T Levels

City & Guilds is delivering eight T Level contracts awarded by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE):

We’re working with the EAL on the Building Services Engineering T Level and the three Engineering and Manufacturing T Level pathways.

What are T Levels?

T Levels are the new ‘gold standard’ in technical education in England and are available to 16–19-year-olds upon completion of GCSEs. They are a two-year programme providing an alternative to apprenticeships and A Levels. T Levels are a level 3 qualification; one T Level is roughly equivalent to three A Levels.

T Levels have been developed with employers; employers continue to be involved by reviewing programme content and assessments regularly. This ensures T Level programmes equip learners with the skills and knowledge required to successfully join the workforce within their chosen industry.

We recently visited Chichester College, now in their second year of delivering Onsite Construction and Building Services Engineering T Levels. We spoke to some of their learners and teaching staff about T Levels.

What does a T Level involve?

A T Level can be broken down into three main components:

Core component: Usually delivered during year one, the core component is classroom-based and will help learners understand concepts, theories and principles relevant to the T Level.

Occupational specialism: This is a more specialist area within the broader T Level pathway and usually relates to a specific occupation or career. Depending on your chosen pathway, this may be classroom or workshop based.

Industry placement: Learners will spend 45 days working with an employer within an industry related to their T Level pathway. These 45 days could be in one block or spread over a period of weeks. Find out more about the industry placement: T Level industry placements: delivery guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How is a T Level assessed?

Each component is assessed. The core component is assessed through externally set written exams either in the summer of year 1 or the autumn of year 2. There is also an Employer-Set project set by the Awarding Organisation but undertaken in a classroom-setting.

The occupational specialism is assessed through externally set synoptic assignments.

Entry requirements

There are no nationally set entry requirements for starting a T Level. Each college, school or independent learning provider sets their own requirements. For more information, check with the relevant school or college.

Reports and articles

T Levels: the gold standard in technical qualifications - It’s now been two years since the role out of T Levels began. With providers up and down the country adding them to their curriculum, are you up to speed on what they are and how they can benefit learners or have an impact on skills shortage?

Use your expertise to help develop qualifications - We need experts from industry-leading organisations to help shape T Level technical qualifications.

What are T Levels and how can they help close the skills gap? - Read our article to learn more from lecturers, employers and learners about the qualification that is shaping the future of technical education – and how T Levels could help prepare learners for an apprenticeship.

T Levels awareness webinar

Recorded in December 2022, this session provides a high-level overview of T Levels, background information, routes available, their structure and much more.

Download the slides

Watch the recording