College group selected to deliver three new T Level routes
A leading college group which operates across Warwickshire and Worcestershire has been selected to offer three new T Level routes.
WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) will be delivering the Health and Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Construction routes from the 2022/23 academic year – the first year these qualifications are available.
This adds to the existing Digital T Level route which the college had already been approved to offer from 2021/22.
T Levels (or Technical Levels) are part of the Government’s flagship reforms to technical education in England.
The qualifications are similar to A Levels and are designed for students after GCSEs who wish to follow a technical pathway at further and higher level, rather than a solely academic route. They can lead to employment, an apprenticeship or higher study.
The college group will be among the first to introduce the new technical qualifications, which are primarily aimed at learners aged 16 to 18 years.
T Levels will be based on employer-designed standards and will have a focus on gaining workplace experience to help students be employment-ready.
The courses will include a significant industry placement equivalent to 45 days or 315 hours.
The two-year qualifications will become one of the main choices for students after completing their GCSEs – alongside taking an apprenticeship or A Levels.
By 2022/23 there will be seven T Level delivery routes available for providers and four of these will be on offer for students at WCG.
Angela Joyce, CEO of WCG, said: “To have been selected to deliver four T Level programmes over the next three years is fantastic for our college.
“We have strong foundations already in place to deliver the routes in these subject areas and are well-positioned to be one of the trailblazer providers.
“T Levels have been designed in a partnership of education providers and employers, ensuring students are ready to go into employment after concluding their studies.
“The work placement is a key aspect of qualifications and we will be working closely with businesses to provide placements of the highest possible quality.
“We hope that delivery of T Levels at WCG will help to create more skilled workers for the region, fill the skills gap and be of great benefit to the regional economy.”
WCG includes seven colleges including Royal Leamington Spa College, Rugby College, Warwick Trident College, Moreton Morrell College, Evesham College, Pershore College and Malvern Hills College.
To find out more about T Levels and upcoming delivery at WCG go to www.wcg.ac.uk/tlevels or call 0300 456 0049.