College lands share of £48m for T-Levels

TRURO and Penwith College, the only provider of the new technical T-Level qualification in Cornwall, has been awarded a share of £48.5million to invest in new, state-of-the-art learning facilities at its campuses in Truro and Penzance.

The College’s Construction and Science departments are to be recipients of the investment with new construction areas, plus state-of-theart science laboratories to be developed.

The investment will support the provision of two new T-Level qualifications available at the College from September 2021 in Construction and Health and Science.

Truro and Penwith College is one of seven colleges in the South West which have been awarded the Department for Education (DfE) investment to ensure young people studying pioneering T-Level qualifications have access to the cuttingedge facilities and equipment they need to get ahead.

In Health and Science, two large laboratories with experiment and technician areas will be created with space to deliver theory and laboratory work across the disciplines. This sector is a fast-growing skills and employment sector in the region and Truro and Penwith College is at the forefront of this expansion. In addition these will provide excellent progression routes for those wishing to study nursing related courses and apprenticeships including degree level locally in Truro and the new STEM and Health centre in Bodmin.

In Construction, the investment will fund the building of a new Construction trades area at Truro College, to recognise the growing importance of this sector in the local economy. In 2020 the College saw a large increase in students entering its construction trades provision and this growth is forecast to continue.

As well as new construction and carpentry bays for students to practise their skills, additional industryready construction tools and equipment will be installed, ensuring students are as career ready as possible after completing their course.

Truro and Penwith College is among 49 post-16 providers to secure the government funding ahead of the roll-out of new T-Levels courses in September. The new technical qualifications – equivalent to three A Levels – combine classroom study with industry placements.