T Levels are a new qualification which started in 2020/21. This section contains data for both 2020/2. and 2021/22 as well as inclusion data.
Learner numbers
A total of 267 young people studied T Levels in 2021/22 which was a 222% increase on the previous year. The growth rate was not equal: T Level students living in the WMCA area grew by 229% and those outside the WMCA area by 173%
The highest proportion of T Level students lived in Dudley (24%) followed by Walsall (24%).
The top three pathways in 2021/22 were those that were launched in 2020/21: Construction (76 learners), Education and Childcare (71 learners) and Digital (51).
Subject/Sector
Sex
In 2020/21 the proportion of males and females taking T Levels was broadly equal.
Ethnicity
Almost three quarters of T Level learners identify as White. This compares with 61.3% of all 16-19 learners at CWM colleges.
In terms of T Level participation, the proportion of learners identifying as Asian and Black is significantly below the proportion of those groups participating in other programmes.
The group which has broadly the same representation in T Levels as in all programmes is the group of learners with mixed or multiple heritage (approx. 6%).
Deprivation
The percentage of T Level learners in 2020/21 who were living in the areas of highest deprivation was 20.4%. In stark comparison 39% of CWM 16-19 learners on all programmes lived in the most deprived areas.
Learning Difficulty and/or Disability status
In 2021/22 the proportion of T Level learners disclosing a learning difficulty or disability was 11.2%. This is less than half the proportion of learners on all other programmes making a disclosure.
LLD/D status 2021/22 | All 16-19 | T Level |
Learner considers himself or herself to have a learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem | 25.0% | 11.2% |
Learner does not consider himself or herself to have a learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem | 73.0% | 87.6% |
No information provided by the learner | 2.0% | 1.1% |