Across England today, students will receive their A level, AS level and T level results.
Launched in 2020, T levels were first awarded in 2022 as an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other post-16 qualifications. They combine classroom learning with practical experience for aspiring engineers and technicians - offering a pathway into skilled employment, higher education, or further training.
Developed in partnership with employers, and based on the same industry standard as apprenticeships, T levels provide students with the opportunity to gain both the technical skills and real-world experience needed to succeed in sectors such as construction and structural engineering, energy, mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, chemical engineering, and aerospace and automative design.
According to Government statistics, the number of students taking T levels in the 2024–25 academic year has risen by 16,085 - a 59% increase on the year before. However, participation remains uneven across subject areas. EngineeringUK reports that only 9% of students taking engineering and technology T level subjects last year were young women. This compares to 44% female representation across all T level subjects, reflecting ongoing gender disparities in the engineering profession.
Wider workforce data from EngineeringUK shows that only 16.9% of the engineering and technology workforce is made up of women. It also shows other persistent gaps in representation. Ethnic minority groups make up only 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, compared to approximately 18% across other professional sectors. Similarly, disabled people account for 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, which is lower than the 19% seen across all other occupations.
As demand for skilled engineers and technicians increases, it is essential to encourage more female students, as well as individuals from underrepresented social and economic backgrounds, to pursue engineering and technology through T levels and other technical routes - not only to fill the skills gaps, but also for diversity of representation, which is key to driving innovation in the sector.
