The government is to launch three separate surveys, which it says aim to help the sector implement the new T level qualifications. As the government looked to reform further education provision, more would be asked of the FE sector, says new guidance published today, and it was therefore important to work with the sector to understand “how best we can support you in responding to these reforms”.

The three surveys over the coming months will ask “different, but linked, questions about your current teachers and leaders, your current plans around T level delivery, and your views on a number of post-16 issues”.

In the new guidance, the government also says those providers who submitted an expression of interest in delivering the first new qualifications will find out if they were successful in early May. The deadline for such submissions was the 28 February.

Three surveys

• The 2018 FE college staff survey of teachers and leaders: All general and specialist FE colleges in England will be invited to take part in the College Staff Survey 2018 from April, and findings of the work will be published. “The results will inform our work to develop the support FE teachers and leaders need to continue improving and getting the best results for learners,” says the guidance.

• Data collection on provider readiness to deliver T levels: The government wanted to make sure funding for T levels was spent in the way that best supported the FE sector to deliver successfully, says the guidance. “We will be asking you to complete a short data collection survey about your plans to implement T levels in your organisation,” it adds, stating questions would include which routes and pathways colleges thought they would deliver and to how many students. “We will also ask you about your equipment and facilities too.”

• Post-16 omnibus survey: This survey has run since 2015, and has recently moved from a bi-annual to an annual survey. The purpose of this survey is to gain a better understanding of post-16 institutions’ views on, and future plans for, post-16 education.

The guidance states: “We acknowledge that asking you to engage in these activities will take up some valuable staff time. However, co-creating T levels with you and other key delivery partners is crucial to their success. We are incredibly grateful for your commitment to the reforms.”

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