Our latest updates

News for all T Level providers

April 2026

[Updated 27/04/2026]

Welcome to our T Level provider communications area. Please see key updates and information about delivering our T Level qualifications below

Summer assessment series 

Summer series update: important information on the Employer Set Project (ESP)   

As we enter the summer assessment series, we’re sharing some reminders with you to help ensure these assessments go smoothly. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with all of the information and actions required for upcoming assessments including core exams – you can read more on our summer assessment series webpage.  

Below, we’re focusing on the Employer Set Project (ESP) and evidence upload process.  

Key dates and reminders  

*Some ESPs have pre-assessment material. Find out more.  

• Please ensure you check the Key Dates Schedule and provider guides for requirements and completion deadlines, as some pathways have specified dates and times for tasks within the window.  
• You should test recording equipment prior to assessments to ensure there are no issues on the day. You should also have back-up systems and processes in place to ensure recordings are carried out, saved and stored securely.   
• Please contact us on 0191 239 8000 or [email protected] if you encounter any issues. If any issues are encountered before the student has answered any tutor questions, received any feedback, or left the room, then the assessment can be re-recorded immediately. If the error is discovered after any of the above points, then you’ll need to request a special consideration.    

Post-assessment – evidence upload information  

• Evidence must be uploaded by three working days after the closure of the assessment window.   

• We’ll check the evidence after it has been uploaded, and if necessary, we’ll let you know if there’s any missing or corrupt evidence or if there are any other problems with the evidence you’ve uploaded. We’ll apply strict timescales to our review and response, minimising any risk to students’ results.   

•  If any students were booked to sit the ESP this series but will not be completing it, please access the invigilator register via the Portal from ‘View External Assessment Bookings’, print and complete the document in full, ensure it is signed, and then upload the finalised version to the Portal when submitting student evidence.If you’re experiencing technical difficulties when uploading evidence, please contact our Customer Support team at [email protected]  

• Although we’ve made many improvements to our Portal, upload speeds can be impacted when lots of providers are using it at the same time. In addition, poor internet connectivity can impact upload speeds. To support you with using the Portal, we’ve created an upload guidance document and handy video with all the information you need, including maximum file sizes and formats. Please also use the checklists which are contained within the assessment materials on the Portal. Important: we recommend files are no larger than 1GB and, you must ensure the maximum file size that you’re uploading is 2GB!   

Further support  

If you need any further support in relation to the summer assessment series, please get in touch with us any time via email at [email protected]. You can also read our ESP FAQs. 

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

Approvals 

Important announcement: T Level approval window now open  

If you’re planning to deliver Generation 2 of the Education and Early Years T Level (610/5748/4) from September 2026 and haven’t been approved to deliver this qualification, you’ll need to apply for approval via our website. The approval window is now open and will close on Friday 26 June.  

How to apply 

To apply for approval, follow the steps below or watch our video guide: 

• Visit the NCFE website and use the qualification search function to locate the Generation 2 Education and Early Years T Level qualification. 
• Select ‘Deliver this qualification’. 
• Sign in and complete the online application. You will need to provide: 
  • provider name and number 
  • provider details (programme contact) 
  • qualification details, including intended registrations and start dates. 
• Complete provider and secure live assessment and administration declarations. 
• Once your application is received: 
  • if you are already delivering T Levels and this is an additional product request, if you submit your request before 3pm, we’ll confirm approval the same day. Applications received after 3pm will be processed the following working day. 
  • if you are planning to offer T Levels for the first time from September, you’ll receive an acknowledgement email upon submission. We’ll then contact you to confirm who will carry out your approval review. 
• Existing NCFE providers: We recommend reviewing your previous Annual Monitoring Review (AMR) report for any actions that could apply to T Level delivery. Read our FAQs for more information on this. 

Important information 

• If your college has multiple campuses, you’ll need approval for each campus delivering the qualification. 

• If your academy is part of a multi academy trust, each academy must apply separately for approval.  

Need support? 

If you need support with the approvals process, please visit our approvals FAQs page. You can also contact your allocated EQA or our T Level support team at [email protected]. 

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

Moderation  

Deadline for submitting marks 

The deadline for submitting marks for the below pathways is Friday 15 May: 

Please remember that any students booked but not sitting the assessment should be marked as a ‘did not attend’ (DNA) in the submit marks screen. For guidance on submitting marks, watch our video on how to submit provider marks for moderation. 

Moderation support and information 

Visit our moderation webpage to find out more about:  

• our timeline and critical deadlines 
• how to access administrative training – which provides guidance on the administrative responsibilities required for moderation and supports accurate and efficient completion of tasks 
• viewing students selected for remote moderation 
• viewing your sampling plan list 
• uploading evidence 
• evidence labelling 
• our evidence upload checklist 
• our approach to moderation – including sample sizes, moderating provider-assessed work and how marks are applied, the regression process - how adjustments are made, and results 
• late submissions of marks or evidence. 

Here are a few key things to keep in mind throughout the moderation process: 

• Up-to-date contact information: ensure we have the correct information about colleagues at your provider (for example the exams office, programme contact, and the head or principal) and update any changes via this form. 
• Ensure name accuracy: the names on evidence submissions must match the name used to register the student with NCFE. 
• Reasonable adjustments: any student selected for moderation who has had a reasonable adjustment applied, must be added to the evidence upload checklist in the assessment materials pack. This ensures that adjustments are accurately documented and accounted for. Please ensure to upload a checklist for each student with their associated evidence. 
• Upload limits: be mindful of the upload limits for evidence. Make sure that files meet the specified size requirements to avoid any issues when submitting. Here is an upload guide to support you with all the information you need, including maximum file sizes and formats. Important: We recommend files are no larger than 1GB: however, you must ensure the maximum file size that you’re uploading is 2GB! 

You can also watch our support videos:  

• How to access assessment materials 
• How to submit provider marks for moderation 
• View students selected for moderation and upload evidence 

_____________________________________________ 

Supporting your delivery 

Progression to higher education 

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the latest list of higher education providers that accept T Levels as part of their entry requirements and have confirmed that they will consider T Levels for at least one course. 

Key Dates Schedule consultation 2027-28     

We need your feedback on our proposed T Level Key Dates Schedule for 2026-27 and 2027-28. Visit this webpage for more information. 

Update on T Level retake window (four years to three years) 

We wanted to remind that the T Level retake window has changed, following a policy decision by the Department for Education (DfE). Students are now expected to complete their T Level within three years in total, rather than four. This includes their initial two years (first year core and second year occupational specialism) plus a further year to complete any final retakes.  

For example, a student starting in September 2024 would complete their T Level in summer 2026 (after sitting both their core exams and occupational specialism assessments). They would then have until the end of the 2026-27 academic year to complete any final retakes, which would be their final opportunity to improve on their grades from the previous two years.