Swap A-levels for T-levels – a new way for students to close skills gap

SCHOOLS are to let students study technical qualifications instead of A-levels in one of the biggest overhauls of the education system in decades.

Reforms announced by the Government will allow students at 52 colleges in England to study construction, digital skills and childcare from September 2020. Another 22 courses, covering sectors including finance and accounting, engineering and manufacturing, and creative and design, will be launched in stages from 2021.

The timetable means students beginning their GCSEs this September will be the first to be able to choose be- tween traditional, academic A-levels and the new qualifications.

Responding to a consultation about the plans, which was launched last November, Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, said the courses would be developed alongside businesses and his department would also examine similar programmes in other countries.

“For too long young people have not had a genuine choice about their future aged 16,” he said. “Whilst A-levels provide a world class academic qualification, many technical education courses are undervalued by employers and don’t always provide students with the skills they need to secure a good job – that has to change. Naming the first 52 colleges and providers where young people will be able to study the first T-levels is an important step forward, and we will continue the work with business and the education sector so everyone can benefit from these vital reforms.”

The locations are spread across the country and include further education colleges, schools, community colleges and training centres.

The West Midlands is the region with the highest number of centres, with 10 providers including University College Birmingham. In Yorkshire and the Humber, the schools include Barnsley College and York College.

Six schools and colleges in London are signed up, as well as four in the North East of England, five in the North West and nine in the South East.

Courses include three-month industry placements and a curriculum designed by employers. The construction course will focus on design, surveying and planning. The “digital” course will cover production, design and development, including topics such as internet security. On the education and childcare course, students will learn about child development, diversity legislation, child language acquisition, and how to work with parents.

Theresa May welcomed the reforms. “Everyone should be able to have access to an education that suits them, but we know that for those that don’t choose to go to university, the routes into further technical and vocational training can be hard to navigate,” said the Prime Minister.

“That’s why we’re making the most significant reform to advanced technical education in 70 years to ensure young people have gold standard qualifications open to them whichever route they choose. T-levels provide a highquality, technical alternative to A-levels ensuring thousands of people across the country have the skills we need to compete globally – a vital part of our modern industrial strategy.”

‘Many technical courses are undervalued by employers and don’t provide students with the skills they need’