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‘Sharp decrease’ in percentage of students completing T-Levels

Just 66 per cent of T-level students that began their qualifications in 2021 completed the qualification this year.
The EPI analysis of Level 3 results shows a drop in the percentage of students completing their T-Level qualifications, PHOTO: Adobe Stock
The EPI analysis of Level 3 results shows a drop in the percentage of students completing their T-Level qualifications, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

This is down from 82 per cent of students taking and completing a T-Level the previous year, reveals new analysis of yesterday’s Level 3 results.

Carried out by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), the analysis suggests there has been a ‘sharp decrease’ in students completing their T-Levels.

It says that comparing the latest data to that of last year and pre-pandemic completion rates of 79 and 76 per cent for applied general and tech level qualifications, it seems to suggest that many students are facing challenges in these qualifications.

Sam Tuckett, associate director at the Education Policy Institute, said, ‘Exploring the T level results, we find high drop-out rates for these new qualifications, with only 66 per cent of students completing in 2023. This figure is significantly lower than the pre-pandemic completion rates for applied general and tech level qualifications. Given this, serious consideration should be given to the Government’s plans to remove alternative qualifications that T levels overlap with.

‘While the grades seen in today’s results represent a return to pre-pandemic times, the environment for education remains substantially changed. Schools and colleges continue to catch students up on lost learning as a result of the pandemic’s disruption, whilst pupil absences remain stubbornly high. It’s clear that much more needs to be done to identify and rectify the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic.’

Ofsted says more work to do on T-Levels

The publication of the data and analysis follows a damning review of the quality and effectiveness of T-Level courses by Ofsted.

A review of the qualifications by the inspectorate last month, concluded that there ‘remains considerable work’ to do to improve the quality and effectiveness of T-Level courses to make sure they fulfil their potential and can be offered at scale.