Process evaluation of support for T Level industry placements

An integral component of the new T Level qualification will be the inclusion of an industry placement which enables technical skills to be developed and honed, and which builds links between the curriculum and the workplace. The Department for Education set up the Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) with the aim of helping providers prepare for the phased roll-out of industry placements and T Levels from 2020. In 2018, the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) was commissioned by the Department to evaluate the first year of the CDF and its associated support package to providers. The work follows on from an evaluation of the T Level industry placements pilots in the academic year, 2017-18 [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 135.908]. This report seeks to: (1) explore challenges and solutions to the implementation of industry placements; and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the support offered to CDF providers. This report presents findings from an evaluation undertaken in two phases, comprising qualitative interviews with providers, employers and stakeholders; an online survey of providers; analysis of the intensive support reports providers submitted to the Association of Colleges (AoC)/The Challenge; and analysis of the management information providers submitted quarterly to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).