Using T Level Industry Placement objective and learning goal resources
Contents
Introduction
A high-quality T Level industry placement requires clear, purposeful learning objectives that are jointly agreed between the provider, employer and student. These objectives should be aligned to the student’s T Level curriculum and stage of learning, while also reflecting meaningful workplace tasks.
To support this process, a suite of practical resources has been developed to help teachers, tutors and employer engagement staff work collaboratively to design and agree learning objectives and SMART goals.
This guidance note outlines how to use these resources effectively, in line with the expectations set out in the Department for Education’s formal delivery guidance.
The T Level industry placement delivery guidance states:
The student’s industry placement objectives templates must include a set of stretching learning goals. These should be set by the teacher responsible for the student’s technical study programme and agreed with the employer and student in advance of the placement starting.”
It also highlights the importance of:
• aligning goals with course content and typical workplace activities
• reflecting the stage of the student’s development
• including employers in the development and review of objectives
• adapting and updating goals as the placement progresses
The resources described below are designed to help you meet these expectations confidently and efficiently.
How to use the resources
The process of setting objectives and learning goals is collaborative, involving the tutor, the employer, the employer engagement lead, and the student. The roles and suggested flow of activity are outlined below.
1. Initial employer discussion
Employer engagement staff liaise with the employer to explore suitable tasks and placement activities. Use the typical tasks checklist (or similar) to identify what’s feasible.
2. Curriculum review and objective planning
The teacher/tutor reviews the relevant core curriculum and occupational specialism content and considers the student’s progress, to begin drafting placement objectives.
3. Drafting objectives and SMART learning goals
Teacher/tutors use the objective-setting template to create:
- 2 to 3 broad placement objectives
- 2 to 3 SMART learning goals per objective
- ensure learning goals can be assessed by behaviours and technical ability descriptors as defined in Annex F
These should clearly link to workplace activities, curriculum outcomes and allow students to show progression.
4. Employer input and refinement
Share the drafted goals with the employer to confirm they align with real tasks and to gather feedback.
5. Student preparation and sign-off
The teacher/tutor discusses the agreed objectives and learning goals with the student, ensures they understand expectations, and finalises the documentation. In some cases, it may be appropriate to involve parents/carers.
6. Mid-point and final reviews
Review progress during the placement. Objectives and goals can be updated if activities need to change and/or stretch tasks become appropriate. Use Annex F as the benchmark for mid and end-of-placement reviews.
Downloadable resources
| Resource | Description |
| Objective & learning goal template | A word template for setting placement objectives and multiple SMART goals per objective, with space for linked tasks, skills, and evidence. Includes sign-off sections. |
| Completed example (management & administration – business support) | A worked example of the template showing objectives and learning goals linked to real placement tasks and curriculum skills. |
| Process flow (diagram) | A clear step-by-step outline showing who leads each part of the objective-setting process (tutor, employer, student). |
| AI as co-planner: practical guide | A short guide with suggested prompt library and document types to use with AI tools, helping tutors save time and generate tailored, curriculum-linked goals. |
Final note
These resources are not mandatory but are designed to help you meet the requirements of the formal delivery guidance and deliver high-quality, curriculum-aligned placement experiences.
You are encouraged to adapt the template and prompts to suit your subject area, local employer offer, and student needs.
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