Events

T Levels and Technical Education National Conference: Lessons Learned from the First Five Years

Date:     Thursday 10th July 2025

Time:     10:00am - 3:30pm

Venue:  ONLINE Live Conference - Check Your System / Device Compatibility


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

Since their launch in 2020, T Levels have been designed as a rigorous technical alternative to A Levels in England. In just five years, around 30,000 students have enrolled in T Level courses across more than 200 schools and colleges, with 21 subjects on offer, including health and science, digital technology, and legal services. The new Labour Government has pledged to tackle the skills gap by investing in technical education, including T Levels, emphasising their role in equipping young people with the vital skills needed for their future success and driving national economic growth.

Whilst much progress being made, significant challenges remain in the implementation of T Levels, particularly regarding course quality, placements, and the recruitment and retention of both students and staff. To address some of these issues, the Government announced significant reforms to industry placements in December 2024, aimed at enhancing flexibility and accessibility. These reforms include allowing up to 20% of the 315-hour placement to be completed remotely for most courses, with the allowance increased to 50% for Digital T Level students. Additionally, simulated placements can now be conducted within educational institutions, under the supervision of industry placement employers. These changes aim to ensure that T Levels align with workplace trends, providing students with practical experience in dynamic and evolving industries.

This Policy Foresight online live conference offers a timely opportunity for key stakeholders from schools, FE providers, local authorities, awarding bodies, training providers, and employers to examine recent updates to T Levels, including placement guidance. The event will explore the future direction of T Levels, including the forthcoming Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) and its broader impact on technical education policy. As the T Level rollout continues, participants will gain insights from experts and discuss ways to enhance student and teacher recruitment, improve course content and strengthen collaboration with employers to ensure T Levels remain a high-quality and effective technical qualification for all students.

Why Attend?

  • Live webinar featuring presentations and panel discussions with a wide range of policymakers and key officials
  • Interactive Question Time sessions with opportunities to engage directly with all speakers
  • Assess the Government’s latest T Level updates, including the potential impact of the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) on wider technical education and skills policy
  • Examine recent changes to industry placements guidance, including the introduction of flexible remote options, route-level placements, and simulated placement activity
  • Gather knowledge on successfully designing, developing and delivering T Levels
  • Explore strategies to overcome T Level delivery challenges by strengthening local employer partnerships, improving teacher and student recruitment and retention, enhancing course content, and expanding progression opportunities
  • Share ideas with fellow participants from further education, employers, industry, awarding bodies and Government
  • On Demand – Exclusive access to speaker presentations and post-event resources

    • Resource - Introduction of T Levels

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

    Guidance - 23rd October 2023: T Level Industry Placements Delivery Guidance

    Guidance - 1st February 2024: T Levels: Next Steps for Providers

    Guidance - 13th February 2024: T Level Funding

    Guidance - 4th March 2024: T Level Resources for Universities

    Policy Paper - T Level Action Plan: 2023-2024

    News - 24th July 2024: Focused review of Post-16 qualifications reform at level 3 and below

    Consultation - 25th September 2024: ‘National conversation’ on curriculum begins: Improving the curriculum and assessment system

    News - 13th November 2024: Skills Minister's keynote address to the Association of Colleges

    News - 2nd December 2024: T Level placements reformed to open up new qualification

    9:30am

    Delegate Online Login

    10:00am

    Introduction by Webinar Organiser

    10:05am

    Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks

    Paul Bailey, Associate Director - T Level Professional Development, Education and Training Foundation

    10:10am

    Keynote Session:

    T Levels at Five – Shaping Technical Education for the Future

  • Aligning T Levels with national priorities – Examining the central role of T Levels in driving economic growth and addressing local and national skills demands
  • Analysing key lessons from the first five years and exploring the next phase of T Level expansion
  • Assessing the potential impact of the Curriculum and Assessment Review on wider technical education and skills policy
  • Exploring the role of the T Level Capital Fund in supporting providers to develop world-class facilities and equipment

    • 10:30am

    Keynote Session: Questions and Discussion

    11:00am

    Comfort Break

    11:10am

    Panel Session One:

    Boosting Awareness, Recruitment and Preparedness for T Levels

  • Raising awareness of T Levels – Promoting a clear understanding of the value T Levels bring to students, providers and employers
  • Delivering an effective T-Level Foundation Year Programme that fully prepares students for the rigorous demands of the qualification
  • Fostering immersive learning environments that cater to diverse student needs and deliver practical skills development
  • Improving the recruitment and professional development of staff to elevate teaching quality and subject expertise

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

    12:00pm

    Panel Session One: Questions and Discussion

    12:15pm

    Comfort Break

    1:00pm

    Panel Session Two:

    Enhancing Course Quality and Improving Student Outcomes

  • Exploring the future role of Skills England – Shaping the development, delivery, and improvement of T Levels course content
  • Creating clear progression opportunities from T Levels into higher technical qualifications (HTQs), degree apprenticeships, employment and higher education
  • Simplifying T Levels assessments and qualifications to better support all students, especially for those with special educational needs (SEND)
  • Equipping students with essential workplace skills and industry-specific competencies to ensure they are prepared for their placements

    • Pamela Rahman, Associate Director for T Levels, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

    Catherine Sezen, Director of Education Policy, Association of Colleges

    1:50pm

    Panel Session Two: Questions and Discussion

    2:05pm

    Comfort Break

    2:15pm

    Panel Session Three:

    Transforming Placements by Strengthening Employer Collaboration

  • Fostering collaboration – Building strong employer engagement strategies and local partnerships to increase placement opportunities, particularly in rural areas, whilst aligning T Level offerings with regional economic needs
  • Boosting flexibility – Exploring recent changes, including the introduction of remote and route-level placements
  • Introducing supervised simulated placements for high-hazard sectors, such as engineering and construction, enabling students to develop essential skills and gain experience in a safer, controlled environment
  • Providing enhanced support for both employers and students during the placement process to improve learning outcomes and satisfaction

    • Patrick Craven, Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, City and Guilds

    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
    AoC

    Catherine Sezen, Director of Education Policy, Association of Colleges

    IATE

    Pamela Rahman, Associate Director for T Levels, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

    AoC

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

    City & Guilds

    Patrick Craven, Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, City & Guilds

    ET-Foundation

    Paul Bailey (Chair & Moderator), Associate Director - T Level Professional Development, Education and Training Foundation

    Policy Foresight

    More Speakers Coming Soon...

    • 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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