Vocational Attitudes Survey: T Levels increasing in popularity but more work to do on raising awareness

Enginuity’s Vocational Attitudes Survey recently published the findings of our third wave. We asked 1,000 parents and young people across the UK for their views on vocational education, and whether they plan to make it their chosen career route.

Our focus turns to T Levels, the vocational route equivalent where a distinction* is equivalent to three A Levels at A*. With the option to take a T Level Foundation Year, and growing number of subject areas to study in, T Levels are beginning to gain recognition among employers as a reputable choice.

However, when we came to gauge respondents’ knowledge and awareness about T Levels, the answers indicate there’s still a long way to go.

Questions 6 (parents) and 12 (young people): Are you aware of T Levels?  

Question	2026 Parent % responses
I have heard of them, but I don't know enough to decide whether or not I would recommend them to my child(ren)	44.50%
I have never heard of them	33.40%
I know about them and I would recommend them to my child(ren)	15.10%
I know about them, but I would not recommend them to my child(ren)	7.00%

Question	2026 Child % responses
I have heard of them, but I don't know enough to decide whether or not they could be an option for me	41.50%
I have never heard of them	30.40%
I know about them and I'm interested in them as an option for me	15.50%
I know about them, but I'm not interested in them as an option for me	12.60%

Only 22.1% of parents’ and 28.1% of young people’s responses indicated they know about T Levels and knew for sure if they saw them as a viable option.

44.5% of parents and 41.5% of young people said they have heard of them but aren’t sure as to whether they’d recommend or take up the option.

The remaining respondents had never heard of T Levels, but what may be surprising is the sheer amount of them. One third of the responses from both parents (33.4%) and young people (30.40%) said they had never heard of T Levels.

We recently asked if schools were promoting university over vocational options, and it may be that this figure indicates more of the same. Even the response to people who had only heard of them but didn’t know enough about T Levels is reason enough to strive to raise awareness of T Levels and the potential they hold for successful entry into a career.

However, there have been some promising signs that awareness around T Levels is gaining momentum.

T Levels take-up surge seen in Results Day 2026 figures

The number of students completing T Levels in 2026 was up 65% on 2025 – from 11,909 last year, to 19,665 in 2026. There was also a 20% rise in schools and colleges offering T Levels, from 255 last year to 307 in 2026.

Almost a fifth (18.1%) of students picking up their T Levels results in August 2026 got a distinction or distinction* final grade, which is up on the 2025 figure of 15.7%.

(Source: FE Week)

With starts and passes on the rise, an increase in the number of providers, and more students getting the top grades than last year, statistics show reasons to be positive about the future of T Levels.

There’s some promise also in the roughly 15% each of parents (15.1%) and young people (15.5%) who responded positively in our survey that they have heard of T Levels and would recommend them, or are interested in the opportunity.

A T Level graded distinction* is worth roughly the same as three A Levels at A*, and presents an opportunity for students to develop the skills they need to hit the ground running towards a specialist role in their chosen industry.

It combines classroom study with work placements, and is a great chance for employers to engage with emerging talent as they take their first steps into a new career.

There are further positive signs that T Levels will enjoy a larger profile – before moving into Number Ten, former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised T Levels as a part of the region’s push for vocational excellence.

“We’ve got more young people pursuing T Levels at our brilliant colleges, a pass rate that’s exceeding the national average and more employers signing up to offer placements, that are often leading to high quality jobs at the end of their studies.”

(Source: GMCA)

As the organisers of the annual Vocational Celebration Day, we continue our work to see T Levels are afforded the same stature as other vocational options, and to in turn increase the profile of all vocational options as learners decide on their next steps.

Find out more about Vocational Celebration Day