-level is equivalent to roughly three A-levels. Students get one of four grades, ranging from a distinction* to a pass. A distinction* is worth 168 UCAS points – the same as three A*s at A-level – and a merit is equivalent to three Bs at A-level. The first

T-levels were launched in 2020 – the subjects being construction, digital, and education and early years – and since then, this number has grown. As of 2024, there are over 20 subjects available for students to take.

Analysis from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) shows that although 10,253 students began a T-level two years ago, only 7,262 (71 per cent) completed their T-level. This is an increase from 66 per cent in 2021.

This figure is also lower than the completion rates of 75 per cent for similar sized vocational or technical qualifications (VTQs- the existing alternatives to A-levels) and 88 per cent for those taking three A-levels last year.

The institute concluded it appears that T-level students are becoming almost as likely to complete T-levels as students taking similar sized VTQs. This figure may continue to increase as T-levels complete their roll-out, and providers become more familiar with these new qualifications.

When T-levels were first launched with just three subjects, 1,235 students aged 16-18 embarked on these courses. UCAS reported that the most common T-level held by the first cohort of applicants was education and early years. This year’s education and early years T-level had the highest pass rate of 96.2 per cent.

On the government’s T-level website, it says having a T-level in education and early years means students can progress into roles such as a:

Special Nursery worker Teaching assistant Learning mentor educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant

– Playworker Portage home visitor

Government statistics also revealed the North West was the region with the highest number of T-level results in 2023/2024 (1,458).

How useful are T-levels?

As the number of T-level subjects, along with the schools and colleges offering them, has grown, so has the number of students taking the qualifications. In comparison to A-levels, which saw more than 800,000 results issued to students this year, the number of students taking T-levels is minor.

Similar to A-level subjects, different colleges offer different T-level subjects.

In Liverpool, we found 10 schools/colleges that offer T-level qualifications. St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth, for example, offers a T-level in healthcare science and a T-level in science and administration, while St Julie’s Catholic High School in Woolton offers a health T-level and an education and early years T-level.

So, do employers and universities recognise and accept T-levels? It has been stated that more universities are accepting T-levels each year. While not all mainstream and Russell Group universities do accept them, like the University of Oxford, more have been opening their doors in recent years as T-levels become more recognised. Students who want to progress to university after T-levels should ensure they have checked whether the specific universtities they are interested in accept the qualifications.

Regarding employers, T-levels have been developed in collaboration with sector experts and employers to ensure they meet the needs of the workforce and prepare students for success. While students are completing their T-levels, they have on-the-job training during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (about nine weeks).

What are the challenges?

In July 2024, the Edge Foundation, in collaboration with Professor Kevin Orr, published research about T-level students’ opinions on the qualifications. 11 colleges around England were visited, with researchers speaking to 210 students and 24 teachers and wider staff.

One common issue T-level students faced during their studies was delays in commencing placements, with these delays sometimes progressing into the second year. This was attributable to the limited pool of employers available to allocate places to students and difficulty making contacts and making employers aware of what a T-level entails.

Government statistics revealed the pathway with the highest proportion of students where the industry placement was not completed by August of their second year was the building services engineering T-level (12.9 per cent).

The research also revealed some students expressed concerns about their options following their T-levels. Students cited the ‘newness’ of the T-level qualification as justification for any perceived shortcomings in their T-level courses. While some were more apprehensive about their prospects after completing their qualifications, others adopted a wait-and-see approach, remaining open to potential opportunities.

On A-level results day this year, research director of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), Suzanne Straw, mentioned some of these challenges, saying: “It is positive to see the vast majority of students continuing to complete the 45-day industrial placement, as the number of T-level students rise and finding placements becomes more challenging.

“Although the dropout rate is lower than that of the previous cohort, it remains high at 29 per cent. Further investigation is needed to establish what actions are required to address this. It will also be important to continue to track the study and employment outcomes of T-level students, as well as their experiences and satisfaction rates, as part of the Technical Education Learner Surveys.”

How T-levels are evolving

T-levels have not been around for very long, so we don’t know for sure how useful they really will be for the future. As more and more universities and employers recognise them, they may very well be a popular option for more students to take in the future.

There have been some positive case studies of students who have completed their T-levels. Leah Duckworth, who completed a T-level in digital production, design and development at Runshaw College, Leyland, was offered a job from their T-level work placement. Zoe Greenwood, who took an education and early years T-level at Cirencester College, was offered a place at Reading University to study Primary Education with QTS.

From September 2024, three more T-level courses will begin. These are: animal care and management; craft and design (originally planned for 2023), and media, broadcast and production (also originally planned for 2023).