T Levels
What are T Levels?
Launched in 2020, T Levels are brand new two-year technical courses, which are equivalent to three A Levels. We are proud to be the first school-based Sixth Form to be offering these in the region. From September 2024, we will be offering the following T levels:
Somerset Studio School Sixth Form Campus
Engineering
Healthcare Science
Education and Childcare
Writhlington Sixth Form Campus
Digital Production
Media, Broadcast and Production
Details of courses starting in September 2024 will be available soon.
More information about the courses starting in September 2023 is available in our course outline booklet for Writhlington Sixth Form which can be found here and the Somerset Studio School Sixth Form which can be found here.
They are an alternative study options to existing qualifications, such as A Levels and Apprenticeships, and will provide progression routes into skilled and technical employment, or onto higher/ degree apprenticeships and university.
T Levels will combine the career focus and practical elements of current technical and professional qualifications like BTECs and NVQs, with the theory and study of traditional A Levels.
Developed with employers, they are designed to provide the skills and knowledge required to get into a technical career. T Levels will combine classroom study with on-the-job training as parts of substantial industry placement, lasting a minimum of 315 hours. This forms a core component of the T level.
Successful completion of a T Level qualification will gain UCAS tariff points just like A Levels:
How do T Levels work?
T Levels will take two years to complete.
Approximately 70-80% will be academic and technical study at Sixth Form learning core content, a set of underpinning knowledge, concepts and skills tailored to the chosen industry in year 1 before expanding into specialist training covering occupational and/ or industry specific skills in year 2.
The other 20-30% of the course is made up of practical experience gained with an employer as part of an industry placement, ensuring a minimum threshold of 315 hours is achieved. This placement will be related to the field of study at the appropriate level. Most of the the placement is likely to take place in year 2.
There is also the requirement to study English and/or maths if grade 4 has not already been achieved in these subjects. Achievement at grade 4 will be required to achieve the full T Level qualification.
The course will include wider digital skills development, employability, enrichment and pastoral elements.
Assessment will take place through a combination of externally set exams, an employer- set project and end-point synoptic assessment. There will be ongoing assessment taking place throughout the course to support progress and preparation for such assessments.
In addition, a T Level may have other requirements (i.e. professional registration). All these components will make up a five-day a week programme.