A third of the new T-level providers have struggled to find industry placements for their students, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).
The study – comprising of a survey and then webinar with 32 of the original 50 providers and sector representatives – found that a third of providers reported that they were ready for the industry placement “to a small extent” or “not at all”.
From September 2020, 44 providers across England will deliver three T levels – the “gold-standard of technical education” in construction, digital and education and childcare pathways.
Students studying a T level will be expected to undertake 315 hours of industry placement but concerns have been raised across the sector about how businesses can accommodate students while also dealing with the fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Background: T-level placements 'almost impossible' due to Covid-19
Providers told the NFER that, due to Covid-19. employers were cancelling or not committing to placements.
One provider reported: “[We have a] huge concern about securing industrial placements given the impact on the economy and employers in the locality."
T levels: Coronavirus 'will hit industry placements'
A sector representative said: “Providers are most worried about industry placements. They feel that in many cases they are going to need to create new partnerships with employers because the pipelines they have been creating for the past two years are now seriously damaged by Covid.”
In June, City and Guilds chief executive Kirstie Donnelly warned the Commons Education Select Committee that industry placements were “almost impossible”.
At the time, she said: “The placement is a critical part of the T level and without it, the T level falls down a little. I hear a lot of employers say that it’s going to be almost impossible to deliver because of the other problems they are going to face.”
Providers told the NFER that securing digital placements was particularly challenging – and one asked for further flexibilities in placements, particularly in the digital sector.
A report released by the Department for Education at the beginning of July revealed that more than half of providers had said that five or more engagements with employers had been required to secure each work placement.
Selling T levels to schools
In the survey, around a half of providers said they felt ready to deliver the new qualifications in September “to a moderate extent”, with one in 10 saying they felt ready “to a small extent” or “not at all”.
More than half of providers also told the NFER that applications at this stage were “less than expected” for the digital route, whereas the majority of providers said applications for education and childcare and construction were “more than expected” or “about the same as expected”.
Two providers commented that lockdown had “stifled” their ability to sell the T level with schools and that the profile of T levels was not what it could be.
Yesterday, it was revealed that two more providers due to deliver T levels in September 2020 had decided to delay delivery until 2021.
Suzanne Straw, education to employment lead at the NFER, said: “While the Covid-19 pandemic has intensified some of the challenges associated with the launch of T levels, the majority of providers are still generally feeling optimistic about delivery for September.
“It is encouraging to hear that the next T-level campaign has now restarted and this will be important to complement providers’ local marketing efforts ahead of, and beyond, GCSE results day. Once delivery starts, it will be key to monitor the progress of the industry placement element, including the impact of the new package of support. There may be the need to revisit this if it fails to deliver the traction with employers that is hoped for.”
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
