The very first T Level students will be collecting their results alongside those finding out about their A Levels on Thursday 18th August. We have two from London available for media interviews, including a visit to their school, as well as Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

T Levels are the government’s new gold standard technical qualifications for young people aged 16 to19 available in a range of subjects including construction, engineering, digital, education and childcare, health and science. They’re game-changers, designed by employers with the Department for Education and IfATE to make sure students learn skills businesses need. With firms crying out for skilled labour, it is a milestone moment for this country’s education system.

Denzel Boye, aged 18, has been studying for a T Level in Digital: IT production, design & development at La Retraite 6 in London. He said: “My year was the first in the country – we were the pioneers of this course,” he said. “It’s definitely an adventure and worthwhile… I feel like I’m ahead of most people in A Levels because I’ve had the work placement.”

Rachel Appiah-Kubi, also from LaRetraite 6, did her industry
placement with Women Like Me and the Department for Transport. She said:
“I’m proud of how confident the T Level has made me. I pushed myself to do more things. It will put me ahead of others because most jobs are looking for experience of the workplace.
I also started to research apprenticeships as my next step and realised that university wasn’t the only option.”

Jennifer Coupland has been chief executive of IfATE throughout the pandemic and spent most of her career working on apprenticeships. She said: “Any students who do miss out on their top choice of university should not be despondent as apprenticeships are a high-quality alternative option. As well as all the traditional trades, apprenticeships now train tomorrow’s economists, nurses, aerospace engineers, countryside rangers, brewers, laboratory scientists, graphic designers and even archaeologists. There are nearly 650 to choose from including around 150 at degree level.

“In my view, Degree Apprenticeships are a better route to take than traditional undergraduate courses as apprentices gain a full degree, are paid while training and don’t incur tuition fees. When you complete you also have a huge amount of work experience which is great for your CV and sets you apart from other graduates.”