The Most Autumn Winter 2021/2022

T-LEVEL TAKE OVER… On Monday 6th December, Preston College launched its very first Industry Placement Week. With the recent launch of T-Levels, the week facilitated a platform to promote the importance and value of industry placements and to celebrate the incredible achievements of our learners who have completed or part-completed their placements. It was also an opportunity to say thank you to the employers and business owners who we work with at the college, particularly to those who have worked collaboratively with us over the months and years to ensure that our learners and the future pipeline of talented young individuals will gain valuable, real life and significant work experience in their chosen industry. Debbie Ireland, Head of Curriculum 14-19 says: “The introduction of T-Levels is an exciting prospect and will without exception, open so many doors to learners in ways which, before now, have only been open to select few. We know that not everyone has the capacity or the means or even the employer connections to get a 45-day work placement in a relevant job sector, let alone learn valuable skills whilst they are there. But the T-Levels will allow this to happen. T-Levels will pave the way for learners to gain real life on-the-job training which can only present a positive outcome. We are currently working with some of the region’s leading employers who are excited to join us on the T-Level journey. We have a designated team here at the college who are liaising with employers daily to secure placements and work experience to the learners on these programmes.” WHAT IS A T-LEVEL? T-Levels are brand new courses which follow from GCSEs and are equivalent to three A-Levels. They are 2-year courses and have been developed in alliance with employers and businesses to ensure that the content of the programme meets the needs of industry and prepares learners for work, further training or study. T-Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days) and will eventually replace BTEC/Vocational courses. In a few years, school leavers will (only) have the option to choose from either, A-Levels, T-Levels or an Apprenticeship. 18