Celebrating T Levels one year on

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has supported a celebration of T Levels one year on and their expansion to a new range of subjects.

Education experts, employers, learners and politicians met to discuss the progress of these nationally important technical qualifications, which first launched in September 2020.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on T Levels’ online meeting, on 15 September, focused on the theme of ‘T Levels: One Year In’. The speakers included:

• Gillian Keegan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills).
• David Russell, Chief Executive Officer of the ETF.
• Colin Wood MBE, Chief Executive (Europe), Aecom.
• Jenifer Burden MBE, Director of Programmes, Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
• T Levels students from Blackpool and the Fylde College and Cirencester College.

During the meeting, David Russell, Chief Executive Officer of the ETF, discussed the potential for T Levels to transform the education system and the quality of technical education, and to raise the status and prestige of teaching in further education.

He pointed out that getting behind further education teachers by investing in their training, and providing the best professional development in the world, is vital to ensure that T Levels achieve their potential.

He also highlighted the T Level Professional Development programme, designed by the ETF and delivered in partnership with colleges and partners across the country, which has received very positive feedback from further education professionals.

Through its work with the APPG on T Levels, the ETF aims to support the development of T Levels, ensuring learners are gaining the skills needed to progress to employment and that benefit our economy and society.

Commenting on T Levels reaching their first year milestone, David Russell, Chief Executive Officer of the ETF, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the first birthday of T Levels, which offer learners a new opportunity to realise their potential and address skills gaps in the workforce. 

“Given the expansion of these nationally important technical qualifications, we are supporting further education teachers and leaders through our professional development courses that provide them with the skills, subject knowledge and confidence to teach T Levels.”

T Levels are two-year courses, equivalent to three A Levels, that prepare learners for work, further training or study. These technical qualifications have been developed with employers and businesses to meet the needs of industry and launched in September 2020.

T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of approximately 45 days.

The first three T Levels were launched at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England in 2020. A further seven T Levels started in 2021 with the remaining courses due to commence in either 2022 or 2023.

This September marks not only the first anniversary of T Levels, but also their expansion to a new range of subjects including building services engineering for construction, digital business services, digital support services, health, healthcare science, onsite construction and science.

The ETF is the expert body for professional development and standards in the further education sector. Its T Level Professional Development programme equips staff delivering T Levels with the teaching skills, subject knowledge and confidence they need for the benefit of their learners.