Our latest updates

December 2024 

Updated [9/12/2024]

News for all T Level providers

Please scroll down for subject-specific information. 

Key dates and reminders:   

Vocational technical qualifications (VTQ) first term-time checkpoint now open 

Following our communication last month to confirm arrangements to ensure the timely delivery of vocational technical qualifications (VTQ) results for learners in 2024-25, we wanted to let you know that the first term-time checkpoint is now open. If you deliver any of the qualifications in scope of this year’s arrangements, your centre’s action is required to ensure this checkpoint is completed by Friday 31 January. Visit our timely delivery of VTQ results webpage for more information on the actions you need to take and where to find support.   

T Levels autumn assessment series – what you need to know 

Remember to visit our autumn assessment series page for everything you need to know for the T Level autumn assessment series, including:  

• special considerations and reasonable adjustments  

• core exams key reminders, including: 

• • reminders on decoupling the core exams and ESP  
  • bookings and access arrangements  
  • details on invigilated, paper-based and online assessments  

• ESP key reminders, including: 

• • key dates across each subject area 
  • pre-assessment information, including a reminder to test recording equipment ahead of assessments
  • post-assessment information, including clear steps on when, where and how to upload evidence, as well as tips for checking your evidence and troubleshooting. 

Occupational Specialism (OS) booking for second year T Level students 

You need to book your second year T Level students onto their chosen Occupational Specialism (OS) for the summer 2025 assessment series, if you haven’t done this already. Please ensure you complete this process no later than the deadline outlined below and in the Key Dates Schedule.  

Please ask your exams team to follow the booking guidelines on the T Level Portal Guide detailed from page 28.  

Access our standardisation pack and complete the standardisation and administration training  

Our standardisation packs are now available on the Portal, and you must complete the relevant training by 28 February 2025. These training materials support your delivery teams by looking in more detail at the moderated components of the Occupational Specialism, focusing on assessment criteria and marking bands, giving you the opportunity to discuss marks and develop a standardised approach.  

To access the standardisation training materials, once you’ve booked your learners onto the relevant assessment, you’ll need to:   

• log on to the Portal    

• go to the ‘Bookings’ tab and click ‘View Assessments’    

• search for a batch number or product code to find learners on the relevant qualification/assignment you’d like to access training for    

• select all learners    

• scroll to the bottom and click ‘view bookings’    

• click on the desired assessment booking on the relevant session.    

You’ll see headings for each assessment, and the standardisation materials for moderated assessments are located under the ‘moderated assessment’ heading. Click ‘Show Details’ to view the materials and then click them to download. If there are two parts to the assessment, the materials for this will be located under ‘Part 2’.    

Administration training  

You can watch administration training for the moderated component on our Preparing for moderation page. The training consists of a series of videos supporting you through the administrative requirements associated with moderation, including but not limited to accessing and uploading assessment materials. Once you’ve completed the training, you need to sign a declaration and return it to us via Microsoft Forms: Administration and Standardisation Training Declaration form.

If you have any queries about these materials or the training, please contact our Moderation team via [email protected].  

T Level approvals for September 2025 delivery 

If you’re planning to deliver additional T level qualifications in September 2025, you’ll need to apply for additional product approval with us via this page on our website before you can start delivering them. The approval window opens on 24 February 2025 and closes on 27 June 2025.   

Please be aware that if your college has multiple campuses, you’ll need to apply for approval for each campus to deliver these additional qualifications. Similarly, if your academy is part of a Multi Academy Trust, each academy will require separate approval.  

Our T Level provider impact survey 

We’d like to thank all of our providers who gave feedback as part of our recent T Level annual review. Your feedback on our T Level qualifications and resources supports continuous improvement and helps to their shape future development.  

We encourage all providers to contribute to the annual review to ensure that T Levels remain valid and reflective of current industry practice which will keep them at the forefront of education. The next annual review will take place in the summer of 2025. 

Support and resources: 

Join our new WhatsApp channel 

We’ve launched our new WhatsApp channel, to keep you up to date with key deadlines and reminders for T Levels, and the other qualifications in our portfolio. Click this link from your mobile to join the channel.

Professional Development Week 

Calling all teachers, assessors, senior leaders and support staff who want to enhance their teaching and learning, improve learner engagement and develop confidence! Our Professional Development Week is back from 16-20 December and includes some T Level focused sessions. Secure your place and register for the sessions now!

New T Level timelines for the moderated component 

Check our new T Level timeline, for the delivery of the moderated component, to help you prepare for upcoming milestones within the second year of the T Level. This has been designed to help provide you with a timeline of events and expectations, inform you of any training to complete, support you with where to access support and let you know what to expect during the moderation period.  

On our Moderation webpage, under the key dates and support banner, you can also find a moderation key dates and support document, including a timeline of events for both visiting and remote moderation and where to access support. 

If you have any queries on this, please contact our Moderation team via email at [email protected].  

Unique Learner Numbers (ULNs) and T Level registrations    

If you’ve made any registrations on the 2024-2025 session, please ensure that you have updated any invalid ULNs on the NCFE Portal by going to the ‘My learners’ tab and then the ‘Manage ULNs’ area. 

This will allow the correct data to be sent to the Manage T level Results and Certification service. If this data is not correct, it could affect the issuing of results. You should also receive an email to your LRS administrator with these details. 

More details on how to do this can be found in the Portal User Guide.

Change of contact details 

If any contact details have changed at your centre, it’s important to let us know. It’s quick and easy to notify us by filling in this form: change of centre contact details form, and this will allow us to continue communicating important updates to the correct individuals.  

Our impact 

Social Impact Report 2024 

We’ve released our Social Impact Report 2024 and would encourage you to explore the initiatives, insights and stories that make up the second edition of this milestone publication. 

From improving outcomes for learners from diverse backgrounds to increasing the capabilities of educators through CPD, from providing clear access to lifelong learning using platforms like CACHE Alumni to investing in assessment innovation, or accrediting qualifications for charities such as Save the Children – read more about our collective impact on students, institutions, educators and the wider society. 

Download the report and explore the stories