Past Events

Accelerating the Rollout of T Levels: A Three Year Progress Report

Date:     Thursday 6th July 2023

Time:     10:00am - 3:30pm

Venue:  ONLINE Live Conference


  • Event Abstract
  • Programme
  • Key Speakers
  • Who Should Attend?
  • Marketing Opportunities

In September 2020, the phased introduction of T Levels began for students in England, offering young people a rigorous technical alternative to A Levels. Three years on, there are now over 10,000 students studying T Levels across 16 subject areas with an additional two subjects in Legal Services and Agriculture, Land Management and Production being added in September 2023. Whilst the rollout in the first three years has demonstrated encouraging progress, there have also been some implementation challenges to the programme, centred around teacher recruitment and retention, industry placements and consistency of course excellence. In March 2023, the Education Secretary announced the delay in the introduction of four subjects due to concerns over quality assurance: Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics; Craft and Design; Media Broadcast and Production; and Catering.

Recognising the need to address these challenges, the Government underpinned its commitment to the offer with significant investment, including £3.8bn in further education and skills across this Parliament, £1.6bn of which will be used for T Levels delivery. Furthermore, an additional £400m has been announced for providers to improve buildings and facilities, as well as a 10% uplift in T Level revenue funding and a new £12m Employer Support Fund to help with industry placements. Whilst this funding will help deliver T Levels in the years to come, in order to ensure their continued success, it is vital to improve awareness amongst students, teachers, parents and employers, enhance progression routes and deliver high quality industry placements for young people.

This timely online live conference offers an invaluable opportunity for key partners from schools, FE providers, universities, local authorities, awarding bodies, training providers and employers to explore the lessons learned from the first three years of T Levels, examine what has worked well and discuss how to tackle the latest implementation challenges ahead of the wider rollout. The webinar provides a key platform to consider the impact of the latest T Levels Action Plan and explore how to harness the power of collaboration to strengthen local partnerships. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from best practice and share ideas to improve the delivery of high-quality technical education that meets the skills needs of the future, drive levelling up and improve social mobility for young people across the country.

Why Attend?

  • Live webinar featuring presentations and panel discussions with a wide range of policymakers and key officials
  • Hear the latest policy updates from the Department for Education on the rollout of T Levels and the impact of recent changes in the latest T Levels Action Plan
  • Explore how to overcome T Level implementation challenges, including how to ensure high quality provision and deliver successful industry placements
  • Learn best practice from experts developing and delivering T Levels nationally
  • Interactive Question Time sessions with opportunities to engage with all speakers
  • Gather knowledge to successfully design, develop and deliver T Levels programmes for your institution
  • Share ideas with fellow participants from further education, employers, industry, awarding bodies, local government and other key statutory agencies
  • On Demand – Exclusive access to speaker presentations and post-event resources

  • Resource - Introduction of T Levels

    Guidance - 18th March 2021: T Level Industry Placements Delivery Guidance

    Guidance - 17th December 2021: T Levels: Next Steps for Providers

    Guidance - 4th March 2022: T Level Resources for Universities

    Guidance - 13th April 2022: T Level Funding

    News - 11th May 2022: T Level Rollout Takes Next Steps

    News - 24th October 2022: Providers Committed to Making T levels a Success, But Challenges Remain

    Report - 24th October 2022: A Review of the Quality of T-level Courses: Interim Report

    Policy Paper - T Level Action Plan

    9:30am

    Delegate Online Login


    10:00am

    Introduction by Conference Organiser


    10:05am

    Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks


    10:10am

    Keynote Session:

    T Levels after Three Years – A Progress Report

  • A policy update on T Levels – Examining the impact of the latest T Levels Action Plan
  • Lessons Learned – Exploring the successes and challenges from the first two waves of T Levels
  • Closing the skills gap – Ensuring FE provision responds to local and national skills needs
  • Looking to the future – Preparing for the wider rollout of T Levels

  • 10:30am

    Keynote Session: Questions and Discussion


    10:45am

    Comfort Break


    10:50am

    Panel Session One:

