Introducing T Levels
Public Accounts Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Department for Education (DfE) launched T Levels in September 2020, with the aim of supporting young people into skilled employment. Focused on a vocational skill, a T Level equates to three A Levels, and includes an industry placement. As of September 2024, DfE had introduced 21 T Levels, with …
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2
Recommendations
26
Conclusions
1
Report
1
Oral session
1
Event
Activity timeline 5 events
15 Oct
2025
2025
15 Oct
2025
2025
27 Jun
2025
2025
Report published
24 Apr
2025
2025
Oral evidence
24 Apr
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
24 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
Carmel Grant · Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Julia Kinniburgh · Department for Education
Susan Acland-Hood · The Department for Education
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35th Report - Introducing T Levels | HC 822 | 27 Jun 2025 | 28 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
2
Recommendation
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Publish plan to improve employer awareness of T Levels, capitalising on local arrangements.
There is a risk that colleges cannot secure enough industry placements for more students to complete their T Levels. Industry placements are a mandatory part of a T Level. While 98% of students finishing their T Level in summer 2024 …
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Government Response
The government agrees and is improving employer awareness through the T Level Ambassador Network, planning to appoint regional chairs this year. It has also introduced new flexibilities and targeted funding for placements and will set out further plans to grow high-quality industry placements by December 2025.
HM Treasury
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3
Recommendation
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Publish clarity for students, colleges, and teachers on T Levels' alignment with other qualifications.
The Department has not provided clarity on how T Levels align with other technical qualifications and career pathways. After pausing the previous government’s decision to defund qualifications overlapping with T Levels, in December 2024 the new government announced funding would …
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Government Response
The government will publish a post-16 education and skills strategy in autumn 2025, which will clearly set out how T Levels fit with other funded qualifications. Skills England has also published occupational maps to provide clarity on career routes.
HM Treasury
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4
Conclusion
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Accelerate T Level content development and review with awarding organisations for evolving skills needs.
T Levels are intended to address skills gaps and meet employers’ needs, but they cannot quickly be adapted to meet this objective. T Levels have been developed and approved by employers to, for example, better meet their needs and improve …
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Government Response
The government states it already has agile processes for reviewing T Level content and is implementing changes where identified, such as the revised T Levels in health and science with a first teach in September 2026. It will continue to work with Skills England for regular content review and updates.
HM Treasury
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5
Conclusion
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Refine T Level benefit tracking, update economic benefit estimates, and define clear progress milestones.
The Department has not yet provided complete clarity over what good progress looks like in T Levels becoming established and when benefits will be realised. The Department has identified four potential benefits associated with T Levels, including progression to further …
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Government Response
The government states it uses several published datasets to measure T Level benefits and KPIs, and commits to updating the economic benefit assessment at regular intervals. It will also continue to review its benefits management strategy annually to track progress.
HM Treasury
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6
Conclusion
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Develop understanding of college T Level funding pressures and a teacher recruitment strategy.
Various factors, such as teacher recruitment and awarding organisation fees, will influence colleges’ uptake of T Levels particularly given their wider financial challenges. The Department recognises the additional burden faced by colleges to recruit T Level teachers, especially given that …
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Government Response
The government will publish a post-16 education and skills strategy in autumn 2025 that includes strengthening support for the FE workforce and will provide updates on teacher recruitment and retention, aiming for 6,500 additional teachers. It is also developing a new FE Teacher Industry Exchange scheme and investing over £1.2 billion annually in Skills, including continued Targeted Retention Incentives.
HM Treasury
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1
Conclusion
Accepted
35th Report - Introducing T Levels
Committee heard evidence on the introduction of T Levels.
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Education (The Department) and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) on introducing T Levels.2
Government Response
The government outlined a comprehensive plan to increase T Level awareness, enrolments, and quality, including removing funding for overlapping qualifications and continuing the 'Skills for Life' campaign. Updated specifications will be introduced from September 2025, with full implementation by September 2029.
HM Treasury
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