The government has been eager to talk up one of the big stories of this year’s results day: an increase in the number of learners awarded a T Level, up 65 per cent from 2025. Government voices heralded the increase as progress towards parity of esteem between academic, vocational and technical routes. The Prime Minister called the figures “brilliant”, with the education secretary saying the rise was “very encouraging”. The 65 per cent increase in T Level entries does sound big. But percentage increases do tend to sound impressive when working with very small numbers. In reality, T Levels accounted for a mere 1.8 per cent of overall level 3 entries. The number of students taking T Levels did rise – but from 11,989 last year to 19,665 in 2026. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.