Guidance

National technical outcomes: change log

Updated 22 October 2026

Applies to England

Summary of key changes

This document summarises the changes made to each of the T Level foundation year national technical outcomes (NTOs).

NTOs are intentionally broad and high level, providing a stable framework that is not affected by routine changes to detailed qualification content.

Across all NTO subjects, the learning outcome titles remain unchanged. New supplementary information has been added to strengthen the emphasis on:

• holistic delivery
• progression to a wider range of level 3 destinations
• study, transferable and employability skills
• readiness for level 3 study

Minor refinements have also been made to improve clarity, consistency and relevance.

Agriculture, environment and animal care

Learning outcomes

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Levels to include other appropriate level 3 destinations. The choice between learning outcome 3A (LO3A) and learning outcome 3B (LO3B) is now linked to the learner’s intended subject pathway, rather than specifically to the T Level they are most likely to progress to.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged. Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added to each learning outcome rationale to strengthen preparation for level 3 study.

This includes:

• more advanced scientific investigation and evaluation in learning outcome 1 (LO1)
• business analysis, sustainability, risk and project management in learning outcome 2 (LO2)
• animal welfare assessment and professional reporting in LO3A
• sustainable land management, plant-growth data and structured planning in LO3B

Business and administration

Learning outcomes

An explanation has been added to clarify how outcomes can be delivered holistically, with learners:

• assessing business performance
• planning sustainable change
• collaboratively developing the systems needed to support that change

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged.

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, and transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added for each outcome, covering:

• advanced business-performance analysis and reporting in LO1
• change management, sustainability, project management and risk analysis in LO2
• evaluation of business systems, collaborative working, compliance and professional communication in LO3

Construction and the built environment

Learning outcomes

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Levels, to include other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

LO1 and LO2 remain largely unchanged.

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Learning outcome 3 practical content

LO3 has been refocused on building-services occupations and:

• bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, and plastering have been removed
• plumbing and electrical installation have been updated
• protection systems, gas, and air-conditioning and refrigeration installation have been added

Knowledge has also been expanded to cover:

• safe isolation
• inspection and testing
• routine maintenance
• installation information
• more detailed construction processes

Creative and design

Learning outcomes

The outcome titles remain unchanged.  They cover:

• the development of creative ideas
• the production of sustainable outputs
• enterprising ideas for business development

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Levels to include other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged.

Minor refinements have been made to clarify safe working practices in LO2, including the application of safe manual-handling techniques.

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added under each outcome. This strengthens preparation through more advanced:

• idea generation, audience analysis and professional presentation in LO1
• production planning, quality assurance and documentation in LO2
• market analysis, financial considerations, project management and business strategy in LO3

Digital

Learning outcomes

The outcome titles remain unchanged. They cover:

• data analysis
• cyber security resilience
• coding a digital project

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Levels to include other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The content has been updated to reflect:

• emerging technologies
• stronger digital-development practices

LO1 remains largely unchanged.

LO2 has been updated to include AI-generated cyber threats, such as deepfakes, synthetic voices and automated phishing, alongside AI-supported monitoring tools.

LO3 has been modernised through clearer coverage of:

• text-based, block-based and low-code environments
• structured testing and debugging
• AI-supported coding tools

The practical digital skill has also broadened from producing code to creating and testing digital solutions.

Preparation for level 3

New material strengthens study and employability skills across all outcomes.

Additional level 3 preparation covers:

• advanced data analysis and reporting in LO1
• vulnerability assessment, layered security and incident analysis in LO2
• modular programming, systematic debugging, iterative development, version control and code quality in LO3

Education and early years

Learning outcomes

The outcome titles remain unchanged. They cover the:

• planning of learning activities
• preparation of learning environments
• assessment of children’s development

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond the T Level to include other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The emphasis on child development has been strengthened in the content in LO1 and LO3. They now explicitly cover:

• communication and language
• physical development
• personal, social and emotional development, including self-regulation
• cognitive development

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added under each outcome.

This strengthens preparation through advanced:

• planning, evaluation of developmental evidence and reflective practice in LO1
• risk assessment, resource suitability and inclusive learning environments in LO2
• evaluation of developmental evidence, observational reliability and bias, and professional reporting in LO3

Engineering and manufacturing

Learning outcomes

The outcome titles remain unchanged. They cover:

• engineering design
• sustainable production
• innovative solutions to sustainability problems

The progression purpose extends beyond T Levels to other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged.

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content strengthens progression through:

• material evaluation, applying engineering principles and comparing design options in LO1
• production methods, quality assurance, sustainability and professional reporting in LO2
• systems thinking, comparative analysis and structured justification of sustainable engineering solutions in LO3

Health and science

Learning outcomes

The outcome titles remain unchanged. They cover:

• scientific principles
• person-centred care or laboratory analysis
• the analysis of health and science data

While the healthcare science T Level has been decommissioned, the foundation certificate supports progression to the new generation of health and science T Levels, which will provide the relevant pathway for learners wishing to progress to science-related occupations and higher study.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged. Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• scientific research
• scientific analysis
• procedural working
• communication
• planning
• collaboration
• independent learning
• evaluation of evidence

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content strengthens progression readiness through:

• the application and evaluation of scientific evidence in LO1
• assessment, documentation and professional practice in person-centred care in learning outcome 2A
• evaluation, quality assurance and reporting in laboratory practice in learning outcome 2B
• advanced data analysis, comparison and structured reporting in learning outcome 3

Legal, finance and accounting

Learning outcomes

Outcome titles cover:

• legal research
• measuring business financial performance
• providing financial information to clients

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Levels to include other appropriate level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged.

Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• numeracy
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• reflection

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added under each outcome to strengthen preparation for level 3 study. This includes advanced:

• legal research, source evaluation and case-law analysis in LO1
• financial analysis, performance indicators and structured reporting in LO2
• client-focused communication, evaluation of financial data and assessment of financial solutions in LO3

Sales and marketing

Learning outcomes

Outcome titles cover:

• market research
• sustainable marketing propositions
• the creation of marketing assets

The progression purpose has been broadened beyond T Level to include other relevant level 3 destinations.

Knowledge and skills

The core specified knowledge and skills remain largely unchanged. Additional narrative explains how each outcome develops study, transferable and employability skills, including:

• research
• data analysis
• critical thinking
• communication
• planning
• independent working
• collaboration
• responding to feedback.

Preparation for level 3

New supplementary content has been added under each outcome. This strengthens preparation through advanced:

• market research and statistical analysis in LO1
• evaluation and comparison of marketing strategies in LO2
• assessment of asset effectiveness, audience engagement, branding and structured production in LO3