Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to make changes to the process that assesses whether an applied general qualification overlaps with a T level, to ensure (1) provider, and (2) employer, involvement.

The department recognises the value that employers can bring to the design of qualifications, which is why we have included them in technical education reform.

We have put employers at the heart of our technical education system. T Levels have been co-designed and developed with providers, employers and the government. Occupational standards are employer-led products designed to ensure occupational competence. We have used independent assessors in our process for assessing whether a qualification overlaps with a T Level, and this includes reviewing qualification specifications against employer-led occupational standards. As part of this rigorous process, all qualifications were assessed against 3 tests:

• Is it a technical qualification, in that it primarily aims to support entry to employment in a specific occupational area(s)?
• Are the outcomes that must be attained by a person taking the qualification similar to those set out in an employer led occupational standard covered by a T Level?
• Does the qualification aim to support entry to the same occupation(s) as a T Level?

Only qualifications which met all 3 tests in relation were added to the overlap list.

The department’s approach to the future landscape, published on 10 January 2023, and guidance for awarding organisations , available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/awarding-organisations-submitting-qualifications-for-approval, makes clear the technical qualifications that can be put forward for 16-19s in 3 broad areas:

• Technical occupational entry and technical occupational progression qualifications aimed at supporting entry into occupations or progress within a role covered by occupational standards and not covered in T Levels.
• Technical additional specialist qualifications that allow a student to develop additional knowledge and competencies and specialise within a sector. These qualifications will build on knowledge covered by a T Level or other occupational entry qualification.
• Technical cross-cutting qualifications that allow students to develop skills that are relevant across occupations.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has set out clear criteria on their requirement for awarding organisations to involve employers in the design of technical qualifications. This criteria includes examples of acceptable evidence which might be provided to satisfy IfATE’s statutory employer demand test.

This will build on the important work the department has already done to create world class T Levels, apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications by continuing to embed the principles of employer involvement and employer-led occupational standards at the heart of technical education.