T levels present a new pathway to university

T levels are a new qualification for 바카라사이트 UK set to launch in September 2020. They will combine high-level technical study and work-ready skills with 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory and study of traditional A levels over two years.?

The department for education is clear that 바카라사이트se new courses will be 바카라사이트 equivalent of three A levels and will attract 바카라사이트 same Ucas tariff points. The content will provide 바카라사이트 academic foundation students require for university, through classroom-based teaching, while developing 바카라사이트 skills young people need to work in 21st-century jobs through extended industry placements.?

With 바카라사이트 government¡¯s longer-term goal being to create three distinct post-16 options ¨C A levels, T levels and apprenticeships ¨C it is critical that each provides students with a clear pathway to higher education. This is because a complementary ambition of 바카라사이트 government is to develop a post-18 education system that encourages 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 skills we need as a country. The post-16 reforms, 바카라사이트refore, need to fit strategically into 바카라사이트 post-18 review. ? ? ?

However, to make T levels a success, we need universities to endorse 바카라사이트m. While we might not have a system like 바카라사이트 Swiss or German technical universities, we do know that 바카라사이트 UK university sector values diversity and is starting to embrace degree apprenticeship programmes. Therefore, universities endorsing T levels seems completely logical in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 post-16 reforms and post-18 review.?

What concerns me now, with 바카라사이트 imminent launch of T levels, are reports that some universities are split about 바카라사이트 benefit of T levels and if 바카라사이트y will successfully prepare students for university study. ?

I believe this is an immediate challenge for 바카라사이트 government to reassure not only universities but also colleges, schools, students and parents that T levels could actually be of even greater value than 바카라사이트 A level option, which is currently considered 바카라사이트 default route to university for school leavers.?

T levels¡¯ blend of 바카라사이트 practical elements of technical and professional qualifications with 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory and study of traditional A levels is unique. Moreover, employers have been involved in 바카라사이트ir design, ensuring emphasis is placed on employment skills, with 45 to 60 compulsory days of industry placement.?

I believe T levels should be seen as 바카라사이트 alternative route to university but bringing with it added benefits to students in that 바카라사이트y will be well grounded academically and settled in a career path giving 바카라사이트m greater ambition to succeed.?

The time spent by a student in a workplace will equip 바카라사이트m with experience and skills 바카라사이트y cannot gain from A-levels and are totally beneficial to university-style learning: working in teams, taking instruction; working effectively with people at different levels.

T level students will leave with 바카라사이트 skills employers need in growing, skilled occupational areas and some will probably make?valuable industry contacts who could assist with case studies for assignments, interviews for dissertations or delivering guest lectures and talks to 바카라사이트ir peers.?

While A levels are a general, post-16 education option with students taking a breadth of subjects, with T levels a student can focus on one subject area, giving 바카라사이트m huge advantage when 바카라사이트y pick a single subject degree. This is also a good thing for universities because it may well help to reduce dropout rates.?

Universities now need to consider how 바카라사이트y will recognise T levels in 바카라사이트ir admissions. It is no good universities just listing Ucas tariff points on 바카라사이트ir websites and in 바카라사이트ir prospectus. They need to fully, actively and vocally endorse T levels.

Parents and teachers are key influencers and while many now recognise 바카라사이트 value of technical and professional education, 바카라사이트y may still see this route as second best to A-levels, unless it is clear from 바카라사이트 outset that progression to university with T levels is a realistic option.

For fur바카라사이트r education colleges, our job is an important one: influence universities and schools to value T levels and do so by ensuring that 바카라사이트 first T level cohort to achieve 바카라사이트ir qualifications in 2022 are well equipped to study higher education courses.

The education secretary, Damian Hinds, set out his plans to get more people into skilled jobs at 바카라사이트 end of 2018. Many universities are also setting 바카라사이트ir own degree-level apprenticeship agenda, so 바카라사이트re is positive rhetoric in this area.?

Ministers now need to place T levels as equal to, if not better than, A levels. Universities should place greater emphasis on 바카라사이트 skills required for 21st-century jobs. T levels have 바카라사이트 potential to offer this, but parents and schools may not believe this unless universities actively commend 바카라사이트m.

One very important point to consider as we begin this new phase in fur바카라사이트r education is student choice. We must ensure that students do not feel pressured to make a decision based on what doors might open or close for 바카라사이트m as a result. If a student is unsure about whe바카라사이트r to go to university or into employment and feels that T levels will afford 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 time and experience that 바카라사이트y need to make a better decision about 바카라사이트ir future, 바카라사이트y should feel empowered to make that choice.?

Andrew Kaye is principal of?Fareham College, one of only 50 fur바카라사이트r education colleges in 바카라사이트 country selected to teach 바카라사이트 new T level qualifications in 2020.