We're pleased to share with all providers our proposed T Level Key Dates Schedule for 2023-24 and 2024-25 and are now seeking feedback from providers on the content and structure of this document.

To ensure the most accurate feedback, we’re carrying out this consultation in two parts; the primary consultation is open until 5 May 2023. Then, given that summer 2023 is the first series for the occupational specialism (OS) on wave 2 T Levels, we’ll also open a shorter second period of consultation on 5 June, running until 16 June 2023, to allow for any additional feedback once providers are more familiar with the requirements from these OS assessments.

Following this, there will be an internal review and a narrative response published responding to feedback provided before a final confirmed version is published on or before 1 July 2023.

To support you to understand some of the changes and additions to this version, as well as addressing some areas of previous feedback received, we’ve provided the following guidance prior to reviewing and submitting feedback:

Process and work to this point

• We’ve worked with other awarding organisations offering T Levels to ensure our Key Dates Schedule consultation periods align. We’ve worked together to ensure that core exam set date and time assessments avoid overlap for all but the lowest volume qualifications.
• The T Level Key Dates Schedule is published two years in advance, whereas the GCSE and A Level timetable is published only one year in advance. Therefore, we’re aware there may be some subsequent clashes, and will manage these where possible through existing regulation allowances and assessment variation requests if needed.

Changes and additions

• Dates for the entire 2024-25 session for all qualifications and assessments (2023-24 dates remain unchanged from the latest published Key Dates Schedule).
• Education and Childcare is renamed Education and Early Years.
• Mentoring is no longer available as a specialism within Education and Early Years.
• Addition of clear cut-off for expedited Review of Marking and Review of Moderation added to results page.
• Addition of a final section containing some general notes and guidance, rather than repeating below each relevant assessment.
• Additional clarification for the Health occupational specialism (OS) assignment 1 regarding rest breaks.
• The Health OS assignment 2 part 2 has been brought forward to avoid ending directly before a holiday.
• Digital Support Services OS A3 requirements have been further clarified.
• Addition of OS for new Digital Support Services OS in Cyber Security. Dates are still to be confirmed and are subject to approval. We hope to include dates for this OS in the second consultation period.
• The delay to wave 4 T Levels means that they’re not included within this Key Dates Schedule.

Easter 2024 and 2025

• Easter holidays always presents a challenge when timetabling assessments, and is especially noteworthy in 2025, as it falls late in the season. In addition, across the country there are always varying timings for Easter and other half-term holidays.
• We prepare our Key Dates Schedule to avoid a 3-week period covering the most common Easter holidays across the country, meaning Easter is a driver for some variation in dates between 2024 and 2025.
• Assessments are never scheduled over the Easter holiday; however, this does mean some dates of pre-release have been moved in the calendar to accommodate this.

Previous feedback

Whilst we welcome all feedback from providers, there are some themes which we acknowledge but either cannot change, or have already provided a rationale for why a change is not currently planned, including:

• Potential clashes with GCSE/A Level assessments in the summer period is a known concern, but the T Level Key Dates Schedule is published two years in advance, before these general qualification dates are known. We’re working with other awarding organisations to raise awareness of this concern and will continue to manage through assessment variation and other regulatory flexibility allowed by exception should this occur.
• The Employer Set Project (ESP) assessment window length has been raised previously, with some providers believing it to be too short. This is a change to the overall qualification design, so whilst we accept this feedback, no changes are currently planned at that level.
• Overlap between assessments, particularly ESP and OS windows, has been a concern for providers in the past. We’ve worked to avoid this as much as possible. Previous feedback has also requested that the OS windows begin later to allow more time for preparation, therefore with a high volume of assessments to timetable and a limited time period in which to schedule them, there are a small number of overlaps which remain but on the basis that to completely remove would mean some OS windows starting even earlier in the session.

Who can respond?

Your feedback is valuable to us, so we encourage all current, approved T Level providers to review the proposed Key Dates Schedule and submit a response. You may wish to submit more than one response on behalf of your provider, such as one from your exams department focussing on the dates, and another from a teaching department with feedback on the level of detail or other assessment arrangements.

How can I respond?

• Review this proposed Key Dates Schedule for 2023-24 and 2024-25
• Complete this form with all feedback
• Complete this no later than Friday 5 May.

Details on the second period of consultation will follow, but we ask that providers complete a response to this consultation initially, with the second to be used for any additional OS-related feedback.