Public Perceptions: T Levels

Survey Results 2022

As education and skills are among the Institution’s policy priorities, we commissioned ICM Unlimited to carry out a survey to find out awareness of the new qualification.

Two years ago, the government launched Technical Levels to offer 16–19-year-olds in England a mixture of classroom learning and “on the job” experience in an industry placement.

Our poll’s findings show there is much work to raise public awareness of the new qualification.

The survey found just 1in 5 people (18%) had heard of T Levels. Of the people who have heard of the new qualification, around 70% say they know little about them.

Highest awareness is among parents of 16–18-year-olds (39%).

The engineering and manufacturing T Level launched in September 2022 and as an Institution we need to raise understanding among young people and their parents as well as among companies who could potentially offer placements for T Level students.

T levels are part of a wider plan to reform the UK’s skills system and boost the prestige of technical education to improve both productivity and international competitiveness.

The two-year courses follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. They have been launched so far in a range of subjects including construction, business and administration and education and childcare.