With £1.75 billion of Government investment, three cohorts of school leavers in receipt of results and the phased expansion of courses near complete, it’s time to ask some tough questions about T Levels. So, are T Levels the “coherent technical education option” that bring us one step closer to the “world-class” vocational education system envisioned by Lord Sainsbury back in 2016? And are students getting a fair deal? Edge engaged with 30 focus groups, with over 200 T Level students, and conducted in-depth interviews with college staff spanning 11 Further Education colleges across England and got some answers. Our insights shed light on the strengths and shortcomings of T Levels and reveal how policies affect learning, career preparation and future opportunities.
Why do students choose T Levels? For many, the industry placement - approximately 45 days of on-the-job experience - is a major attraction, promising real-world experience and a competitive edge in the job market. However, in focus groups, young people often described the information about this they received from their school or college as unclear, especially in terms of their expectations of the balance between practical and theoretical learning.
It’s all in the delivery: The ‘newness’ of T Levels has contributed to inconsistencies with their delivery in different colleges and between courses. Staff (and some students) described limited resources, high teacher turnover and a lack of established teaching practices. Students told us that this affected their understanding of course requirements and diminished their confidence in the programme. Many students expressed frustrations with lecture-heavy methods and limited practical activities. Tutor familiarity with the content and course requirements was also inconsistent, and the high stakes atmosphere of end-of-year exams further contributed to a heavy theoretical focus in year one.
Work placements were praised for developing students’ practical skills and exposure to the workplace. Nonetheless, significant challenges emerged in organising and securing these placements and students reported that placements and tasks varied widely in relevance to the students’ field of study which detracted from the experience. Some even felt unsupported. T Level students have diverse goals, with many planning to attend university, pursue apprenticeships or directly enter the workforce. Generally, students felt that T Levels provide a solid foundation for employment thanks to the industry placement. Apprenticeships were also an appealing option, especially for students who preferred the practical, ‘hands on’ experience.
T Levels are still finding their place in the post-16 landscape. We look forward to the outcome of the Government’s short Pause and Review, which should determine the future of other Level 3 technical and vocational qualifications, but Ministers have made clear their commitment to T Levels (at least, for now). However, too often vocational options are comprised of a classroom element and, separately, a work-based module with very little connection between the two. This misses the most dynamic and effective part of high-quality vocational education. Real attention needs to be given to the way in which the work-based and classroom-based elements of vocational education fit together.
Work placements and employer connection are crucial to successful vocational programmes.. The Government needs to take stock and consider a more systematic approach here that serves to rationalise the way in which employer placements are brokered.
All the changes to the post-16 offering have added to its complexity. There is a risk of further complication, given that the timelines for the Pause and Review, the Curriculum and Assessment Review and Skills England’s forthcoming post-16 skills strategy are not aligned, so each could prejudice one another’s findings. If we are to truly strive for a world-class system, the post-16 vocational and technical offer (and the pathways into them) deserves a long-term strategy and vision from the Government to provide consistency and the opportunity to succeed.