The introduction of T levels could be shelved under measures to “reprioritise” government funding to pay for preparations for a “no deal” Brexit, according to reports.
Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday unveiled an extra £2 billion for “no deal” planning, in the event of the UK leaving the European Union on 29 March without a deal being in place. Prime minister Theresa May has delayed the parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal, struck in agreement with the EU, until January, in an attempt to drum up support from MPs.
A report in the Times claims that government policies are now being identified that could be shelved to free up resources for “no deal” planning. It lists T levels as one of the Tory manifesto commitments that is vulnerable to “reprioritisation”. The government has previously pledged that the annual increase in funding for T levels would eventually reach £500 million per year.
Due in 2020
The first T levels are due to be introduced in 2020. The second wave of subjects, expected to come in the following year, was announced earlier this month.
After being contacted about the reports, a spokesperson for the Department for Education told Tes: “The introduction of T levels is not under threat. T levels are a way of making sure young people gain the skills they need to get a great job. The programme is on track and the first T levels will be taught in September 2020.”
However, this morning, education secretary Damian Hinds tweeted a link to a promotional video about T levels, adding that, along with higher-level qualifications and Institutes of Technology, they would “help us seize our global post-Brexit opportunities”. He made no reference to the press speculation.
T levels: a troubled infancy
In July, apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton said she would advise her children to “leave it a year” before starting a new qualification such as a T level. In May, Mr Hinds rejected a one-year delay to the T-level implementation date proposed by the DfE’s permanent secretary.
But the programme received a boost in November when renowned international educationalist Andreas Schleicher, the director for education and skills at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, said the T-level programme was a “good step”.
