The future of technical and academic qualifications

In this update, we aim to provide insight on the future of technical and academic qualifications with the latest on T Levels and the transition for Engineering and Manufacturing.    

In light of the government’s qualifications reform, we want to ensure learners across the sector in all age cohorts have access to the qualifications and skills they will need and benefit from.

What are T Levels?

T Levels are a new post-16 technical study programme that will become one of three main choices for learners alongside apprenticeships and A Levels. Equivalent in size to three A levels, these two-year programmes have been developed in partnership with Government, business, and education to streamline technical education and meet the needs of industry and prepare students for work, further training, or study.  

Available in England only, there will be 23 T Levels, each containing route pathways and occupational specialism options.

What it means for the automotive sector?

The T Level that features automotive repair is in Engineering and Manufacturing, which is due to be available for first delivery in September 2022. At present, the Transport and Logistics sector is not covered by T Levels.

As part of the reform, it was confirmed that government would remove public funding from all qualifications that ‘overlap’ with T Levels.

Timeline for defunding qualifications that overlap with T Levels

In early 2022, the government is due to publish a provisional list of qualifications for defunding in 2024. It plans to publish the final list by July 2022, giving providers at least a year’s notice before any funding is removed.

16 to 19 funding approval for technical qualifications that overlap with T Levels in:

• Wave 1 and 2 will have funding removed from the academic year 2024/25
• Wave 3 and 4 will have funding removed from the academic year 2025/26

Note: The T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing is included in Wave 3.

Note: This will only apply to new starters; students who are entering the second year of a two-year qualification will be able to complete it fully funded.  

IMI involvement and qualification offer

While the IMI will not be involved in the delivery of T Levels, we have been actively feeding into the consultations to express our concerns with the removal of funding for qualifications that are well established and cover specialist occupational areas.

The IMI have a number of qualifications that are funded for the next academic year.

To search for funding approval information about a particular qualification or group of qualifications, please use the search function here. You can search using single or multiple criteria.

IMI qualifications with low and no enrolments that the Education and Skills Funding Agency will remove funding approval from, for new starts, from 1st August 2022 can be found here.

We want to hear from you

We want to ensure learners across the sector in all age cohorts have access to the qualifications and skills they will need and will benefit from.

The IMI is keen to build a clear understanding of which qualifications, skills and progression pathways you would like to be available to offer to students and employers in the automotive sector.

Please take a few moments to complete this short survey to provide us with your expected volumes for the next academic year.

In addition, if you currently deliver Technical Baccalaureates, traineeships or are looking to deliver T Levels we would like to hear from you by completing this short survey.