20 July 2023 - T Level Newsletter
This week's newsletter includes updates on:
- Thank you!
- Ofsted review of the quality of T Level courses
- T Level results day provider toolkit
- 31st July 2023 deadline for changes to Industry Placement completion status
- Recruitment for the Careers and Enterprise Company’s (CEC) Youth Advisory Group is now open
- The Department for Education’s response to its consultation on Level 2 qualifications supporting progression to T Levels - and new national name for the programme
- Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) – A job-focused, flexible option for T Level graduates
- Awarding Organisations Updates
Thank you!
As we reach the end of the academic year, we would like to say a big thank you to you and your organisation for all your hard work to deliver T Levels and the T Level Transition Programme this year. We hope that you have a great summer break, and we look forward to continuing working with you next year!
Ofsted review of the quality of T Level courses
Ofsted have published the final report on their review of the quality of the first T Level courses and the T Level Foundation Year (formerly the T Level Transition Programme and referred to as such throughout the report). The report can be found here.
We have published our response to the report where we have set out what we are doing in relation to Ofsted’s recommendations. The response can be found here.
T Level results day provider toolkit
T Level Results day is on Thursday 17th August 2023. To help support your communications activity we have developed a T Level provider toolkit, which can be found here.
This contains a range of content including a quote from Minister Halfon, newsletter copy, case studies, sample social media posts and useful links.
31st July 2023 deadline for changes to Industry Placement completion status
Providers are reminded that the deadline to make changes to Industry Placement completion information in the Manage T Level Results service is Monday 31st July.
It is essential that this information is provided to ensure that every learner receives a complete T Level result in August. Guidance is available here
Recruitment for the Careers and Enterprise Company’s (CEC) Youth Advisory Group is now open
Recruitment for the next cohort of CEC’s Youth Advisory Group is now open. This group, which is supported by The British Youth Council, brings together a diverse group of young people from across England, aged 15-25, with unique lived experiences of the education system. It would be great to have representation from T Level students, so please do raise awareness of this opportunity with them.
The new cohort will start on the 1st of September 2023 and applications close on the 24th of July 9am – more details about recruitment can be found at Youth Voice | The Careers and Enterprise Company
The Department for Education’s response to its consultation on Level 2 qualifications supporting progression to T Levels - and new national name for the programme
The Department for Education ran a targeted consultation from January to April 2023 on how the NTOs should be used as the basis for the content of future level 2 qualifications supporting progression to T Levels. These will be called T Level Foundation Qualifications and will be available from 2026.
The Department has now published:
- its response to the consultation
- revised NTOs for the 12 T Level routes, following this consultation. This is to make them clearer for awarding organisations to use as the basis of qualifications. The changes are mostly presentational and do not change the focus of the NTO content itself. Further information on the changes made are in Appendix A of the response.
In parallel to the consultation response, Ofqual has launched its consultation on the draft conditions, requirements and guidance it intends to put place for T Level Foundation Qualifications.
The Department has also announced that the national name for the T Level Transition Programme is changing to T Level Foundation Year. The Department will not expect providers to reflect this locally until next academic year, 2024/25. The Department is making the change to strengthen the relationship with T Levels and signal clearly that this is the first step on a 3-year path to achieving a T Level for those who need it.
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) – A job-focused, flexible option for T Level graduates
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) in Digital, Construction and Health and Science will be available from September 2023, leading to occupations such as:
Digital
- Network Engineer
- Software Developer
- Data Analyst
- Cyber Security Technologist
Construction
- Quantity Surveying Technician
- Construction Design and Build Technician
- Construction Site Supervisor
Health and Science
- Nursing Associate
- Sports Coach
- Assistant Practitioner
HTQs are based on the same set of occupational standards as T Levels and so offer the T Level student a great opportunity to progress to the next level on their technical education journey. These standards are developed by employers and designed to meet the needs of specific jobs, so learners gain the skills that employers need. Research has also shown they can lead to higher earnings early in a career than a level 6 qualification.
They can also be a good option for people that need more flexibility in how they learn, prefer provider-based rather than work-based learning, or didn’t attract the grade that they needed to get to the university of their choice. The HTQ graduate could then choose to enter the workplace with this occupation focused qualification or study further to top up their qualification to a L6 degree.
Applications to study HTQs are either made via UCAS or directly through the college, university, institute of technology, or independent training provider offering the qualification.
Awarding Organisations Updates
NCFE:
Provider update from NCFE
Take a look at this month’s news update from NCFE which includes important information and reminders on upcoming results, the approvals window and updates to qualification materials following annual reviews.
Pearson:
Pearson’s July E-Bulletin was published and included the following:
- Updates on new T Levels: T Level in Media, Broadcast and Production, T Level in Craft and Design, T Level in Marketing
- T Level Results day 2023
- Q&A Networks and Training events
Pearson are seeking Experts and teachers to join the EVP and PVP for their T levels. If you would like to find out more, discuss the commitment involved, or how involvement will support you or your team's professional development Pearson would love to hear from you. Please email Pearson’s dedicated Stakeholder Engagement Manager andrew.hambelton@pearson.com
City & Guilds:
July T Levels e-bulletin
The July e-bulletin has now been published and can be found on City & Guilds website: cityandguilds.com/-/media/cityandguilds-site/documents/t-levels/2023/t-level-july-2023-quarterly-e-bulletin-pdf.ashx?la=en&hash=9A91F1B8F0E53F7936E30C6F33C461A0FB21DC7B
Topics covered this quarter included:
- The Provider approval process
- Information about summer assessment results
- T Level programme achievement and grading
- Reminders for September 2023
- Subject-specific updates
Provider support survey
City & Guilds have recently sent their Provider support survey to all pre- and in-delivery Providers. The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and will help inform City & Guilds planning for next year. Please look out for the survey coming from the email address: cxteam@cityandguilds.com
T Levels support for schools and colleges
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