What are T Levels?
Technical Levels, or simply T Levels, are brand-new qualifications, designed by employers to ensure students are learning the skills needed by industry. Due to start in September 2020, they will be a progression from GCSEs and provide young people with a more practical approach to their career.
T Levels are set to offer more choice for young people at 16, alongside A ‘levels, and other vocational courses such as BTEC qualifications, as well as apprenticeships. T Levels will be occupationally specific – focussed on developing the practical and technical skills required for the profession or trade that the student is studying for, whilst providing them with a real-life working environment, which will lead them to a more skilled occupation. The learning will be more practical than classroom-based.
Why is there a need for T Levels?
The main argument for T Levels is that a growing economy needs a workforce that is highly skilled in many areas, especially technical roles; this is where the new T Levels come in. T Levels are essentially vocational education, but more technically based. The new two-year technical study programmes are designed with employers in mind. They are the Government’s answer to bridging the gap and are designed to give young people the skills businesses and industry need.
What are the benefits of T Levels?
From this year onwards, the new T Level courses will provide the skills and knowledge for a wide range of careers across 11 different sectors (including digital, engineering, construction, science and healthcare, through to legal and accountancy) as well as a technical qualification. T Levels will provide substantial industry placements with relevant employers running for a minimum of 45 days or 315 hours throughout the two-year programme. Employers can pay students, but this is optional.
Students will typically spend 80% of their time in the classroom, learning the theory and practical skills, the other 20% on an industry placement. These placements are the backbone of the new T Level qualifications and give students a great experience in putting into practice what they have learned from their classroom-based knowledge, borrowing much from the apprenticeship and BTEC models that have been, by and large, successful. If not already achieved, then students would need to undertake the necessary GCSE or Functional Skills maths and English qualifications. As T Levels will be nationally recognised, they have been awarded UCAS points at Level 3, allowing progression to university, with the top T Level grade (Distinction*) being equivalent to 3 A Levels at A*.
The variety of assessment methods can be advantageous to students who prefer to be assessed differently and demonstrate their skills in other ways than purely via exams. They will also equip students with the essential transferable skills they can then apply at university.
Finally, studying a T Level will allow students to study units that are transferable to other areas including higher education and can also build their confidence. These new, exciting courses can be enjoyable if students prefer being involved in practical activities whilst working with others in a real-life work setting.
T Levels are currently offered in 50 colleges and schools throughout England; this number will expand from 2021 as will the variety of T Levels available, increasing the choices available to students and providing the skills needed by employers.
Where can I find out more?
Amazing Apprenticeships FREE Resources
YouTube - T Levels: welcome to the next level, Department for Education;
© Sarfraz Ahmed, July 2020
