A multi-million pound fund has been launched today (13
January) aimed at making sure young people studying
pioneering new T Level qualifications from 2022 have access
to world class facilities and equipment.
The new technical qualifications - equivalent to three A
Levels - combine classroom study with industry placements
so that students gain the skills and experience they need
to progress into work, further study or an apprenticeship.
T Level courses have been co-created with over 250
employers including Fujitsu and Amazon so they generate the
skilled workforce that businesses need for the future. The
first three T Levels in Design, Surveying and Planning for
Construction, Digital Production, Design and Development
and Education and Childcare were introduced in September
2020. A further seven will be available from 2021 in
subjects including Health, Science and Onsite Construction
and subjects including Finance, Media and Legal will be
introduced from 2022 and 2023.
From today, T Level providers across the country can bid
for a share of £135 million, through the T Level Capital
Fund, to upgrade classrooms and buildings in readiness
for students starting courses in September 2022. Part of
this funding will also be made available to pay for
specialist kit such as surveying equipment and engineering
tools to make sure students have access to the industry
standard devices they need to be ready for the workplace.
The funding announced today brings the total capital
investment by the government to support T Levels to over
quarter of a billion pounds.
Education Secretary said:
The successful launch of T Levels earlier this year
represents the start of a transformation in our technical
education system – giving young people the vital skills
they need to get ahead and giving employers the talented
workforce they need to thrive as we build back better
from the pandemic.
To deliver world class qualifications providers need to
have world class facilities and cutting-edge equipment,
this funding will help to make sure students have the
skills and knowledge to succeed when they finish their T
Levels.
The government has also
unveiled the first 56 projects for post-16 providers
delivering T Levels from September 2021 totalling
£48.5m of the £95m announced at Budget 2020. Successful
projects include a new civil engineering centre at the
Lakes College in Cumbria to support construction T Levels,
and a brand new teaching block at Burnley College that will
include classrooms, an elite athlete gym and a sports
therapy space to support their delivery of health T Levels.
Katy Quinn Principal and CEO of Strode College said:
Strode College were delighted to have benefited from T
Level capital funding from the DfE which has allowed
us to provide our students with access to high-quality
Industrial standard facilities to support their learning
and successful career development. We are so pleased to
have been able to transform an old, dark and inefficient
1960s building into a bright, modern and airy specialist
centre for Digital Media and Technology because of this
funding. These new classrooms and facilities have
revolutionised learning for students. The next T Level
funding we have successfully bid for is for £650k 100%
grant funding to build a hospital ward and 4th science
lab in E block. Really great news for the College, our
staff and students.
T Levels will play a key part in rebuilding the economy
after the pandemic, boosting access to high quality
technical education for thousands of young people across
the country. The progress made so far on delivering the new
qualifications is outlined in the latest T Level Action
Plan, including an update on the launch of the first
three T Levels in September 2020, and the criteria for
providers wishing to deliver in 2023 and beyond.
