13th November - T Levels Newsletter

Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy White Paper Consultation

On Monday 20^th October, the government published its Post-16 education and skills strategy white paper, setting out the government’s vision for a world-leading skills system, including the introduction of a third vocational pathway to sit alongside A levels and T Levels.

The government has also published the Post 16 Level 3 and below pathways consultation which sets out our proposals in more detail on the design and implementation of “V Levels”, the third pathway at level 3; plans to introduce new T Levels in new subjects; and reforms to level 2 pathways.

We would welcome your engagement with these proposals.  The consultation will be open for 12 weeks, from Monday 20 October 2025 to Monday 12 January 2026, and we would encourage you to read and respond.

T Level certificates and statements of achievement for 2023 learners

Certificates and statements of achievements are now being printed for 2023 learners and will be distributed to schools and colleges from early November. Find out more here 

T Levels Thursday on 12^th February 2026

T Levels Thursday will be held on Thursday 12^th February 2026 as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2026.

A T Levels Toolkit has been published here and contains lots of great ideas on how to showcase your students and employers using #TLevelThursday.

There is also an events map and we would encourage you to use the map to publicise any events you are planning for T Level Thursday and throughout the week.

Employer Support Fund (ESF) – Second Claims Window Now Open

The second claims window for the Employer Support Fund will remain open until 11:59pm on 30 November 2025. We encourage all providers signed up to the fund (running until March 2026) to make full use of your allocation to support employers in delivering high-quality T Level industry placements. Many employers cite cost as a key barrier to offering placements, and the ESF is designed to help overcome this by covering essential expenses.

Important update on evidence for staff time claims:
To make claiming easier for all employers, we can confirm that invoices can be used as evidence for staff time claims and meet the requirement for a ‘receipt’. This applies to costs for placement setup, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation. An invoice should include:

• Number of students supported
• Total hours claimed
• Hourly rate (max £35/hour)
• Total amount claimed
• Reason for time claimed (e.g., setup, supervision, mentoring)

Useful resources and guidance:

• Employer Support Fund FY25–26 – Online Claims Tool Guidance
• ESF: Guidance for Providers and Employers – GOV.UK
• Employer Staff Time Receipt Template – T Levels Support
• ESF Webinar that includes a demonstration of how to upload claims to the online tool

If you need support accessing the claims tool or have any questions, please contact us at employer.supportfund@education.gov.uk

National T Levels Week 2026

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories for T Levels Week. The number of posts, media stories and events made the week a great success.

We are now turning our thoughts to National T Levels Week 2026 and would love to hear from you. Do you having any reflections on the week -did the themed days work well or would you like to see other themes next year? Is there anything you would like to see or any support that would help you plan your activities? Do let us know at TLevel.DELIVERY@education.gov.uk

New Digital ATE Resources for Teachers and Careers Leaders

The new resources aim to support awareness raising of Apprenticeships, T Levels and HTQs among students, and is complete with delivery notes for teachers or Careers Leaders to deliver to students with minimal preparation. 

The resources are intended to support high quality information reaching young people to inform their future decision-making and when used in line with Provider Access Legislation (PAL) guidance, this delivery could contribute to a school’s PAL compliance.  

The resources can also be found on the Amazing Apprenticeships website.

Want to know more…

Join our webinar on Tuesday 2nd December at 3:45pm for guidance, best practice, and FAQs. Please share this registration link with teachers, Careers Leaders, and stakeholders:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YR1Oq4imR_m6FOkVQI11aA#/registration

News from Stakeholders

Practical support for every T Level role 

The Education Training Foundation’s (ETF) Role Specific courses provide practical, non-subject specific training to support your T Level delivery. Whether you're new to technical education or refining your approach, these sessions focus on effective teaching, assessment, and curriculum planning. Book your place on these upcoming live online sessions:

• Teaching and Assessing T Levels in Schools – Curriculum planning and effective pedagogy – 26 November, 3.30–5pm.
• Assessment in T Levels in FE Part 1 – 27 November, 1.30–4pm.
• Assessment in T Levels in FE Part 2 – 1 December 1.30–4pm.
• Teaching and Assessing T Levels in Schools Embedded English, maths and digital in T Levels and implications for assessment – 3 December 3.30–5pm.

 Elevate your T Level delivery with Route Specific Training

Route courses provide subject-specific support for teaching staff delivering T Levels, covering delivery and assessment, critical legislation, and planning considerations. Secure your space on these upcoming live online sessions designed to build your subject knowledge:

• Teaching and Learning on the Animal Care and Management T Level Part 1 – 24 November, 1–3.30pm.
• Teaching and Learning on the Animal Care and Management T Level Part 2 – 25 November, 1–3.30pm.
• Teaching and Learning on the Management and Administration T Level Part 1 – 25 November, 9.15–11.45am.
• Teaching and Learning on the Management and Administration T Level Part 2 – 25 November, 1–3.30pm.

 Apply to be a TRIP Advisor 

 As a TRIP Resource Advisor, you’ll play a key role in shaping high-quality technical content for T Levels. You will review technical content aligned to a specific T Level and brief. This may include core content, core skills, or occupational specialism materials. You’ll be a part of a collaborative workshop in London in 2026 and receive £1,000 in funding to cover aspects of the role such as travel expenses. Apply before 24 November. 

 Celebrate progress and plan ahead with T Level Networks

This Curriculum Impact Network invites you to pause, reflect, and celebrate your achievements for the 24-25 academic year. Together, we’ll explore national trends, local successes, and individual milestones, while identifying key insights to shape your planning for the year ahead.

Join us live online on Wednesday 19 November for a collaborative session focused on shared priorities and emerging themes across the T Level landscape. Secure your place today.

News from Awarding Organisations

City & Guilds:

Access City & Guilds' VTQ Communications Hub to read their VTQ newsletters: VTQ Communications | City & Guilds

Access City & Guilds' revised resources for 2025-2026, including key dates and new assessment guidance, through the T Levels Resource Hub: Resource Hub - T Levels | City & Guilds

Sign up for City & Guilds' T Levels Q&A sessions and face-to-face networks: Events and webinars - T Levels | City & Guilds

NCFE:

NCFE have updated their website with essential information about the T Level autumn assessment series, focusing on the core exams and employer set projects (ESP) that students will be completing this autumn. You can also visit the provider hub for all the latest updates.

Building Brighter Futures, Education and Early Years T Level Conference:  Join NCFE on Wednesday 1 July 2026 at the Radisson Hotel, York, for the Education and Early Years T Level Conference. This full-day event is dedicated to celebrating, developing, and strengthening the delivery of the Education and Early Years T Level. Book your place to join colleagues from schools, colleges, higher education institutions, and employer partners to share best practice, explore innovation, and reflect on the opportunities and challenges in T Levels.

Eduqas:

Additional materials to support T Level in Building Services Engineering:  Eduqas and EAL have published additional Sample Assessment Materials for the Core Exam and Exemplar Responses for the Employer Set Project. These can be downloaded, alongside all other support materials from the subject page.