Following on from the T Levels Action Plan (2016), Education Secretary Justine Greening announced that the first three T Levels subjects that can be studied in 2020 will be:

• digital
• construction
• education and childcare

The Introduction of T Levels gives an overview of these new 2-year technical programmes designed to equip post-16 learners for employment. T Levels aim to give young people the skills that industry needs and are scheduled to start in Autumn 2020.

Prime Minister Theresa May said in her speech to the Confederation of British Industry yesterday,

"High-quality T-levels will stand alongside A-levels as gold-standard qualifications – backed with an extra £500 million a year once fully rolled out."

Earlier in November, the government also announced that it will provide £8 million for an initiative to help teachers and leaders prepare for the new T Levels. The T Level Professional Development Programme is being developed by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and the wider FE sector. It will focus on ensuring teachers understand the new qualifications and have an opportunity to update their subject and industry knowledge which will help them deliver relevant skills.

Jenifer Burden, Director of Programmes at the Gatsby Charitable Foundation said,

"Gatsby is working with several local areas to support the implementation of T Levels. We’re delighted to be working with ETF to build on this work and to shape the professional development offered to T-level teachers, including building subject-specialist pedagogy."

T Level teacher training is expected to be available from Spring 2019.

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