T Levels T Levels updates
T Levels December 2021 Update
Welcome to your December T Levels bulletin
Digital news
Last month in our Q&A network we heard from Fareham College who gave us an insight into their experience of planning and delivering T Levels in their first year.
If you would like to take part and share your experiences as a T Level Provider we would love to hear about your successes and challenges.
Email Atif Khanto arrange.
Accounting and Finance update
We continue to work with accounting software organisations to put a tutor and student package together aligned to T Levels, also giving certification for students to demonstrate to employers their skills in software tasks. This is yet to be confirmed, but we are also hopeful that these may be free or low cost.
Plus, our Professional Body partner ACCA are supporting us to provide relevant support resources where appropriate.
We are in early discussions with several Professional Bodies within the Financial Services sector to align where possible the T Level Technical Qualification Finance to the appropriate Professional Body qualification/membership. More information will be released in due course.
Traning events
We are finalising our events for this academic year. More information will be released during the spring term.
These half termly Q&A sessions with the Sector Manager and Subject Advisor will give you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss with other tutors your experience with delivering the T Level and share good practice. Details and weblinks to register onto our networking events are below.
Construction:
Digital:
These are a selection of pre-recorded information briefings to help you get to know the Technical Qualification specification.
Generic Introduction: This includes where to locate the specification, a high-level overview of the contents, and key areas to pay attention to.
Core: This gives a high-level overview of the Core Component and its assessments, how to read the specification, the high-level content of the exams, and how the tasks for the ESP are structured.
Occupational Specialist Component: This gives a high-level overview of the Occupational Specialist Component and assessment, how to read the specification, and how the tasks for the OS project are structured.
These sessions are aimed at UK based teachers, lecturers or trainers who are new to delivering the T Level qualifications or those who would like to refresh themselves.
There is an expectation that delegates will have watched the on-demand sessions titled ‘Getting to know the specification’ prior to attending this event as an overview of the structure of the specification will not be covered here.
This live session provides you with an opportunity to interact with the presenter and take you through:
1. Planning your programme
2. Reviewing elements of the core content and practical ways in which this can be delivered
3. Signposting the ongoing support available to you
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction (Core Content)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction (Occupational Specialism)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development (Core Content)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development (Occupational Specialism)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Levels in Accounting and Finance (Core Content)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Accounting (Occupational Specialism)
Getting Ready to Teach the T Level in Finance (Occupational Specialism)
Teaching and Learning Materials
For the T Level Technical Qualification in Accounting and in Finance we are following a similar model as Construction and Digital, whereby we provide introductory PowerPoints, topic plans and links to industry resources for specific elements of the Core content. This is supplemented with case studies that further contextualise the content and will support teaching and learning of the technical qualification using real life scenarios.
Materials are due to be made available to Providers from early 2022.
2021-2023 Key Dates Schedule
The Key Dates Schedules for Construction and Digital covering 2021-2023 are available on the Specification page of the Technical Qualification, under useful documents. Please note, some of the dates will be provisional at the time of publication.
2021 Student Registration
Providers are now able to make student registrations onto the Construction and Digital Technical Qualifications for cohorts commencing this academic year.
The standard registration window is closed. Late registrations started on 2 November and run until 23rd December 2021. After which, we will enter the very late registration period.
A support video on how to make registrations and manage student details can be found on our Provider page.
Student Entries – Core Component Assessments - Summer 2022 Series
The standard entry window for Core Component Assessments for the Summer 2022 Series will open 01 January 2022 – 21 February 2022.
A support video on how to make entries is available via the Engagement Hub. Please remember, you must make an entry for every student wishing to enter the assessment.
Students entering for their initial attempt must attempt both Core Exams and the Employer Set Project.
Providers wishing to make entries for re-sits please ensure you are familiar with the re-sit rules. These can be found in the TQ Specification, or use our support video on ‘assessment, results and re-sits' which can be found on the Provider page.
Student Entries – Occupational Specialism – Summer 2022 Series
Entries for the Occupational Specialism Assessment for the Summer 2022 Series are open.
Please remember, you must make an entry for every student wishing to enter the assessment.
We are now in the late entry period, 06 October 2021 – 06 February 2022, therefore late entry fees will apply.
2021 Providers
For those commencing delivery this September 2021 do not forget to take advantage of the support available to you, tutors and Exams Officers.
- Introduce T Levels to your team with this short webcast.
- Training events and Q&A Networks noted above.
- The COURSE MATERIALS tab for each TQ has teaching, learning and assessment materials; plus, administration materials.
- The ENGAGEMENT HUB on the Provider page has our training archive, plus several short support videos on administration processes for T Levels including: Assessment, results and resits, How to make a registration, How to make an entry, and How to manage learner details.
Provider Monitoring
Each term you will receive a monitoring call from a Provider Quality Manager (PQM) to discuss your delivery administration and quality assurance. This call is to make sure you maintain ongoing compliance with our quality assurance measures to keep your approval status for the delivery of the Technical Qualification.
