This year’s T-level results for construction courses were “not positive” and showed a marginalised career pathway, according to an industry leader on training issues.
Mark Farmer said that although the latest results showed an increase in students taking construction training courses and an improved pass rate, trainees and employers have not embraced the qualifications.
“The latest T-level results in onsite construction do not paint a positive picture, unfortunately,” he told Construction News.
“The pathway still appears relatively marginalised, especially as a construction trade entry route, with very low absolute student numbers despite the year-on-year increase.
“This is perhaps exacerbated by ongoing issues securing work experience trade placements in industry which has been a previous sticking point. The course also has a relatively high fail rate which requires further exploration as to the reasons.”
The T-level results, published on 15 August, showed a pass rate for all courses of 88.7 per cent.
But the construction-specific courses underperformed. Onsite Construction registered an 80.4 per cent (111) pass rate out of 138 students. There were no distinctions and 19.6 per cent failed. The pass rate for 2022/23 was 80 per cent.
Building Services Engineering had 318 entrants and the pass rate was 77.7 per cent (296). Just one student achieved a distinction and 21.7 per cent failed. The pass rate for the previous year was 94.7 per cent.
The results were from only the second cohort for both qualifications.
The latest data also showed that just three people – two males and one female – completed painting and decorating T-level modules as part of the Onsite Construction course.
The Onsite Construction T level also includes tuition in bricklaying, plastering, carpentry and joinery.
The Building Services Engineering course includes electrotechnical engineering, and plumbing and heating engineering.
In detail
Analysis by CN of T-level results from the past two years found few top grades, regional disparities and low numbers of women passing the qualification.
- Over two years, just one person out of the 719 who have so far completed a T-level in Onsite Construction or Building Services Engineering achieved the top A* grade.
- Young women are severely underrepresented. For instance, all 40 people who completed T-levels in bricklaying or plastering were men. Women accounted for only 3 per cent of students across all onsite construction or building services engineering T levels. The gender disparity was also clear in carpentry and joinery in 2024 – of the 103 course completions, 99 were men.
- Of the 138 students who finished T levels in onsite construction courses this year, none were based in London. Just 16 of the 318 of those finishing building services engineering were based in the capital, where the skills shortage is most acute.
Farmer wrote the Modernise or Die report on the construction industry in 2016. More recently, he led the government-commissioned review into the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the effectiveness of the levy that funds it.
In response to the latest T-level results, he expressed concern over the lack of progress in getting more women to take up industry apprenticeships.
Farmer said: “The poor gender balance for onsite construction students is unfortunately reflective of the wider industry’s lack of diversity and shows no real inroads are being made to shift the gender split in core site trades.”
The results come just before contractors and construction businesses are consulted on the cost of the CITB’s training levy, which happens every three years.
However, the government signalled the new system of skills training was here to stay.
A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “T Levels are high-quality qualifications which give young people invaluable workplace experience and a firm foundation for their future. That’s why we will continue rolling them out to ensure young people get the training they need to get on in life.”
