Alternative to A-Levels announced in construction

The Department for Education has yesterday (11th October) revealed plans for T-level courses in construction, along with qualifications in digital, childcare and education, that will be available from 2020.

Due to the decline in technical teaching in the UK, T-levels have been created to offer an alternative to A-levels for students who feel they are more practical-minded rather than academic.

More T-level qualifications will follow on after the initial batch in subjects such as manufacturing, engineering, legal, finance and accounting.

Justine Greening, Education Secretary, said: “As we prepare to leave the EU, it is more important than ever that we create an outstanding further education and skills system, giving all young people the opportunity to fulfil their potential and deliver a better future for our country.”

The content of T-levels will be developed by newly appointed panels comprising industry professionals and employers, including Morgan Sindall and Skanska.

All T-level programmes will also include a substantial work placement‎ so that students can apply their learning in a real workplace.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) have today (12th October) replied to yesterday’s announcement and thinks the Government’s announcement is a positive first step in the right direction, but more could be done to include small and medium-sized firms in the process.

They believe the Government has displayed a track record of devising policies that do not exploit the full potential of SMEs, only to eventually retrofit those policies to include SMEs and say this will never be as good an approach as including SMEs from the outset.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “With SMEs accounting for 98% of construction companies, the panel should better reflect the make-up of the industry.”