T Levels

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 provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

In the long term students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas:

• accountancy
• agriculture, land management and production
• animal care and management
• building services engineering
• catering
• craft and design
• cultural heritage and visitor attractions
• design, development and control
• design, surveying and planning
• digital business services
• digital production, design and development
• digital support and services
• education
• financial
• hair, beauty and aesthetics
• health
• healthcare science
• human resources
• legal
• maintenance, installation and repair
• management and administration
• manufacturing and process
• media, broadcast and production
• onsite construction
• science

The first 3 T Levels will be available at selected colleges and schools (providers) across England in September 2020.

• digital production, design and development
• design, surveying and planning
• education

How T Levels will work with other post-16 choices

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

It is 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.

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.

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

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.

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.