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Further Education & T-Levels

What is Further Education (FE)?

Further Education (FE) refers to educational choices made after your 16th birthday. It covers all qualifcations lower than a degree. Everyone has to study FE until they are 18.

In 2014, it became compulsory for all students to continue in one form of further education or another until their 18 birthday. If staying on at school does not appeal, then there are plenty of alternatives such as a sixth form college or an independent FE provider or institution. You could also consider an apprenticeship.

The accepted forms of Further Education for 16+ are:

A Levels - By far the most common form of FE, this is what you’re most likely to study if you stay in school for sixth form.

Art Foundation Diploma Course - This is a BTEC vocational course that is for school leavers wishing to either test the water and see if they like studying art or is for students who are certain that they want to do a BA in fine art.

BTEC Nationals - BTEC Nationals, otherwise known as The Business and Technology Education Council qualification, are overseen by Pearson. For students who want to hone practical skills and theory simultaneously while being tested, largely, by continuous assessment, they are an ideal choice.

HNCs & HNDs - Many people will know BTEC Highers by the acronym HNC, Higher National Certificate and HND, Higher National Diploma.

NVQs - National Vocational Qualifications are excellent qualifications for certain fields.

If you are considering FE outside of 6th form, have a look at local opportunities here : https://www.buckscollegegroup.ac.uk/

T Levels: what they are

T Levels are new courses coming in September 2020, which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to 3 A Levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work.

T Levels will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days). They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

Students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas:

accountancy
agriculture, land management and production
animal care and management
building services engineering
catering
craft and design
cultural heritage and visitor attractions
design and development
design, surveying and planning
digital business services
digital production, design and development
digital support and services
education
financial
hair, beauty and aesthetics
health
healthcare science
human resources
legal
maintenance, installation and repair
management and administration
manufacturing, processing and control
media, broadcast and production
onsite construction
science

When they will start

The first 3 T Levels will be available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England in September 2020. This means pupils who entered year 10 in September 2018 will be the first to be able to study them.

A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021.

We have published a list of the providers who’ll be offering these courses.

How T Levels will work with other qualifications

T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside:

apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
A levels for students who wish to continue academic education

We are currently reviewing post-GCSE qualifications to create a simpler, high-quality system that students, parents and employers will all understand.

T Levels will be based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). We expect the total time for a T Level to be around 1,800 hours over the 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses.

This differs from an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who know what occupation they want to pursue, want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.

How T Levels are being developed

Employers and providers are working together to develop each T Level, with support from DfE and the Institute. Groups of employers define the skills and requirements for each T Level course by participating in T Level panels. This ensures that students taking T Levels will develop the technical knowledge and skills required by employers in that industry.

The T Level panels have been developing the content for the qualification, based on the same standards as apprenticeships and these plans are being tested and reviewed with students, education providers and employers.

Structure of a T Level

T Level courses will include the following compulsory elements:

- a technical qualification, which will include
- core theory, concepts and skills for an industry area
- specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career
- an industry placement with an employer
- a minimum standard in maths and English if students have not already achieved them

Industry placements

Every T Level will include an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. These will last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer. Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary.

Providers will support employers offering industry placements. This will include assistance with the necessary paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and National Apprenticeship Service (part of ESFA) will work with employers and providers on industry placements.

Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements can contact 08000 150 600 or email tlevel.placement@education.gov.uk.

Grading and certification

Students who complete their T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. They will get a nationally recognised certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.

The T Level certificate will include:

an overall grade for the T Level, shown as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
a separate grade for the core component, using A* to E
a separate grade for each occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction

It will also include confirmation that the student has:

met the minimum requirements for maths and English qualifications
completed the industry placement
met any additional mandatory requirements

A student’s overall T Level grade will be worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialism(s).

Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level will get a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.

UCAS tariff points

T Levels will provide several progression options to students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and higher education.

To help T Level students get into higher education, UCAS tariff points will be allocated to T Levels.

UCAS points will only be allocated to the overall T Level grade. Students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.

UCAS tariff pointsT Level overall gradeA level

168

Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism)

AAA*

144

Distinction

AAA

120

Merit

BBB

Pass (C or above on the core)

CCC

Pass (D or E on the core)

DDD

Funding and support for providers

We recognise that significant additional funding will be needed for the successful introduction and delivery of T Levels.

We have already announced additional funding of £500 million a year, once T Levels are fully rolled out, to help providers meet the costs of additional teaching hours and organising industry placements.

Eligible providers will be able to apply for funding for up-to-date equipment and facilities. They will also be able to access training to help prepare their teachers and leaders.

We have now published how we intend to fund T Levels, visit T Levels: next steps for providers for more information.

Timeline

Autumn 2020

First T Level courses start for specific occupations in 3 industries:

digital production, design and development
design, surveying and planning
education

Autumn 2021

T Level courses start in these subject areas:

building services engineering
digital business services
digital support and services
health
healthcare science
onsite construction
science

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