WCG selected to deliver new digital #TLevel qualification in 2021

WCG (formerly known as Warwickshire College Group) is delighted to announce that it has been selected by the Department for Education to be one of the earliest colleges in the West Midlands to introduce the new T Level qualifications.

In 2021, the second phase of introductions will begin, and WCG’s colleges across Warwickshire and Worcestershire will be launching the T Level for the Digital Route, which is seen to be a key priority for employment in the region.

T Levels are a key part of the government’s 10-year plan to transform technical education, placing as much importance on this strand of education as is currently placed on academic routes such as A Levels.

The new technical study programmes are high quality and rigorous in the level of skills development that students will be expected to gain, but also include a significant industry placement – some 315 hours per year – equivalent to 45 days.

This focus on gaining experience in the workplace is central to the aim of T Levels, so that students have the opportunity to become truly employment-ready in the course of their studies, and are able to apply learning from the workplace in the technical studies that they undertake in college.

CEO of WCG, Angela Joyce, stated:

“WCG is very pleased to have been selected to become one of the first college groups in the region to introduce T Levels and particularly for the Digital Route, since this is such a critical sector for skills development in the Midlands.

“As a college group we already have significant further education provision in the Cyber and Digital sectors, so introducing T Levels in this area is a logical move for us, and we are planning to launch them right across our colleges in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

“It is exciting for us to play an integral role in transforming technical education in the UK, and the T Level focus on developing young people’s employability skills really resonates with our ethos at WCG. This news is great for all of our future students, our staff and for employers in our region who will ultimately benefit.”

The first three T Levels for Digital, Education and Construction will be introduced from September 2020 by first wave providers.

A further seven will be introduced in 2021, including three in Health and Science, with a further 15 coming on stream from 2022 onward in sectors such as legal, financial and accounting, engineering and manufacturing, and creative & design.

The pioneering new courses are being co-created with leading employers to provide young people with the skills these sectors need, ensuring students are in a position to begin rewarding careers.