This conference will focus on the implementation of T Levels.

The discussion and context at a glance:
• the experience and lessons learned from implementing the first wave in 3 areas from this September
• content, assessment, and support for providers
• contribution to the wider vocational system
• potential role in aiding the post-pandemic economic recovery.

The discussion follows:
• concern over the viability of rolling out the first wave in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
• some providers having postponed their launch of the new qualification by a year to focus on the recovery.

The context at a glance:
• Awareness - concerns over low levels of awareness of the qualification as an option amongst potential students as well as school leaders and classroom teachers, found in research by NFER
• Industry placements - the DfE New package of support for T Level industry placements and an extension of the Employer support fund pilot to the 2021 academic year
• Assessment - Ofqual’s Consultation on the assessment and awarding of Vocational, Technical and other General Qualifications in 2020 to 2021
• Support for standards - recent £5.4m to help colleges upskill the country from the College Collaboration Fund to 20 colleges for improving education, training and skills standards across the country
• FE reform - plans for a White Paper aimed at a German-style FE system for Britain to boost skills, announced by the Education Secretary at a recent Social Market Foundation meeting
• Employment - the Government’s Plan for Jobs, including a £2bn Kickstart Scheme for improving young people’s employability, as well as £5.8bn towards recovery of the construction sector.

Key areas for discussion:
Experience of the first wave of T Levels, and lessons learned
• implementation - what has been learned from launch of the first wave during the pandemic, including for industry placements and assessments
• support - assessing the impact of Government funding boosts and other measures for T Levels - as well as priorities for supporting providers moving forward
• standards:
     ◦ how providers have adjusted provision in extraordinary circumstances whilst ensuring high quality
     ◦ variation between the three initial T Levels
     ◦ how to ensure that adjustments made during the pandemic do not hinder long-term enforcement of standards for the new qualification
• learning for the future - ways to ensure that insights and lessons learnt from the first wave get fed into the roll-out of the second wave in the autumn of 2021.

Recruitment and the experience of students, including the Transition Programme
• student attitudes - the impact of challenges posed by the pandemic to T Level roll-out on student experience and satisfaction, and on awareness of the new qualification
• student expectations - the extent to which these have been met, taking into account adjustments in light of the pandemic
• awareness - of the qualifications and key features, and the structure and assessment methods, as well as the reputation amongst employers and how they compare to other qualifications on offer
• improving communication - ensuring that students know what to expect and can effectively measure their satisfaction, and discussion on options for future communication strategies
• the T Level Transition Programme - initial experiences amongst the first student cohort.

Contribution to the vocational system and post-pandemic economic recovery
• effectiveness - opportunities for best using T Levels, and the experience of those taking the qualification, to support the economic recovery from the pandemic, and priorities areas for upskilling
• T Levels in the current policy landscape - how their role might develop with the increased focus on role of further, technical and vocational education, and on engineering, science and nursing
• integrating with the wider vocational system - ensuring that the skills and competencies acquired by T Level students are understood by employers, and the smooth transition to employment and HE
• Brexit - with the end of the transition period, maximising the opportunities created by the qualification in addressing key skills shortages such as through the T Level in construction workforce.

The agenda:
• Experience of implementing the first wave of T Levels - initial impressions, lessons learnt, and steps going forward
• Rolling out the first wave - impact so far, industry placements and assessments, supporting providers, and provision in extraordinary circumstances whilst ensuring high quality
• Recruiting and supporting T Level students - awareness and marketing, parity of esteem with A Levels, experience of the Transition Programme, and student satisfaction and experience
• Priorities for delivery of the second wave of T Levels and incorporating best practice from the first wave
• Assessing the contribution of T Levels to the wider vocational system - progression to higher education, employer awareness, and addressing skills shortages in the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Policy officials attending:
Theser forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Overall, speakers and attendees are expected to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior officials involved in this area of policy from DfE, Ofsted, Ofqual, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and other Government departments and agencies, schools, colleges and universities and their teaching professionals and leaders, employers and apprenticeship providers, employment and HR specialists, key sectors served by T Levels, representatives of trade unions and local government, groups representing parents and students, subject associations, exam boards, academics and commentators, and advocacy groups and charities, together with reporters from the national and specialist media.

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 - full details will be provided)
• 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.

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference.