12 January 2023 - T Level Newsletter
This week's newsletter includes updates on:
- Updated T Level industry placements delivery guidance
- Specialist Equipment Allocation: Monitoring Form B due 27 January 2023
- Find employers waiting to Connect near you
- Higher Technical Qualifications – a high-quality progression option for T-Level students
- Opportunity to join new research and development project of T Level curriculum
- AoC T Level support events
- TLTP support events
- IfATE launches new TQ student forum
- Awarding Organisation Updates
Updated T Level industry placements delivery guidance
We wrote to you on 10th Jan to announce that we have introduced some permanent changes to how T Level industry placements can be delivered to provide more flexibility and widen the pool of employers that can offer placements. The new delivery approaches can be used with immediate effect. You can find guidance on the approaches here.
On Wednesday 18th January (11am) and Thursday 19th January (12pm), we will be running webinars to provide further information and answer any questions you may have. Invites for these were sent out last week. For any further questions, please contact the industry placements policy team at industry.placements@education.gov.uk
Specialist Equipment Allocation: Monitoring Form B due 27 January 2023
This is a reminder to all providers who received SEA funding as part of Wave 3, the deadline for returning the Monitoring Form B is Friday 27 January.
It is important that this form is returned to us, so that we can confirm that your use of the allocation is compliant with the regulations set out in the T Level Capital Fund Guidance and your grant offer letter. If the equipment you have purchased is significantly different to the equipment you listed in the monitoring form A, you will need to provide the details of all the equipment purchased. Completing the form is a condition of funding set out in your grant offer letter.
The form can be found here. If you have any questions regarding the form, please contact routesreadiness.te@education.gov.uk.
Find employers waiting to Connect near you
Further to the launch of our new Connect with Employers interested in T Levels service, there are now over 40 Employers listed in locations across England looking to connect with providers on opportunities relating to a wide range of T Levels, including Digital, Construction, Business and Administration, and many more. Use your DfE sign in account now to connect across all T Levels in your area. Find out more here.
Higher Technical Qualifications – a high-quality progression option for T-Level students
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are level 4 or 5 qualifications that have been quality marked to show that they provide the skills and knowledge that employers say they need. HTQs can offer T-Level students who are interested in continuing their study a high-quality option that is offered in further education colleges, Institutes of Technology, and universities. They can be studied in different ways, including full-time, part-time and either in-person or as a distance learning option.
HTQs in digital occupations are already available, and health and science sectors will start being taught from September 2023. A full roll-out of the 15 technical routes will be completed by 2025.
For further information including a list of providers offering HTQs see Higher Technical Qualification: overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Many Higher Technical Qualifications can also be applied through UCAS and the main application deadline for 2023 entry is 25th Jan 2023.
Opportunity to join new research and development project focused on the macro-sequencing of T Level curriculum
T Levels require a new model of curriculum planning and sequencing. Providers have the flexibility to deliver programme elements (including the core content and skills, employer set project, occupational specialism, industry placement, and embedding appropriate maths, English and digital skills) to meet student need.
T Level providers must plan and deliver the qualification over the two-year programme, ensuring the fundamental elements are in place and sequenced effectively to develop the student’s skills, knowledge, and behaviours appropriately in preparation for their early careers.
This new project, supported by the Gatsby Foundation, will bring together wave 1 and wave 2 T Level providers to identify and share best practice in macro-sequencing. Five route-based focus groups will be established in construction, digital, engineering and manufacturing, health and science, and agriculture environmental and animal care.
Providers will have the opportunity to attend two sessions where they will collectively explore effective models of curriculum sequencing for different students, locations and provider types. Recommended models will be produced and shared to support providers as they scale up T Level delivery.
The focus groups will run in January and April, with dates to be confirmed. If you would like to register your interest in joining this project, please email projects@aoc.co.uk with the T Level route you would like to join.
AoC T Level support events
9 Month Countdown – Where are you now in Terms of Strategic Planning?
Webinar – Online
Thursday 19th January 2023
15:30-17:00
This event will feature Chris Cherry from Strategic Development Network (SDN) and a provider guest speaker who started delivering T Levels in 2020 or 2021. This webinar is aimed at T Level Leads.
