1. DfE T Level Action Plan December 2018
Catherine Sezen, Senior Policy Manager

2. Agenda Key Highlights – 2021 T Levels and provider eligibility
T Level design and structure
Progression to and from T Levels
Governance and inspection
Industry placements
Funding and support for providers
SAPs
Comms, marketing and careers
Qualification review

3. Key highlights – 2021 T Levels
Additional 2021 T Levels confirmed as:
Routes
2020 delivery
2021 delivery*
Education and Childcare
Education
Construction
Design, Surveying and Planning
Onsite Construction
Building Services Engineering
Digital
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support and Services
Digital Business Services
Health
Healthcare Science
Science
*Wave 2 – ITT will be published Spring 2019

4. Key Highlights – 2021 Provider eligibility
EoI – Jan to Feb 2019
Eligible providers must:
have good or outstanding Ofsted rating
Have at least satisfactory financial health
Currently be delivering to a minimum of 10 qualifying students per T Level subject area they are applying to deliver
Currently be delivering to a minimum of 100 (50 in opportunity areas) qualifying students across all pathways they are applying to deliver
Aim to select an additional 50 to 75 providers.

5. Other key highlights
T Levels will carry UCAS points in line with 3 A Levels
T Levels will have an overall grade of Pass, Merit, Distinction
Students who do not pass will receive a Statement of Achievement for the component parts.
Flexibilities for SEND in English and maths (requirement to achieve entry level 3 in line with apprenticeships) and industry placements
Funding for unreformed current quals to be part of consultation review
Industry placement evaluation of 2017/18 pilots has been published

6. T Level design and structure
English and maths exit requirement = L2 FS or GCSE (no CoF requirement)
Core assessment – exam and AO set occupationally relevant project
Specialism assessment – set and marked by AOs
Two assessment windows each year

7. T Level programme *Could be marked internally
T Level Industry Placement
Between hours
Undertaken with an external employer
Minimum of 45 days
Students develop technical skills and apply their knowledge in a workplace environment
Provider should pay for/contribute to travel and subsistence costs, if not covered by the employer
Employers not expected to pay students
Core
20% - 50% of the total TQ time
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theories and principles relevant to the T Level and the broader route
Core skills relevant to the T Level
Assessed through an external examination and a substantial, employer-set project*
Maths and English requirements
Students are expected to achieve a level 2 in maths and English. This can be achieved through GCSEs (grade 4 and above) or level 2 Functional Skills (pass)
T Level panels are free to set higher maths and English requirements, where necessary
Other requirements set by T Level panels
Occupation-specific requirements included, where possible, if they are essential for skilled employment e.g. licence to practice qualification or professional registration
T Level programme
1800 hours over two years (with flexibility)
Subject content is set by T Level panels and approved/managed by the Institute for Apprenticeships
Technical Qualification (TQ)
Between hours
Occupational specialisms (min. 1 per TQ)
50% - 80% of the total TQ time
Knowledge, skills and behaviours required to achieve threshold competence in an occupational specialism
Maths, English and digital skills integrated where they are necessary to achieve threshold competence
Employability, enrichment and pastoral requirements
Assessed synoptically through rigorous practical assignments*.
*Could be marked internally

8. Progression to and from T Levels
Transition offer – focused on providing effective preparation for students to start a T Level
Transition offer – DfE gathering evidence of such programmes:
Levels 4/5 – system of employer-led national standard of higher technic education
Level 4/5 review interim evidence

9. Governance and inspection
QA – joint responsibility of IfA and Ofqual
IfA – responsible for T level panels, outline content and occupational maps
T Levels will be included in Ofsted’s inspection framework once they have been fully rolled out – the 2019 framework will not cover inspection of T Levels explicitly

10. Industry placements The Challenge have produced IP guidance
ESFA - Support for providers
National Apprenticeship Service (NAS)
Support for employers including matching service

11. Funding and Support for providers
£38ml capital funding for 2020 providers
T Level funding consultation launched 27 November
Support:
T Level Professional Development (TLPD)
Needs analysis
T Level awareness raising
Teacher development
Knowledge hubs
Organisational readiness
Taking Teaching Further – new round December 2018

12. Skills Advisory Panels (SAPs)
SAPs aim to strengthen relationships between local employers and skills providers to meet skills gaps.
Funding consultation asks for feedback on a requirement for T Level providers to have due regard for the skills analysis, local plans and strategies published by their local SAPs

13. Comms, marketing and careers
Phased national and local campaign launch to begin in 2019
See T Level video
Careers strategy focus on Gatsby Benchmarks, careers leaders, careers hubs and Baker Clause

14. Qualification review
Review of post -16 vocational/technical qualifications:
Stage 1 – early 2019 (principals, scope and broad process)
Stage 2 – late 2019 (proposed criteria for funding)