T Levels: DfE urged to boost student numbers and industry placements 

The Department for Education (DfE) must increase student take-up and industry placement numbers to realise the full benefits of T Levels, according to new research from the National Audit Office (NAO).

The report, titled Investigation into introducing T Levels, shows that despite DfE making progress since the introduction of the qualifications, student awareness of T Levels remains a challenge.

From September 2020, students have been able to enrol on T Level courses, covering a range of skills including construction and engineering.

The report shows that lower-than-expected student numbers; the announcement of the Advanced British Standard, which has since been reversed; and delays defunding overlapping qualifications have impacted market interest from organisations contracted to award individual T Levels, with some having made a financial loss.

Low student numbers have also meant that DfE expects to spend £0.7 billion less introducing T Levels than its June 2021 estimate of £1.94 billion.

In December 2024, government announced plans to scrap the Onsite Construction T Level due to a “lack of overall demand for large qualifications at level 3”.

According to the report, DfE recognises that a lack of awareness is a barrier for students, and has introduced various measures to address this, including running a national marketing campaign. 

DfE has also considered a shortage of industry placements as a potential future constraint on student numbers. However, earlier this month, it downgraded this risk for the current year.

DfE has various initiatives to help expand placements but no longer provides employers with financial incentives. 

According to the report, fewer students complete their T Levels compared with other level 3 qualifications. T Level pass rates are also declining year on year, although DfE reports that this is in line with expectations. 

T Levels are more expensive than other level 3 qualifications due to the cost of additional teaching hours and industry placements, as well as the extra funding needed to support providers. 

However, DfE has estimated that T Levels are 25% more economically valuable to students than comparable qualifications.

Although DfE has developed plans to monitor benefits – including preparing students for work and providing new skills – in the absence of students’ earnings data, and with overall numbers hard to estimate, the anticipated benefits are uncertain, the NAO said.

In June 2023, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority reported that DfE had made good progress against its recommendations, including by strengthening its programme oversight.  

The NAO has further recommended that DfE develops ways to understand the potential impacts on the demand, benefits, and cost of T Levels before making wider strategic decisions around the development of the technical qualifications landscape.

The NAO added that DfE must also continue efforts to increase industry placements, which are critical to offering T Levels to more students, and monitor the impact of student take-up on revised commercial arrangements with awarding bodies. 

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “T Levels were developed to provide crucial qualifications and industry experience to students, allowing them to go on to further education or begin roles in skilled jobs.

“They have the potential to offer new opportunities for young people and address critical skills gaps across the economy.

“Although the Department for Education has made progress in delivering the wide range of courses available, efforts must be made to increase student numbers and realise all the potential benefits of T Levels.”

Read more: T Level reforms: what’s next for construction skills?