July 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference is examining the implementation of T Levels - focussing on:
- content and assessment
- support for providers
- student inclusion, following recent confirmation that the first wave will be introduced on schedule in September
The discussion in detail:
The T Level first wave
- Assessing preparation and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on:
- Addressing issues raised by the NFER including:
- engaging more employers in industry placements
- concerns surrounding the long term recruitment of staff
- ensuring a smooth transition for students to higher education
T Levels in the education market
- The status of T Levels within the wider 16-19 vocational technical education landscape, looking at:
- the fit of T Levels with existing provision
- transition from Level 2 qualification to T Levels following the DfE announcement of the T Level Transition Programme for 16-19 year olds who are not ready to begin a T Level
- how learning and best practice can be shared amongst stakeholders
- T Levels in relation to the Apprenticeship Reform Programme which is due to move into its next phase following the close of its initial five-year transformation period this year
The relationship with employers
- Involvement of businesses - and the potential impact of initiatives announced by the DfE, including:
- an employer support package including new guidance to support employers and providers
- a new £7m pilot scheme to explore ways to cover the costs
- ‘How to’ guides, workshops, and other practical support for employers to assist in the delivery of the industry placement element of the new qualification
- Accessibility of the industry placement - required to last at least 315 hours, or approximately 45 days - looking at concerns including:
- lack of large employers in rural areas and challenges for students in travelling to and from placements
- issues with securing industry-relevant employer placements
- difficulties for post-16 students with part-time jobs or caring responsibilities
- competition for placements with other work-based learning courses
Resources and awareness
- Funding - with the gap between technical and academic education larger in UK than in other leading European countries, including:
- the impact of funding proposals for T Levels on groups of people with protected characteristics
- funding for Maths and English, and the one-off payment system, with colleges calling payments throughout each year or an increase in support for students needing extra teaching
- steps to facilitate students with special education needs and disabilities and those at young offender institutions
- Marketing - approaches to raising awareness of the new qualification amongst students and their households, and in schools
Developments that are relevant to the discussion:
- As the education sector and employers prepare for the implementation of the first wave of T Levels qualifications following the recent publication of the content for the first three T Levels and confirmation from the Government that their introduction will go ahead as planned
- With rising calls for delays to be made to the launch of the first wave due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant uncertainty
- With preparations continuing to be made ahead of T Levels to be launched in 2023 as the IFATE recently sought views for their consultation on the outline content further T Levels
- NFER’s follow-up research - How are providers preparing for delivery? - which provided an update on the steps that providers are taking to implement the new qualification
- Following the recent announcement by the Government of a further £110m to facilitate the delivery of the new qualifications, with:
- £95m invested through the T Level Capital Fund from 2021 to ensure that students have access to high quality equipment and facilities
- a further £15m on the expansion of T Level Professional Development (TLPD) which aims to support the development of FE leaders and teachers
- The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education inviting awarding bodies to develop further qualifications for wave three: legal, finance and accounting; engineering and manufacturing; and business and administration
The agenda:
- Key policy priorities ahead of the implementation of the first wave - with Sue Lovelock, Director of Professional and Technical Education, Department for Education
- Implementing T Levels and their potential contribution to the wider vocational system
- Design and assessment of the new qualification - supporting providers, preparing the workforce and ensuring quality
- Delivering the first wave of T Levels - content and standards - with Carmel Grant, Deputy Director, Technical Education Implementation and Delivery, IATE
- Priorities for industry placements - funding, accessibility and inclusion
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It’s certainly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by parliamentarians from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Education; the Cabinet Office; the Home Office; DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the Department or Transport; DWP; the Government Digital Service; the Ministry of Defence; the Valuation Office Agency and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference