T Level Trailblazers: South Devon's Debut
South Devon College T Level students are celebrating today as they collect their results – the first cohort of students to receive results at the College for these new qualifications.
Across two subject areas - Education and Early Years and Digital Production, Design and Development - there was a 95% pass rate with a fantastic 40% of students achieving a distinction.
T Levels are new flagship two-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are equivalent to three A levels.
The courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers and are designed to give students a more direct route into a wide range of industries fit for them.
T Levels qualifications bring together classroom and work placements giving students the skills employers need.
19 year old Olivia Moth studied an Education and Early Years T Level and achieved a distinction. Olivia now has a full time job as a teaching assistant at the school where she did her work placement.
“I love everything about working in the school. As soon as I started my course I knew what I wanted to do. I found the placement alongside the learning really helped. I learnt in the classroom and then saw it happen in real life.”
Olivia who is from Torquay didn’t finish her secondary education due to having ME and was bedridden from the age of 14 for two years and then relied on a wheelchair to get around.
“My energy levels were completely down and I couldn’t do anything. The wheelchair helped me get out of the house. I started at South Devon College doing a Level 2 before starting the T Level course. Every tutor at South Devon College was so understanding about my ME and so supportive.”
Olivia now wants to gain experience working in the school as a teaching assistant before possibly going to university and studying to be a teacher.
“We’re really proud of our first cohort of T Level students and their achievements. They are moving on to such a wide range of next steps, with some going straight into the workplace and others starting a higher-level apprenticeship or going to university. We’re looking forward to seeing how they succeed in the future,” said Maria Woodger, Assistant Principal of South Devon College.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon said: “T Levels provide a unique ladder of opportunity for young people to gain the knowledge and on-the-job experience needed to progress into work, an apprenticeship or higher education. All the courses have been co-designed with employers to ensure that students get the skills they need to succeed.
“From this September there will be even more high-quality T Levels available, including agriculture and legal services, with more providers coming onboard helping thousands of young people to progress into rewarding careers.”
T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSEs alongside:
· apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
· A levels for students who wish to continue academic education
· other qualifications not served by A levels or T Levels, including sport science, performing arts and small qualifications designed to be taken alongside A levels
From September, students due to complete their GCSEs next summer will be able to apply for T Levels in Animal Care and Management, Management and Administration, Craft and Design, Media, Broadcast and Production, Digital Production, Design and Development, Education and Early Years, Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing, Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing and Health.
To find out more about where a T Level could take you, join South Devon College's 'T Party' event 4pm-7pm on 27th September and hear from students, employers and tutors.
