T Levels: What Are They?

Apprenticeship numbers are falling and with the addition of the increasing competition of apprenticeships and the difficulty of A-Levels what options do young people have after GCSEs?

From this the government have created T-Levels to fill the skills gap launching September 2020, but what are they, and what do they mean?

From September 2020, an introduction of new courses will be available across the UK for 16-18 year olds - these will be called T-Levels (Technical Level/Qualification).

These courses will be two years in length and will be an alternative to A-Levels/Sixth Form.

They have been developed with businesses and employers in mind in order to meet the needs of the industry and will help give young people the skills for when their educational journey is over.

T-Levels are being introduced due to the increasing skills shortage that the UK is currently undergoing. T-levels will endeavor to solve this by giving young people the tools to ensure they are ready for the world of work, no matter what their previous academic attainment is. In order to ensure this, if a student has not already achieved the minimum in Maths or English, this will also become a compulsory element within their T-Level course - ensuring all young people have a fair chance at gaining employment in an industry of their choice.

Unlike A-Levels, T-Levels will give a combination of classroom learning and ‘on the job’ experience which will comprise of at least 315 hours of industry placement.

During their ‘placement’ students will attain essential skills that will allow them to be more prepared and equipped for HE, apprenticeships or even employment.

The first 3 T-Level courses will be available at selected schools and colleges across the UK in September 2020 which means that students who entered Year 10 in September 2018 will be the first with the option to study T-Levels:

• Digital Production, Design and Development
• Design, Surveying and Planning
• Education

When T-Levels are rolled out completely, students will be able to study in these areas:

Students who do T-Levels will also benefit from achieving UCAS Points:

At The AIM Group we are looking forward to the introduction of T-Levels and are ready to offer any advice or further information to students who are interested in doing these courses and wish to know what route is best for them and the opportunities available.

Also for teachers and parents who wish to know more about the upcoming courses ahead of 2020.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels/introduction-of-t-levels