ONE of the country’s newest qualifications has proved a huge draw with young people in Warrington aiming for careers in social work, teaching and childcare.
Priestley College was chosen by the government to be one of the first establishments in the country to offer T-Levels.
Enrolment for Education and Childcare was so high an extra class was added and now 38 students are taking the qualification.
Adam Bird, who oversees T-Levels at Priestley, said: “T-Levels were designed with employers to ensure they gave students the knowledge and skills that are required in the workplace.
“We think this is one of the key reasons why so many students opted for this course given the uncertainty around jobs across all sectors at the moment.”
Among the T-Level students at Priestley is Theo Yates who hopes to have a career working with children and families. The former Lymm High pupil said he was enjoying studying a Level 3 course.
“It’s a new challenge because the course is worth three A-Levels which I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do, but I am ready for it,” he said.
“I like all my teachers and developed an immediate connection to them. I am enjoying looking at childcare from a different perspective and want to go into a job where I help children become the best versions of themselves.”
Former Helsby High pupil Isabel Carberry has several career paths in mind and said her studies were helping keep her options open.
“I’m thinking of going to university to study psychology as this will help me to become an educational psychologist,” she said.
T-Levels were developed with employers and businesses so the content meets industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.
They offer a mixture of classroom learning and “on-the-job” experience during an industry placement of around 45 days.
The launch of T-Levels has been so successful that Priestley College will be offering two more – in Science and Health – next September.
Ruth Saastamoinen, who is the T-Level lead for Childcare and Education at Priestley, said the courses were creating opportunities for young people.
“This is a new route in further education that really works for the student and for their prospective future employer,” she said.
