T Levels

T Levels

T levels is a new vocational two-year qualification, and are equivalent to 3 A levels, that will set you on the path to your chosen career. 80% of your course is classroom based and 20% work. A key part of the qualification is an industry placement - which will prepare you for work. The placement will last at least 45 days and depending on the course and industry you may complete your 45-day placement as a block or as individual days.

T-levels are based on the same standards as apprenticeships - which have been designed by employers with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education - to make sure that young people under 19 develop the knowledge and skills required by employers after their GCSEs.

T levels started at Chelmsford College in September 2022; we will be adding new T level subjects each year. Take a look at the T levels below to find out more about what you will learn, career pathways and entry requirements for the courses. For all T levels you will need grade 4 in English and maths GCSE.

T Level Pathway Specialism
Construction Design, Surveying & planning Surveying
Design and development for engineering and Manufacturing Mechanical engineering Electrical and electronic engineering Mechanical engineering Electrical and electronic engineering
Digital Digital production, design & development Software development life cycle
Management & administration Management & administration Team leadership and management
Education & Childcare Education & early years Assisting Teaching
Health Health Supporting Adult Nursing

You can find out more about these relatively new national qualifications at www.tlevels.gov.uk.

Find out more about T Levels

Download | The Parents Guide to T-Levels

Download | T-Levels: What are they and who are they for?

T Levels

Business
T Level in Legal, Finance and Accounting View Course Details
T Level in Management and Administration (Specialism in Team Leadership and Management), Level 3 View Course Details
T Level in Marketing View Course Details
Childcare
T Level Education and Childcare (Specialism in Early Years Educator), Level 3 View Course Details
Construction
T Level Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction (Specialism in Surveying and Design), Level 3 View Course Details
Creative Industries
T-Level Craft and Design (Specialism in Fashion Maker), Level 3 View Course Details
T-Level in Media, Broadcast and Production (Specialism in Content Creation and Production), Level 3 View Course Details
Engineering
T-Level Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control, Level 3 View Course Details
T-Level in Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing View Course Details
T-Level Maintenance, Installation, and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, Level 3 View Course Details
Health & Social Care
T Level in Health (Specialism in Supporting Adult Nursing), Level 3 View Course Details
ICT & Digital Skills
T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development (Specialism in Digital Production, Design and Development), Level 3 View Course Details

Industry Placements

Alongside completing your 2-year T-level course you will be required to complete an industry placement.

To do so you will:

  • Spend at least 45 (105 for education & childcare) days on placement. This can also include up to 35 hours of work preparation and taster activities, such as visiting employers, mock interviews, and job shadowing.
  • Work with an industry related employer linked to your course in real life work settings to practise and develop your core skills and gain employability skills.
  • Work with your tutor to set specific learning goals before you start your placement, your progress will be reviewed at regular review meetings with your tutor and placement manager.

Part time work paid or non-paid:

If you currently have a part time job that is related to your course and chosen career path, then you may be able to use this work towards your placement hours. Your part time job can only be used if your employer agrees and if the industry placement team / tutor has agreed it is linked to your course.

Your industry placement is a great way for you to gain knowledge about the industry you are studying, the placement will also help develop your technical skills and help you stand out after you have completed the course as it will be an important addition to your CV. It will help you:

  • Build your confidence.
  • Gain experience of being in a workplace setting.
  • Help you identify what kind of job you would like to do and what sort of organisation you might like to work for.
  • Potentially secure a job or apprenticeship with an employer after you have completed your college course.

To find out more about T-levels please contact our careers department on 01245 265611

Employers | Industry placements & T-Levels | Employer information

T-Levels are an exciting opportunity to become a pioneer employer of our brand-new T-level programme. T-levels enable your business to develop a student, support the local community and potentially try before you employ, providing future employment to your organisation.

T-levels are a two-year level 3 qualifications for 16–19-year-olds, designed with employers, each T-Level is equivalent to 3 A levels and will prepare students for the challenges of their chosen career and industry by combining classroom study and a meaningful industry work placement.

By supporting a learner with their 45-day placement you will not only be supporting your business's future skills needs, but also providing essential opportunities to help our students develop the skills and knowledge they have learnt in the classroom, helping them to become work ready.

It’s simple to become an industry placement employer, all you need to do is contact us on 01245 265611 and ask for the Industry Placement Team.

There are a few things which you will need to commit to, which include:

  • Providing at least a 45 day work placement
  • Agreeing a work plan with Chelmsford college and the student, these will be relevant learning objectives that are linked to the industry and students’ area of study.
  • Making sure the working environment is safe.
  • Complete our due diligence checklist.
  • Provide us with a copy of your employer’s liability insurance certificate.
  • Have a dedicated member of staff to mentor and supervise the student.
  • Provide feedback at the end of the placement.
  • Flexibility: placement can be 1 or 2 days a week through the year; or block placements during half term breaks.
  • Extra help at no cost: There is no direct financial cost to your business, students will carry out real work while developing their skills and knowledge.
  • Try before you employ: get to know students and identify talented individuals who you might want to employ in the future.
  • Develop you existing staff’s management & supervisory skills: supervising or managing a placement student can help develop your current employee’s leadership skills and help you identify areas of development within your business.

We have a dedicated Industry placement team who will support you at every stage of the process, from making sure the students are work ready, to making sure you have everything in place to host a learner.

Each subject area has a dedicated member of the industry placement team to support both learner and employer, this means you have one direct contact for all your questions regarding industry placements.

The placement is part of the leaners study programme, therefore there is no requirement to pay them. However, employers can pay students or support with costs such a travel and lunch if they choose to.

  • Design, surveying & planning for construction
  • Digital production design & development
  • Education & Early Years
  • Management & administration
  • Health
  • Design and development for engineering & manufacturing

All you need to do is contact the industry placement team on 01245 265611 EXT 3410 and ask for our industry placement coordinator Francesca Tomlinson who will be happy to help you.

More help & information?