    Accelerating the Successful Rollout of T Levels

  • Raising awareness – Widening the understanding of the opportunities T Levels offer students, providers and employers
  • Ensuring the T Level Transition Programme adequately prepares students for T Level study
  • Adapting and improving curriculum development, design and delivery to meet industry standards
  • Upgrading facilities – Using the T Levels Capital Fund (TLCF) to modernise facilities and ensure students have access to industry-standard specialist equipment
  • Embedding excellent careers advice and guidance into all T Level provision

  • 11:50am

    Panel Session One: Questions and Discussion


    12:05pm

    Comfort Break


    12:35pm

    Panel Session Two:

    Tackling Implementation Challenges

  • Improving student recruitment and access, including those with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Delivering consistently high-quality T Level provision and ensuring courses meet the needs of all learners
  • Enhancing progression routes – Creating clear pathways into higher education, apprenticeships or employment
  • Upskilling staff – Enhancing professional development to advance teaching skills, subject knowledge and staff retention
  • Overcoming geographical challenges – Delivering T Levels in every area including in rural settings where industry placements may be less accessible

  • 1:35pm

    Panel Session Two: Questions and Discussion


    1:50pm

    Comfort Break


    2:05pm

    Panel Session Three:

    Harnessing the Power of Collaboration – Delivering Successful Placements through Partnerships between Employers and Providers

  • Meeting the local and national skills need – Developing partnerships between local government, FE providers and employers to shape local skills provision and ensure placements fill gaps
  • Ensuring T Level curriculum aligns with local industry needs
  • Improving industry awareness – Strengthening relationships with local employers to help students secure high-quality placements
  • Utilising the new Employer Placement Fund for set-up expenses, equipment and staff training
  • Embedding flexibility into placements to guarantee they work for both employers and students

  • 3:05pm

    Panel Session Three: Questions and Discussion


    3:20pm

    Final Questions and Chair's Summary & Closing Comments


    3:30pm

    End of Online Conference

    *Please note the programme and timings are subject to slight alteration without notice

    DfE

    Stella Pearson, Deputy Director, T Levels Division, Department for Education


    IATE

    Carmel Grant, Deputy Director, Commissioning and Development, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education


    AoC

    Stephanie Crane, Delivery Lead - T Level Programmes, Association of Colleges


    ET-Foundation

    Cerian Ayres, National Head of Technical Education, Education and Training Foundation


    City & Guilds

    Patrick Craven, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, Policy and Contracts, City & Guilds


    IBM

    Anna Withrington, Intern Schemes Lead, IBM Foundation; Chair, T Level Digital Support Services Design Panel


    City College Norwich

    Lucy Whitwood, Director of Technical Education and Apprenticeships, City College Norwich


    Nelson and Colne College Group

    Morag Davis, Assistant Principal for Technical Curriculum, Nelson and Colne College Group


    B&TC

    Louise Rowley, Vice Principal, Bridgwater and Taunton College


    Nelson and Colne College Group

    Suzanne Hall, Head of Product, Technical and Professional Qualifications, Pearson


    ET-Foundation

    Paul Bailey (Chair & Moderator), Regional Head of Engagement - South East, East and London, Education and Training Foundation


    • Representatives from FE Colleges
    • Representatives from Schools
    • Headteachers
    • Deputy Headteachers
    • Local Education Authority Officers
    • Central Government Departments
    • Principals
    • Assistant & Vice Principals
    • Directors of Curriculum
    • Curriculum Managers
    • Directors of Studies
    • Directors of Quality
    • Heads of Vocational Education
    • Quality Assurance Practitioners
    • Standards Leads
    • Further Education Lecturers
    • Heads of Teaching & Learning
    • Registrars & Academic Registrars
    • Heads of Employment & Skills
    • Heads of Work-based Learning
    • Qualifications Managers
    • Teaching & Learning Specialists
    • Business Development Managers
    • Heads of Strategic Partnerships
    • Heads of Career Pathways
    • Strategic Partnership Managers
    • Neighbourhood Co-ordinators
    • Local Authority 14-19 Managers
    • Local Authority 14-19 Officers
    • Key Delivery Partners from Education & Childcare, Construction & Digital Sectors
    • Training Providers
    • Academics & Researchers
    • Industry & Private Sector
    • Awarding Bodies

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