Webinar - Online
Friday 20th January 2023
09:30-11:00
This event is for 2024 providers to gain insight from 2020 & 2021 providers and will feature guest speakers from a range of provider types. This event is aimed at T Level Leads.
TLTP support events
There are a number of support events for providers delivering T Level Transition Programmes taking place over the next month as follows:
Webinar – Planning and Delivery of the Route Based Project: Tuesday 17 January 2023, 15:30 – 16:30
This event is for staff managing the delivery of TLTP for Round 3 providers (providers who began their TLTP delivery from the 2022-23 Academic Year) and is an opportunity to discuss delivery and assessment of the route-based project on the T Level Transition Programme and hear about best practice from other providers. You can book your tickets for the event here .
Webinar - Planning for success in maths and English: Wednesday 18 January 2023, 15:30 – 16:30
This event is for English and maths leads of Round 4 TLTP Providers (providers planning to start their TLTP delivery from the 2023-24 Academic Year) and will discuss strategies to consider in the planning of the T Level Transition Programme for maximising success on English and maths. You can book your tickets for the event here.
Technical Focus Group (TFG) Event 2- Preparing to Teach TLTP
These events are for staff involved in delivery of the technical content of TLTP (e.g., teachers, curriculum leads/ managers) of any provider planning to deliver a TLTP route for the first time. It builds on the ‘Introduction to teaching the TLTP’ events held online during December 2022. The content will include:
- A detailed exploration of the National Technical Outcomes (NTOs) with a focus on the inclusion of the Route Based Project (RBP)
- An exploration of approaches to monitor student progress and support their progression to T Levels
- An opportunity to network, collaborate and share ideas with others planning for delivery.
Events will cover all routes and be repeated across different dates and venues for providers convenience. Providers can attend any one of the following sessions:
North 1 – Preston College, Monday 23 January 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
North 2 – City of Liverpool College, Tuesday 24 January 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
North 3 – York College, Wednesday 25 January 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
Central 1 – Loughborough College, Tuesday 31 January 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
Central 2 – Suffolk New College, Wednesday 1 February 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
Central 3 – West Thames College, Thursday 2 February 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
South 1 – Weston College, Tuesday 7 February 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
South 2 – Petroc, Wednesday 8 February 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
South 3 – Chichester College, Thursday 9 February 2023, 09.30 – 16.00.
Click on the name of the College where you wish to attend to book your event tickets.
IfATE launches new TQ student forum
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has created a new forum to represent students following a technical qualification (TQ). The TQ student forum will play an important role in helping IfATE to understand and take account of the TQ student experience in its work.
This is a great opportunity for TQ students to share their feedback, represent TQ student views in meetings with employers, government ministers and IfATE’s board, and take part in activities to promote the benefits of technical education. The forum will meet virtually for up to an hour around three times a year.
With the recruitment process now in full swing, we have signed up current and graduate students, but we are keen to grow our membership. We are on the lookout for great students to join our forum.
If your college or school would like to nominate someone or find out more about the forum, please email: TQStudent.FORUM@education.gov.uk.
Awarding Organisation Updates
Pearson
Pearson’s January E-Bulletin was published and included the following:
- Q&A Networks and Training events
- Registrations and Entries
- Legal Services update
Highfield
Are you preparing to deliver the T Level in Catering from September 2023?
Highfield are keen to schedule support meetings with all providers eligible to deliver the T Level in Catering from September 2023. Your involvement is encouraged to ensure all key personnel within your organisation are accessing the available support to assist you with your planning and preparations for delivery. To schedule a support meeting please do get in touch with Highfield at tlevels@highfield.co.uk
IfATE
Animal Care and Science
Following a recent consultation on the draft outline content, IfATE will be progressing development of a new T Level Occupational Specialism (OS) for Animal Care and Science. The aim of this OS is to provide students with employment or entry into higher education. This OS will be an option within the Animal Care and Management T Level and sit alongside the Animal Care and Management specialism. Development of the Equine Care and Management Occupational Specialism will remain paused whilst the aligned standards are being revised. This work is expected to conclude in Summer 2023.
The updated outline content has been published here.
City and Guilds will commence work on this OS shortly and will welcome the chance to consult with Providers throughout to support the development. If you would like to be contacted by City and Guilds to be involved, please email Sarah.Cocks@cityandguilds.com
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