Bishop Burton College celebrates success of first T Level students

QUALIFIED: T Level Education and Childcare students at Bishop Burton College

By Rick Lyon

The achievements of the first students to complete a groundbreaking T Level qualification at Bishop Burton College have been celebrated at a special event.

The college was part of the first wave of education providers to pioneer the delivery of the innovative T Level qualifications. Introduced in 2020, they are a post GCSE alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. Equivalent to three A Levels, T Levels focus on vocational skills, helping students progress into skilled employment, higher education or higher-level apprenticeships.  

The T Level Education and Childcare students at Bishop Burton are among the first in the country to complete the new qualification and helped organise the celebratory event, alongside teaching staff. Prospective new students and their parents were also invited along to find out more about the benefits of studying T Levels.

A student panel discussion and a selection of films created by the Bishop Burton students provided first-hand insight into what it’s like to study a T-Level qualification. 

Kisstini Dowell, who was part of the panel said: “It’s such a worthwhile and rewarding course. It opens up so many more opportunities.”  

T Levels are designed for students who have a specific career goal, but also enjoy an academic route. Along with time in college, students complete 750 hours on an industry placement to equip them with the skills and knowledge businesses are looking for in employees.   

SUCCESS: Students at Bishop Burton College are among the first in the country to complete a T Level qualification

Milly Hatfield chose the course specifically for this reason, as she wants to work supporting children with SEN and behavioural difficulties in the future.

She said “I loved going on placement, meeting the children and being able to put into practice everything I’d learnt. It gave a great insight into what working in education is like.”  

Busy Bees Nursery, in Beverley, has had T Level placement students working alongside staff since 2021. Director Beth Skinner said she was impressed with the standard of students working alongside the team on placement - from the skills they brought to their placements, to their burgeoning confidence, to how they have developed as education and childcare professionals during their time at the nursery.  

Beth said: “Seeing the progress the students make is the best part of supporting T Level placements. It's amazing to see and we are very proud of them.”

The students who have completed the course are moving to a wide range of destinations. Some are going straight into industry in roles such as Teaching Assistant in a primary school, while others are progressing to higher education with degree-level study in Teaching and Youth Studies and Criminology.   

T Level Second Year Course Manager Rachael Chapman said: “The students have been on a tremendous journey – from being amongst the first nationally to experience and study a T Level, to having started the course during a pandemic.

STUDY: Education and Childcare facilities at Bishop Burton College

“They’ve taken everything in their stride and worked exceptionally hard. It was fantastic to be able to take a moment to celebrate and reflect on all of their achievements. We are so proud of them and where they are moving onto in the future.”  

With over 20 T Level options available for students nationwide, Bishop Burton launched the T Level in Education and Childcare qualification in 2020, added Health in 2021 and is introducing a further qualification in Management and Administration in September.  

Chief Executive and Principal of the college, Bill Meredith, said: “We see T Levels as a fantastic route for young people to build and develop both their academic and vocational skills, readying them for a long and successful career.

“It’s tremendous to see the very first students nationally to embark on this rewarding course fulfil their potential. T Levels continue to be a key component of the college’s long-term vision for preparing students for a specific occupation and we’re committed to the roll-out of T Levels across a wide range of subject areas.”