On Sunday, the Government announced the first 52 colleges and post-16 providers to teach new T levels.
The courses, that will be equivalent to A levels, will provide young people with a technical alternative to post-16 education.
Starting in September 2020, construction, digital, and education & childcare are the first three courses to be taught. A further 22 courses will be rolled out in stages from 2021, covering a number of sectors including finance and accounting, engineering and manufacturing, and creative and design.
In its response to the Implementation of T level programmes consultation, TIGA welcomed the establishment of new high-quality qualifications. The Government has now published their response to the consultation, in which the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds MP, committed to working with businesses and learning from our international competitors to ensure these new qualifications lead to a generational shift in technical education.
The consultation response confirms the nature of these new qualifications including:
- course content created by expert panels of employers to make sure young people have the knowledge and skills needed;
- 3 month compulsory industry placements that will give young people the experience and wider skills they need to be ready for the world of work; and
- standards assured by Ofqual and the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) so that T Levels remain high-quality and are valued by employers.