The PQM will check the quality of delivery, confirm implementation of guide/grade exemplification materials, confirm you are on track for assessment and are accessing our Provider Support.
We will monitor the following activity that could affect approval status:
- Registration patterns
- Student outcomes
- Quality issues identified by our PQM
- Reports of maladministration or malpractice
Please note the PQM is not a technical subject expert, as such they will not be able to answer questions on specification content or curriculum delivery. For this, please either take advantage of the ½ termly Q&A Networks (see above) or contact the Subject Advisor direct, their details are on the relevant TQ webpage.
2022 Provider Approval Window
For Providers commencing delivery in September 2022 the approval window will not open until February 2022. You must gain approval for each Technical Qualification you wish to deliver.
To support you, a short Provider Approval video can be found in our Engagement Hub. Please watch this first before starting your application process.
All the supporting documents and approval forms can be found in the Course Materials tab, this includes.
- A Guide to Provider Approval
- Guidance Document Pearson Vocational Provider Approval Application for T Level Technical Qualifications
- Pearson T Level Technical Qualification Delivery Approval Application Form
- Pearson Vocational Provider Approval Application for T Level Technical Qualifications
If you have any questions about Provider Approval please contact us via the service portal
Planning for 2022 Recruitment
Some of you have asked about information to include in your college prospectus and at recruitment fairs.
Our Student webpage has several resources designed to support you when recruiting students, this includes:
- Student Journey: showing your students what their two-year T Level journey could look like. Our Student Journey’s for Accounting and Finance are now available:
- Qualification Descriptions: a high-level look at the qualification, the skills taught and progression opportunities – perfect to include in your college prospectus.
- Student case studies: live examples of T Level students.
English and maths
You will be aware the DfE announced in November that they are removing the Level 2 English and maths requirement to achieve a T Level. They stated that:
"We want to make sure that as many young people as possible have access to T Levels and can successfully complete the programme. T Level providers and others from across the sector have been telling us for some time that the English and maths exit requirement is a real barrier for students in taking up T Levels. We have therefore decided to remove the exit requirement with immediate effect for all T Level students - those who have already begun their courses and those who have yet to begin.
"Maths and English study will remain of central importance to T Levels and the exit requirement will be replaced with the condition of funding, bringing T Levels into line with other level 3 post-16 programmes. Attainment in these subjects will also continue to be referenced on T Level certificates and statements of achievement."
For post, students who did not achieve English and/or maths GCSE grade 4 at Key Stage 4 are required to continue studying as per the condition of funding.
Plus, many of you have told us English and maths are a fundamental to your student’s success in T Levels. Also, each T Level has English, maths and digital skills from the General Competency Framework embedded within the content.
Pearson provides specific specification and qualification support for your post 16 re-sits. Our package of support has been designed with you and your post 16 students in mind and includes a substantial number of support resources. A good place to start is our Making a Start Guide (PDF | 835KB) which takes you through initial diagnostics, accessing the November re-sit series, the use of Examiner Reports, ResultsPlus and Exam Wizard, and support on specific topics and schemes of work.
Pearson offer two GCSE (9-1) English Language qualifications.
For this GCSE Pearson provides specific specification and qualification support for your post 16 re-sits. Our package of support includes a substantial number of support resources, including a one-year post 16 delivery planner which you can find in the Getting Started Guide.
This new GCSE (9–1) English Language qualification has been designed to engage and motivate students through a choice of contemporary texts, relatable modern themes, and real-world writing tasks.
We are offering this GCSE as an alternative option to our current GCSE English Language (1EN0), not as a replacement.
Pearson offer one GCSE (9-1) English Literature 2015. We provide high quality, local support to help you plan, teach, and deliver our qualification, along with engaging texts for all students.
Pearson’s English and maths Functional Skills can play a vital role in supporting your students meet the Level 2 GCSE / Functional Skills T Level requirement. They offer an ideal entry route for students who have not yet attained, providing them with a solid foundation of transferable English and maths skills on which to build throughout their T Level programme.
Our English and maths Functional Skills are available from Entry 1 to Level 2. Suitable for students of all ages, they are also an accepted part of all Apprenticeship standards and frameworks in England.
Our offer includes a range of improved assessment, delivery and administration support services that enable you to tailor learning plans to target individual and cohort weaknesses. Plus, our Post 16 English and maths Sector Manager creates a huge amount of content giving you on-going advice, guidance, and support; this includes monthly blogs, podcasts, online webinar events, and resource materials.
Sign up for our post 16 English and maths monthly newsletter.
Contact us
Do not forget, if you need to contact us about T Levels you can do so by the Pearson Support Portal. The portal is an online tool you can use to raise your query and track its progress. We will inform you once a member of the team has a reply for you.
All the best,
The Pearson T Levels Team