The next level qualification
Designed with employers and businesses in mind
Download Employer T-levels brochure
T Levels are new courses coming in September 2020 equivalent to 3 A Levels. (This means pupils who entered year 10 in September 2018 will be the first to be able to study them).
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. T-level students will be required to complete a work placement of 45-60 days in length, covering a minimum of 315 hours.
T Levels will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship
T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE’s alongside
- Apprenticeships for students who wish to learn an occupation ‘on the job’
- A levels for students who wish to continue academic education
T Levels will be based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA). The total time for a T Level will be around 1,800 hours over 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses. This differs from an apprenticeship, which are typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom
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
Students who pass all the elements of their T Level will get a nationally recognised certificate showing an overall grade of pass, merit or distinction. It will also set out the details of what students have achieved on the course.
The T Level certificate will include
- an overall pass grade for the T Level, shown as pass, merit or distinction
- a separate grade for the occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction
- a separate grade for the core component, using A* to E
- grades for maths and English qualifications
- details of the industry placement
T Levels will become available in Worcestershire from September 2021 and the sectors available will be introduced over a period of 3 years.
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
Autumn 2022
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- legal
- finance
- accounting
- maintenance, installation and repair
- manufacturing and process
- design, development and control
- human resources
- management and administration
Autumn 2023
T Level courses start in these subject areas:
- animal care and management
- agriculture, land management and production
- craft and design
- cultural heritage and visitor attractions
- media, broadcast and production
- hair, beauty and aesthetics
- catering
T Level industry placements – what employers say
For more information about T Levels, visit GOV.UK Introduction of T-Levels