College to provide new “gold standard” qualification

YOUNG people in Warrington will be some of the first in the country to study T-Levels – the new “gold standard” – in technical education.
Priestley College has been selected to teach the qualifications from 2020.
It is the only centre in Cheshire to be chosen and one of just a handful in the North West.
T-Levels will provide a high-quality, technical alternative to A-Levels ensuring thousands of people across the country have the skills to help the UK compete globally in industry.
Principal Matthew Grant (pictured) said the decision would mean Priestley continued to provide the widest possible range of courses that would also include A-Levels and BTECs.
He said: “This is incredible news for young people in Warrington.
“T-Levels will be on a par with A-Levels and provide young people with a choice between technical and academic education after they turn 16.
“One of the reasons we’ve been chosen is because of our track record for delivering high quality, academic and vocational programmes and our professional expertise in Childcare and Digital Technologies, so it is something of which we are extremely proud.”
The Government has named less than 60 colleges and post-16 providers that will teach T-Levels nationwide.
From 2020 Priestley College – a part of The Challenge Academy Trust – will offer T-Levels in “Digital” as well as “Education & Childcare”.
On Monday, three representatives from Priestley College will meet Government ministers in London to discuss how T-Levels will be implemented.
Leading employers including Lloyds, IBM and Skanska have offered strong support for the new qualification.
Mr Grant added: “This is an exciting moment in the history of Priestley College and for the futures of Warrington’s young people.
“To be able to provide the academic, vocational and technical routes at Priestley means our students will continue to have the widest choice possible as they make decisions that could set them up for life.”