Walsall College to launch T-Levels

Walsall College will be one of the first colleges in the UK to deliver the new T-level programmes, which will equip young people with the skills and experience to kick-start a lucrative career.

The Outstanding training provider is one of three general further education colleges in the West Midlands to offer the two-year programmes, which offers students aged 16-18 a technical alternative to A-levels.

As part of a nation-wide roll-out of these technical courses, Walsall College has been selected by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to deliver the first phase of full-time programmes.

Kicking off from September 2019, the programmes will enable students to develop technical knowledge of practical skills that are specific to their chosen industry or occupation.

Students are also expected to undertake a work placement of at least 45 days in their chosen industry or occupation, with learning taking place both in the classroom and through ‘on-the-job’ training.

The new qualification is part of a wider agenda to transform technical education, and to ensure young people are equipped with the skills, knowledge and capabilities that reflect employer needs.

52 schools and colleges across the country have been named as the first T-level providers. A further 22 courses will be delivered in stages from 2021, covering sectors such as finance and accounting, engineering and manufacturing, and creative and design.

Jatinder Sharma OBE, Principal and CEO at Walsall College, said: “We are thrilled to introduce T-Level qualifications as part of our vast and rich curriculum.

As an Outstanding college, we put students’ life chances at the heart of everything we do. These courses will have a large impact on young people’s employment prospects, and we aim to utilise our business links to ensure students develop the skills employers say they are looking for.

Employers are at the heart of all of our work placement delivery, and we already work with key employers in the West Midlands to fill local skills gaps. The T-Level courses are a chance for us to continue our current partnerships, as well as to create new links with employers keen to work with an Outstanding training provider to find new talent and drive their businesses forward.”

Visit our Business Training Solutions page to find out more about how work experience can benefit your company. 

If you’re interested in offering work placements to new talent from September 2018, please contact Walsall College on businesstrainingsolutions@walsallcollege.ac.uk