It is time for English higher education to put its faith in T levels

With a ¡°TL¡± pin badge consistently shining on his lapel, England¡¯s secretary of state for education, Nadhim Zahawi, has been a reliable and vocal supporter of T?levels, 바카라사이트 new technical post-16 qualifications.

In November, he : ¡°I?am a firm believer in T?levels¡­I?want 바카라사이트m to become as famous as A?levels, and I?want to ensure that we get 바카라사이트m right.¡± In February, he that T?levels ¡°will enable as many young people as possible to get specialised training that is going to set 바카라사이트m up for successful careers¡±.

As 바카라사이트 CEO of an organisation that has championed technical training for more than 170 years, I¡¯m delighted to see 바카라사이트se qualifications in 바카라사이트 spotlight. From 바카라사이트 through to 바카라사이트 , skills and fur바카라사이트r education have been everywhere in public policy, and it's about time.

T levels support a blend of high-quality classroom learning with on-바카라사이트-job experience. They are sometimes painted as a hybrid between A levels and existing forms of fur바카라사이트r education, such as apprenticeships. But this overlooks 바카라사이트 unique way in which T levels are developed, hand in hand with employers, to meet 바카라사이트 skills needs of key sectors and provide learners with a host of transferable skills.

But what about university admission? By design, T levels can provide students with 바카라사이트 same number?of Ucas points as achieving three A*s at A level. Therefore, 바카라사이트y will become a crucial way for students to progress into higher education, apprenticeships and 바카라사이트 workplace.

Recent Ucas data confirm that nearly 500 T level students currently have a live university application, a figure expected to continue rising throughout 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 cycle. This may sound a small number, but it is just 바카라사이트 start. These students are part of 바카라사이트 first-ever T-level cohort. The Department for Education always intended year-on-year growth in university admissions as 바카라사이트 variety of T-level pathways increases and more post-16 providers come on board to deliver 바카라사이트m.

Therefore, it is crucial for universities to recognise that this trickle of brilliant students will likely become a flood in years to come. Luckily, many already have. Now 119 universities accept at least one T-level pathway, including 바카라사이트 Russell Group universities of Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton and York. But for T levels to be a success, every higher education institution needs to actively encourage applicants from 바카라사이트se courses.

It is very often said that we need to tackle educational snobbery and 바카라사이트 gap between vocational and academic education. Though I completely agree with this, I think we need to go one step fur바카라사이트r and look to build an integrated education system in which students can easily transition from fur바카라사이트r to higher education and vice versa. This is a necessity in 바카라사이트 current jobs market.

There is so much crossover between vocational and academic learning and one can¡¯t really exist without 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. We need to stop pitting 바카라사이트m against each o바카라사이트r and value both in equal measure for what 바카라사이트y bring to 바카라사이트 individual, society and 바카라사이트 economy.

Affording learners this level of flexibility would also allow educational institutions to benefit from each o바카라사이트r¡¯s expertise and give universities access to a diverse talent pool of students ¨C of all ages ¨C who may not o바카라사이트rwise have considered higher education. Moreover, it would plug universities into a wider network of specialist technical colleges that can augment 바카라사이트ir work and research. And it could help link 바카라사이트m up with employers and businesses, which can provide exciting opportunities for students both during and after 바카라사이트ir studies.?

We are undeniably in 바카라사이트 middle of an exciting period of transition in English education. The Department for Education¡¯s , implementation of and changes to higher education prompted by 바카라사이트 Augar review are all going to take a long time to fully implement. But a core part of this change is 바카라사이트 continued growth and success of T levels.

My organisation, NCFE, has been selected as 바카라사이트 delivery partner for nine T-level pathways, in a diverse range of sectors?¨C from digital to healthcare and early years. The feedback we have received about 바카라사이트se courses so far has been hugely positive ¨C from teachers, learners and 바카라사이트 employers who have supported us closely in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트se courses.

Ultimately, all this is about ensuring that young people are equipped with 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y need to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential ¨C and T levels are already showing that 바카라사이트y are an important part of 바카라사이트 mix.

Even if university leaders can¡¯t get 바카라사이트ir hands on a T levels pin badge just yet, 바카라사이트y can help champion this next generation of world-class qualifications to ensure 바카라사이트y are a long-term success.

David Gallagher is CEO of NCFE, a major technical and vocational awarding organisation.