Conservative-made chaos in the roll out of new T-level
qualifications is putting the future healthcare workforce under
threat, Labour has warned today, as results data shows nearly
half of students enrolled in health and science T-levels have
dropped out of their course.
New data reveals that just 827 students completed a health or
healthcare science or science T-level this summer, compared to
1,510 who enrolled on these courses in 2021, meaning 45% of
students have withdrawn during the two-year course. This compares
with an estimated 8% of students studying BTECs and 5%
of A Level students.
These findings come alongside a 13% drop in the number of
students moving on to studying nursing at university, with the
Conservatives planning to remove the alternative BTEC
qualifications in health, public health or care which over 35,000
students collected results for this summer.
This follows chaos last summer, when the watchdog found the
Health and Science T-level exam was not fit for purpose prompting
students to quit the course and results to be regraded.
Nearly a third of students have dropped out of T levels overall
this year, leading to former Education Secretary agreeing that the
qualification faces an “existential problem”.
The Government introduced T-levels in 2020, and are now moving to
scrap the alternative vocational BTEC qualifications. Yet the new
qualifications have been plagued by difficulties, with Ofsted
recently warning that students have been mis-sold qualifications
and teachers are struggling to deliver the new courses.
, Labour’s Shadow Minister
for Further Education and Skills, said:
“There is no NHS without its incredible nurses, who go above and
beyond to care for us all. These figures are incredibly
concerning for the future of the health service.
“T-levels should be an important route for young people, but the
Conservatives’ bungling has left the entire programme in chaos –
with potentially disastrous consequences for the future
healthcare workforce, given plans to bin BTEC qualifications.
“Labour will protect the future of our NHS by healthcare
workforce, by treating nurses with the respect they deserve,
train thousands more nurses a year, and give burnt out NHS staff
some light at the end of the tunnel.
“We will get the T-level programme working again, and ensure
every young person has access to high quality vocational and
technical training pathways so that background is no barrier to
any of our young people getting on.”
Ends
Notes
- Nearly half of students enrolled on health, healthcare
science, or science T-levels dropped out:
|
Enrolments (2021)
|
1,510
|
|
Completions (2023)
|
827
|
|
% Completing
|
55%
|
Sources:
5,210 students started T-level qualifications in
2021: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1141405/T_Level_Action_Plan_2022-2023.pdf
Of these 29% were studying health or science T-levels meaning
1,510 students were enrolled on these
courses: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7951/CBP-7951.pdf
Results data shows just 827 students completed their two year
course: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/ea6787ef-b008-4802-776c-08db997aeba0
- Department for Education retention rates for 2021 -
22 can be found below:
Source: A level and other 16 to 18
results, Academic year 2021/22 – Explore education statistics –
GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)
