Exciting New Reforms Make T Levels More Flexible Than Ever!

T levels - the technical qualifications introduced in autumn 2020 - are undergoing reform in as part of moves to increase their take up by students and employers.  

The government wants to open them up as part of its wider plans to deliver the skills that businesses, organisations and young people need.  

Now offered by more than 100 training providers, the two-year courses combine classroom learning with an industry placement, offering school-leavers with GCSEs real-life work skills as well as academic study. 

Equivalent to 3 A levels, T levels are now available across 20 different industry sectors including land management, digital technology, early years education, manufacturing, accounting and healthcare. To do a T level, students must be aged 16-19 and have at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English language and maths.  

A recent history 

T levels were first announced in the previous Conservative government's 2017 Spring Budget and rolled out from September 2020. 

They were initially launched in 15 industry sectors where staff need a lot of technical training before they can start work, such as in engineering and construction. 

An alternative to A-levels, apprenticeships and other vocational programmes such as BTEC, T levels were created in collaboration with leading employers to address business's skills requirements.  

How T levels work  

T levels students must complete at least 900 teaching hours - more than double the amount for other technical programmes - and undertake compulsory work placements of at least 45 days.  

Like apprenticeships, they were developed by the Department for Education, the Institute for Apprenticeships, education providers and employer-led panels to make sure they contain all the skills needed for a particular occupation. Unlike apprentice programmes though, T levels were designed to be mainly delivered in the classroom, not in the workplace.  

As with A levels, there are no tuition fees as long as students start their T level course before their 19th birthday. And, like A levels, T levels count towards UCAS points so learners can use them as a stepping stone if they choose to go on to university. A distinction at T level is equal to three A levels at A*.  

For students who want help to prepare for their chosen T level, there's a one-year post GCSE T level foundation course. 

Latest statistics 

T levels continue to grow in popularity. Student numbers have increased year on year since the programme's launch four years ago, with 16,085 enrolling on T levels in the 2023-2024 academic year - almost as many as in the first three years put together. 

However, results for the 7,380 students receiving their grades in August 2024 showed a slight fall in the pass rate, with the overall percentage down to 88.7% from 90.5% in 2023. 

Review into future of Level 3 courses, including T levels  

As part of a review of post-16 qualification reforms, the Department for Education (DfE) recently considered all level 3 qualifications that were in scope to have funding approval removed from 1 August 2025.  

The outcome of this review highlights a number of changes.  

The first change is not to tell providers and students which types of qualifications they can and cannot mix. It should, says the report, be for colleges and sixth forms to work with students to devise the best mix for everyone. 

It's the government's view that T Levels offer an excellent qualification option, which should be available to more learners. It introduced three new T Levels in September 2024 and is launching a further T Level in Marketing from September 2025.  

Its outcome report continues: "The industry placement is a key feature of the T Level, providing valuable workplace experience for learners that they are unlikely to get from current qualifications. It follows, therefore, that where learners wish to study a large qualification (of 720 guided learning hours or more), in a T Level route, the T Level should be the main option for them. 

On this basis, we have concluded that we will not continue with defunding qualifications on published lists in agriculture, environmental and animal care; legal, finance and accounting; business and administration; and creative and design before 2027. We do reserve the right to undertake a further low and no enrolment exercise in these routes if required. Future decisions on these routes, and on level 2 qualifications reform, will be taken considering the Curriculum and Assessment Review." 

Changes to work placement delivery   

One of the biggest changes to T level delivery under the reforms, is the opportunity for students to do more of the placement element remotely.  

As part of the government's plan to make the programme more flexible, learners will be able to complete around 20% of their work placement at home, with that number rising to 50% for those doing the digital T level. This change has been made to reflect industry trends and real-life hybrid working practices.  

Announcing the reforms to T levels, Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, said: 

"We are cutting red tape to make it easier than ever for employers and providers to take part in T Level industry placements while ensuring students benefit from meaningful, high-quality experiences. We've listened to businesses and these changes reflect what they need to help them offer T Levels and our missions of boosting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity. 

Whether it's offering remote placements in the fast-evolving digital sector or enabling more simulated environments for industries like engineering, we're giving students more opportunities to gain the skills and experience they need for their future careers." 

Currently small and medium sized businesses who don't have sufficient office space find it difficult to provide T level placements. Offering remote home working, should, says the government, help 'grow the pool of potential employers and create more opportunities for students.' 

These latest changes to T levels show just how important remote integrated learning systems are to ensuring we have the right combination of skills and education for the future.  

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