T-LEVELS: THE NEW TECHNICAL-BASED QUALIFICATIONS DEVELOPED WITH EMPLOYERS

T-Levels are new technical focussed courses being introduced nationally from September which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to three A-Levels. These two-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work.

It is planned for T-Levels to replace BTEC Level 3 and similar vocational qualifications as the standard qualification students gain at Level 3, if they are wanting to go down a vocational technical, rather than an academic route in their career.

Colleges like WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) are introducing them a few at a time, to help embed them solidly into its curriculum and plans to have a full suite available over the coming years.

T-Levels will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).

They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

This size of placement in industry means that learners will get a far better view of business life and be more prepared for the workforce by the time they complete their T-Level.

A T-Level placement gives a business the chance to trial the abilities of a student, to see if they could become a potential employee or apprentice in the future, says WCG.

Students will bring in new skills and fresh ideas, up-to-date technology that they will learn on their course at college.

A business can also avoid many of the costs associated with recruitment by working with the college to connect with young people who are deciding on their careers.

This will give the HR team early sight of the new talent coming into industry.

T-Level placements create opportunities for staff to act as buddies, coaches or line managers to students. This helps existing staff gain management and mentoring skills. In an environment where staff are doing multiple roles and perhaps struggling to meet deadlines, a T-Level placement student could help support a key piece of work.

WCG also says that commitment to T-Level placements will raise an employer’s profile, locally and nationally, especially as T-Levels become more familiar to the wider population.

In September this year, WCG will be introducing T-Levels in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, at Royal Leamington Spa College and Rugby College; Digital Support Services at Royal Leamington Spa College and Malvern Hills Centre for Digital & Cyber Technology; Engineering (Manufacturing, Design & Development) at Warwick Trident College, Rugby College and Evesham College and Health at Royal Leamington Spa College, Rugby College and Pershore College

Upon completion, students will receive a nationally recognised T-Level Certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.

Delivering effective education provision

Though the spotlight has been shining brightly on the subject of skills development for industry lately, it has always been of paramount importance. The ever-changing nature of the workforce is shaped by the way that businesses evolve based on emerging challenges. Industries will continue to evolve, with some sectors experiencing the pace of change quicker than others. If modern workforces are to keep up with the pace of change, we must have different avenues of education and seamless pathways between these – whether reskilling, upskilling or new skilling the workforce.

As an education provider, we need to keep up with fast-paced technological, environmental, economic and societal changes. To achieve this, it’s vital to stay well connected. Awareness is important philosophically when we think of education as a journey. Though we operate in a certain space, that doesn’t preclude us from exploring opportunities in others. We need to ensure the diversity of our offer –from outreach, WMG Academies, Degree Apprenticeships, and undergraduate and postgraduate degree course provision, to short courses and lifelong learning– is based on constant research and assessment of what is needed for development in order to deliver industry relevant, targeted and effective skills and education provision.

Lifelong learning

To deliver relevant and sustainable education for industry, we must focus on lifelong learning. This should be manifested by encouraging a mindset