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Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care

T Level in Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care

City & Guilds are developing T Level Technical Qualifications (TQs) in the two pathways within the Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care route: 

How is the Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care T Level structured?

The Technical Qualifications (TQs) are split into 2 main components: the Core, which is assessed by external exams and an employer set project (ESP) and an Occupational Specialism (OS) which is assessed by a synoptic assignment. 

The Core component of the TQ is then split into two sections: the Common Core content and an exam which goes across both TQs and the Core Pathway content, an exam, and the ESP in one of the following groups

  • Crop, horticulture, and trees
  • Livestock
  • Land-based Engineering
  • Floristry
  • Animal

Learners complete one occupational specialism from the list below: 

  • Crop production  
  • Livestock production  
  • Land-based engineering 
  • Floristry 
  • Trees and woodlands  
  • Ornamental and environmental horticulture and landscaping  
  • Animal Management and Behaviour
  • Animal Management and Science

Click the image below for more details:

T Levels AEAC pathway diagram image

The Agriculture, Land Management and Production Technical Qualification (TQ) within the Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care T Level is now being delivered. To find out more about the TQ, please review the specifications. To find out more about delivering this TQ, follow the links in the 'Provider' accordion below.

The TQ specifications along with sample assessment materials are available to view.

View the TQ specifications > 

What occupational specialisms will be available with ALMP?

In addition to the core content, each student will also complete at least one module of occupation-specific content. The specialisms available in the ALMP T Level are:

  • crop production
  • floristry
  • land-based engineering
  • livestock production
  • ornamental horticulture and landscaping
  • tree and woodland management and maintenance 

The original outline content included an Occupational Specialism in Habitat Management. This has now been retired permanently and will not form part of the T Level in ALMP. This decision was taken due to a number of factors which meant the Occupational Specialism did not meet the suitability test for the T Level, including deliverability concerns, employer feedback regarding insufficient coverage of the topic to enable threshold competence, and safety and manageability concerns.


Updates to the Livestock Production Occupational Specialism

From September 2024, pig skills will be introduced into the Livestock Production OS pathway. This change follows a public announcement and subsequent instructions from IfATE and aims to enhance the curriculum and better prepare learners for diverse roles within the livestock sector. There will also be changes to the Livestock Production OS assessment. Specific skills related to a single species will be removed from the assessment. 

Read more about these updates >

Animal Care and Management TQ approved by IfATE

We are pleased to announce that the Animal Care and Management TQ has now been approved by IfATE and will be available for first delivery from September 2024. 

Download the specifications

Equine Technical qualification update

City & Guilds are developing, under the post-16 educational reform space, a new suite of Level 2 and Level 3 Equine Technical qualifications. 

Currently in development is a new Level 2 Technical Occupational Entry Qualification in Equine Care which will be ready for first teaching in September 2026, subject to approval.

IfATE have recently released the following statement: "IfATE will not be developing an Equine Care and Management Occupational Specialism in the T Level, therefore, Awarding Organisations will be able to submit qualifications via the Post 16 Qualification reform process for funding against the Level 3 Equine Occupational Standard, as there will be no overlap with a T level. Qualifications can be submitted for both 16-19 and post 19 categories."

Therefore, City & Guilds intend to develop Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry Qualifications for 16–19-year-old learners and adults.  As the current Senior Equine Groom occupational standard is under revision, these developments will go into the next reforms cycle and will be ready for first teaching in September 2027, subject to approval. Set timelines (approval cycles) apply to all Awarding Organisations.

Until all these new qualifications go live, the current City & Guilds 0172 Level 3 Technical Equine suite will continue to be funded.   

Please be reassured that City & Guilds will be supporting all Providers wishing to deliver a comprehensive suite of post-16 Equine qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3.

 

What occupational specialisms will be available with ACM?

In addition to the core content, each student will also complete at least one module of occupation-specific content. The specialisms available in the ACM T Level are:

  • Animal Management and Behaviour
  • Animal Management and Science

The two occupational specialisms within the ACM pathway have recently been reviewed and have been renamed the above to more accurately reflect the content with each specialism.

Find out more about the content by downloading our ACM leaflet here.

Providers

If you are interested in delivering the Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care T Levels, please visit our Provider page to find out who can deliver and how to apply. 

Visit the Provider page 

Employers

Visit our dedicated Employer page for information on how to get involved in assessment and grading validation as well as industry placements.  

For employers who work in the animal industries, please click on the Animal Care and Management tab above to find out how you can get involved in validation for this TQ. 

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