UK Government Delays Rollout of T Levels to Ensure World-Class Quality

Last week, the UK government announced changes to the rollout timetable of T Levels in England. T Levels are a new type of technical qualification, designed to provide high-quality, vocational training for post-16 students that meets the needs of employers. In light of the pandemic, the government is keen to ensure that students are equipped with the skills they need to progress to further training or find skilled jobs, and that businesses can recover and thrive.

The changes announced last week mean that the delivery of three T Levels in Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy; Craft and Design; and Media, Broadcast and Production will be deferred from 2023 to 2024. The Catering T Level has been deferred beyond 2024, to allow time to consult with employers and sector bodies to ensure that the T Level meets all the needs of the sector. The T Level in Legal Services will be introduced as planned in 2023, alongside the T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production which is subject to the usual approval process, and the Animal Care and Management T Level remains on course for first teaching in 2024, and Marketing in 2025.

The decision to defer the rollout of some T Levels has been taken to ensure that the courses are of high quality and can be delivered to a high standard. Quality has been a priority throughout the development of T Levels, and the government is determined to protect this quality to ensure that the courses lead to great outcomes for all students. T Level technical qualifications will only be approved for delivery where the government is sure that they are good enough and can be delivered to a high standard.

The T Level Action Plan, which was also published last week, sets out that T Level starts will double from around 5,000 to around 10,000 between 2021 and 2022. This is a significant increase, and it is a testament to the hard work of T Level providers, teachers, and employers. The government has provided significant additional revenue and capital funding to ensure that providers are well-prepared and have the resources they need to deliver T Levels to a high standard. This includes around £400m to improve buildings and buy state-of-the-art equipment, a short-term 10% uplift in T Level revenue funding to help providers transition from study programmes and scale up, and a new £12m Employer Support Fund to help providers deliver quality industry placements.

Overall, the changes to the rollout timetable of T Levels are a sensible decision that will help to ensure that the courses are of high quality and can be delivered to a high standard. The government's commitment to technical education in England is to be commended, and T Levels have the potential to transform vocational training and provide students with qualifications that lead to rewarding careers. As T Level starts double over the next year, it is vital that the government continues to provide support and resources to ensure that T Levels are a success, and that students, teachers, and employers continue to give positive feedback on the quality of the courses.