T Levels - do you really know what they are, and what it means for you?

I wonder how many English colleges and training providers truly realise the implications of T levels on their full time provision in the future?

For those that don’t know, T Levels are:

·      two year Level 3 study programmes,

·      require 45 days work placements in their chosen industry,

·      maths, English and digital skills.

They will be one of three options available to 16-19 year olds alongside A levels and Apprenticeships. For those not capable of progressing directly onto Level 3, there is still debate about transition arrangements that will enable someone to progress to T levels. This also means that no new qualifications submitted to Ofqual after September 2020 and which are below Level 3 will be funded (existing quals are unlikely to be affected). It is anticipated that no funded qualifications other than T levels will be delivered in colleges once available. These qualifications will also only be available from a single Awarding Organisation (or consortium) that have won an open DfE tender process. This means there will therefore be no choice in the qualifications market.

It is a rolling programme with the first T levels to be delivered from September 2020. For Engineering and manufacturing, T levels will be available for delivery from 2022. Engineering and Manufacturing is split into three subject areas-

1. Design and Development,

2. Manufacturing, Processing and Control,

3. Maintenance, Installation and Repair.

As an example, this last pathway is where automotive maintenance and repair qualifications will sit.

The draft content is now available and any providers who currently offer L3 full time course really need to review this to see if it is appropriate for there needs, as it is very different to current qualifications. The government are calling on expressions of interest from providers who wish to offer them now.

The actual T level for Engineering and manufacturing is split into core content and then specialist content relevant to the actual sub-sector e.g. vehicle maintenance and repair.

The core content includes:

·      Working within the Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors

·      Engineering and manufacturing past, present, and future

·      Essential mathematics for engineering and manufacturing

·      Essential science for engineering and manufacturing

·      Materials and their properties

·      Mechanical principles

·      Electrical and electronic principles

·      Mechatronics

·      Engineering and manufacturing control systems

·      Recognised standards in engineering and manufacturing

·      Standard operating procedures (SOPs)

·      Business, commercial and financial awareness

·      Professional responsibilities, attitudes, and behaviours

·      Stock and asset management

·      Quality assurance, control and improvement

·      Project and programme management

As an example, the Specialist content performance requirements for vehicle maintenance and repair will include:

·      Analyse requirements, specifications and technical information to enable the delivery of successful maintenance, installation, servicing and repair of vehicles.

·      Perform relevant maintenance, installation, servicing and repair of vehicles, using appropriate techniques and procedures to achieve the required quality outcomes and solutions.

·      Review and evaluate activities to help improve workplace systems and processes associated with vehicle maintenance, installation, servicing and repair, demonstrating commercial awareness and accountability

·      Communicate vehicle maintenance, installation, servicing and repair information, proposals and solutions, producing, recording and explaining relevant technical information

For more detail on how to submit expressions of interest to offer these new qualifications and for the outline content of all T levels see here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/t-levels-how-to-express-an-interest-to-deliver-from-2022-to-2023-academic-year