Overview of T Levels
T Levels offer students a technical route into engineering and technology careers. Available for students post-16, the technical qualification is designed in partnership with employers to help solve industry skills gaps and build a skilled future workforce.
T Levels combine technical classroom-based learning and practical industry experience. Young people get the opportunity to experience working life firsthand, develop vital new skills and build a relationship with employers in their chosen field.
A key part of the qualification is a 45-day industry placement. Industry placements provide great benefits to both students and employers. For employers, hosting placements fills vital skills gaps, encourages diversity in the workforce and creates a pipeline of high-quality talent. For students, the placement allows young people to be immersed in their chosen sector, build and develop essential skills.
T Levels research
Our research suggests that more needs to be done to raise awareness of T Levels, both for students, parents and employers.
Industry placements are an important part of the T Level qualification. However, research shows there is a concerning shortfall of placements available for young people. In 2022, we published a joint report with Make UK, ‘Unlocking talent: ensuring T Levels deliver the workforce of the future’. Findings suggest that there needs to be between 30,000 and 43,500 placements by 2024/2025 in the engineering and manufacturing sector alone to meet demand.
Young people and their influencers also lack awareness and understanding of what T Levels are, though the numbers taking them are on the up. Our Anyone for T? Awareness of T Levels in England report, published in November 2022 shows that the majority (63%) of young people did not know what T Levels were at all.
Findings indicate for employers, while nearly three quarters (72%) of employers surveyed said that they have heard of T Levels, fewer than a third (28%) told us that they had both heard of them and understand what they involve.
T Level completions and results
Despite challenges, T Levels are growing in the number of young people choosing them and the subjects being made available. In August 2024, 7,380 students received T Level results, twice as many in 2023. 89% of students received a pass.
Additionally, around half of all T Level students completing their course studied engineering and technology related subjects. However, more needs to be done to grow the 9% of female students taking engineering and technology related T Levels.
There is also room for improvement in the Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing course, which has a 70% pass rate.
