22 JUL 2023

Vocational T-levels offer England’s students poor value, Ofsted says

The Ofsted report, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), has raised strong criticism of T-levels, England's vocational qualifications intended to be equivalent to A-levels.

 The report highlights various shortcomings, including poor value, inappropriate work placements, and high dropout rates.

The complex teaching and industry placements required during the two-year T-level courses have proven challenging for some colleges. A shortage of qualified staff and high workloads has made it difficult to deliver the curriculum effectively within the allotted time.

While many students start T-level courses, a significant number leave before completing the program, resulting in low progression rates to the second year. Some courses do not meet students' expectations, with many feeling misled and ill-informed about the content and structure of the qualifications.

Despite government efforts to support T-levels, only 10,000 students enrolled in the qualification in the 2022-23 academic year, and some subjects faced difficulties in filling courses. Additionally, a new T-level in catering was delayed until 2025 due to issues with the awarding organization.

Despite these challenges, the government has proceeded with funding cuts for other level 3 qualifications like BTecs, taken by over 200,000 students each year. The report indicates that T-levels are not yet the envisioned mass-market replacement for BTecs.

The Deputy Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association calls on the government to reassess their plans for qualification reform, recognising the reality of T-level participation and the need for improvements to address the highlighted issues.