Strode College in Street marks the second year of delivery of the new T Levels qualifications, they started offering these new employer-designed courses which are equivalent to 3 A Levels from September 2020.

The pioneering new qualifications have been designed in collaboration with leading employers to provide the skills that businesses across the region need. The subject areas on offer also reflect some of the top local business growth areas.

These high-quality technical alternatives, are available to post-16 level students across subjects such as: digital skills, health and social care and construction and delivery started from September 2020. Students will be able to choose from even more subjects in September 2022.

T Levels are unique as they combine classroom study with industry placements so young people gain valuable work experience in their chosen sector. Many local businesses are embracing T Levels as a great way to bring in new ideas and the latest skills and as a new way to find, nurture and secure young talent.

Industry placements such as those that will be on offer at Strode College, are core to the make-up of T Levels and see students spend an extended period (a minimum of 45 days) in a work environment to gain hands-on experience and learn vital technical skills.

Katy Quinn, Principal and CEO of Strode College, commented: "We are delighted to be among the first colleges to offer these new courses and to celebrate their second year of delivery this autumn. It is exciting to have the ability to shape the next generation of highly skilled workers.

'It is going so well; we are thrilled to be adding more T Levels to our offer in 2022. We are also looking forward to the prospect of where the extensive experience acquired will take our students in their educational journeys and careers."

Our first cohort of T Level students have now begun the second year of their studies.

Matthew Williams is studying a T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development (IT) at Strode College, he explains: "I chose the T Level because it covered all of the topics I thought would be useful for my future career, from software development and project management, to everything in-between." Matthew Plans to seek employment in games development or software testing and has now secured a job-placement starting in the spring.

Reflecting on the course so far Olivia Penny, who is studying Education and Childcare T Level said: "The facilities at Strode College are really good, which is so important when studying the T Level as it is more practical based. I love the atmosphere here - the social aspects of college life allow you to integrate with other students studying different courses, which is so interesting and beneficial to make new friends." Olivia is currently working on her placement at Sunnyhill Nursery in Bruton and plans to study a degree in Early Years Development at Norland College.

T Levels are a key part of the government's reforms to revolutionise skills and technical education, generating the skilled workforce that businesses need for the future and giving students the experience they need to progress into well-paid jobs, further study or an apprenticeship.

Strode College will be offering the following from September 2022.

· Education & Childcare

· Health

· Science

· Accounting

· Business, Management and Administration

· Digital Design, Production and Development

· Digital Hardware & Technical Support

· Digital Data Management

· Design & Development for Engineering & Manufacturing

· Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction

To find out more about T Levels, visit HERE :