Rishi Sunak announces plans to scrap A Levels and T Levels to implement a new system combining them into a new single qualification known as the “Advanced British Standard”
The Conservative conference in Manchester occurred earlier this week, from 1 – 4 October. During this time, the Conservative party focused on key changes, including HS2, which will scale back HS2, new post-16 qualifications and a gradual ban on smoking.
New post-16 qualifications
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that A Levels and T Levels are being scrapped and will be integrated into a new baccalaureate style. Students are now expected to take five subjects rather than three. The Prime Minister announced this change yesterday, 4 October.
These new qualifications, or Advanced British Standard, will combine A Levels and technical T Levels. Every student will now be required to study a form of maths and English up until the age of 18. The prime minister also wants to increase the hours these students spend in education to match competing countries; he explained that he would like students to spend at least 195 more hours with teachers, increasing classroom hours by 15% for most sixth-formers, adding about an hour a day.
Rishi Sunak said, “A-level students generally only do three subjects compared to the seven studied by our economic competitors,” he said. “Our 16 to 19-year-olds spend around a third less time in the classroom than some of our competitors.” reported the Independent.
Plans for the new qualifications
The specific details regarding the new qualification are currently limited. The Department for Education (DfE) has indicated that they will release a consultation document in the coming autumn, followed by a white paper next year.
According to the DfE’s briefing document, the plans for these qualifications will take a decade to deliver. This means that children who began their primary school reception classes last month would be the first cohort affected by the reform in 2033-34, provided it is adopted.
The increasing demand on the teaching workforce
While some experts have welcomed the opportunity for students to explore a broader range of subjects, there is scepticism among others. They question the feasibility of merging different courses into a single qualification and how effectively this can be achieved.
Sunak acknowledged that these plans would require more teaching to allow subjects to be studied in the same depth as current A-levels. Union leaders have expressed concerns that the extended hours and additional math and English classes would place excessive demands on the teaching workforce.
Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, argued that Sunak’s proposals were “out of touch with reality”, especially considering that schools are already facing shortages of 4,300 math teachers and 2,600 English teachers.
schools are already facing shortages of 4,300 math teachers and 2,600 English teachers
T Levels
The decision to discontinue T Levels, qualifications designed by the current government, is a big U-turn after the government’s substantial investments by ministers and colleges in establishing a new vocational program as an alternative to A-levels. Despite extensive promotion, T-levels failed to generate widespread interest.
Sunak proposed raising tax-free retention bonuses to £30,000 over the first five years for teachers in vital subjects in schools and further education colleges.
However, Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, expressed scepticism, suggesting Sunak’s proposals may need to be more attainable or realistic with increased staff.
The government will launch a consultation this autumn and release a white paper outlining the implementation of these plans.
