T Level events open new opportunities for young people in the south west

In partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and the Association of Colleges (AoC), we held two events to promote T Levels in health and social care this month.

T Levels are the new post-16 alternative to A-levels focusing on vocational skills and combining class-based learning with an industry placement. 

The aim of the events focused on challenging the misconceptions of hosting placements for T Levels students; exploring how we can support young people through the T Level pathway and into health and care careers. 

The events covered a policy update, an introduction to the new national T Level network and a session to myth bust the misconceptions of hosting placements for T Levels students. 

Our face-to-face event in Taunton welcomed colleagues working in education, health and social care fields across the south west. 

At the event, two case studies were welcomed by the team. The case studies showcased how T Levels offer young people the opportunity to gain practical experience and learn about a real career during their studies.

A Midwifery team from Swindon joined us to share their experience of supporting the first cohort of T Level students and discussed the improvements they have made for the next intake. Millie, a final year T Level student from Somerset, shared her experience of the past two years of valuable insight into her placement experience. Millie is now preparing to start her registered nursing degree apprenticeship.

Later in the week, we co-hosted a webinar focusing on T Levels in social care. Here, the DfE provided an update on the continuing work around integrating social care as a pathway in the future and the introduction of a new post. The update supplied a great platform to hear from regional colleagues on the success of their work, creating new industry placements across social care settings in the south west.

The DfE announced the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to pilot the funded role for a T Level Industry Placement Co-Ordinator. The south west had strong applications from across the region, resulting in two posts being funded for Devon ICB and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB. 

For further information, contact our widening participation team at wideningparticipation.sw@hee.nhs.uk.