T Level Industry Placements | Cumberland Intranet

T Levels are new 2-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

If your service area is contacted directly by a student, college etc to host a T Level work placement student, please ensure you share details with the early careers team. This is to make sure everything is completed inline with the process set-up (SharePoint) and allow the early careers team to share further details and documentation with the manager/mentors prior to the student starting.

Information and guidance to help support T Level Industry placements can be found on the government T level website.

Documents

Early Careers Process (SharePoint)

Introduction on T-Levels and Industry Placement (SharePoint)

Mentoring Infographic (SharePoint)

What are T Levels?

T Levels offer students practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days.

The courses are available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.

They're an alternative to A levels and apprenticeships, giving young people the technical and practical skills needed to be an asset in the workplace. T Levels combine classroom learning with a substantial industry placement.

T Level Subjects

T Level courses have been designed alongside employers to deliver the skills your organisation needs.

The first T Levels started in September 2020. Over the next few years, T Levels will grow to include more than 20 courses. Here you’ll find course content, as well as specific guidance for each skill area. 11 skill areas.

T Level skill areas

Structure of a T Level

T Levels require students to undertake both a technical qualification and an industry placement with an employer.

Students are also required to work towards the attainment of maths and English if they have not already achieved grade 4 at GCSE, as students do on other 16 to 19 programmes. However, T Level students are no longer required to achieve either a grade 4 in English and maths GCSE or level 2 in functional skills to pass their programme.

How T Levels Compare to Apprenticeships

T Levels are different from apprenticeships but based on the same standards.

Apprenticeships are typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and are more suited to those who are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.

T Levels involve more classroom study than apprenticeships and prepare students for work, further training or further study.

See how T Levels compare to other post-16 options on the Get the Jump content hub.

Student Stories

Hear directly from students who are taking their T Levels

With the option to go on to employment, higher education or apprenticeships, it’s easy to see how T Levels can give you a head start towards the future you want. Case Studies | T Levels

Industry Placements

Every T Level includes an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. T Level students spend 80% of the course in the classroom, learning the skills that employers need. The other 20% is a meaningful industry placement, where they put these skills into action. Industry placements are a shift from traditional work experience to a longer, more structured placement in the workplace for young people to develop real work skills and make a meaningful contribution to your organisation. Placements will last at least 315 hours (approx. 45 days).

Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary. Providers will support employers offering industry placements. This will include assistance with paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.

How much does it cost?
T Level industry placements are a free government scheme - you don't need to pay to take on a T Level student for a placement.

There may be certain business costs, like time invested in planning, training and supervising, and you can choose to pay the student if you wish.

Find out more about the business benefits and costs of an industry placement

How industry placements work

Industry placements are at the heart of each T Levels course. The student’s school or college will support you at every stage so you can focus on getting the most out of your placement student. Here’s an overview of the process:

Find a school or college

Finding the right education provider is key. Get in touch with T Level schools or colleges near you to discuss your business, their students and the T Level courses.

You don’t need to wait until you have everything in place for an industry placement to partner with a local school or college. It’s often a good idea to get in touch early to allow time for the right conversations.

We have tips on things to think about when choosing a provider and questions you might want to ask them.

Find the right student

Tell the school or college about your organisation, the placement’s roles and responsibilities, and the sort of person you need.

The school or college will find suitable students and you can choose the right person for your business.

Find out about how to interview, assess and choose the right student.

Plan the placement

This is where you’ll:

agree dates and times that work best for everyone
discuss how often the student will attend
plan the projects and tasks

You can also decide if and how you’d like to pay the student.

The school or college will work with you to make sure you know about your responsibilities and will support you with the practicalities like health and safety, insurance and risk assessments.

Find out more about:

The placement itself

When the student is on placement, it’s a good idea to assign a mentor or manager to track their progress against their objectives.

The school or college will always be on hand to help with any questions or issues.

Find out more about:

After the placement

At the end of the placement, you’ll have an end-of-placement review with the student and the school or college.

This is when you can talk to the school or college about your experience with the student and give them constructive feedback to help them reflect on their placement and career direction.

This may also be a great opportunity to bring a young person into your workplace permanently and build a pipeline of talent for your industry. If you’d like to continue to work with the student, you can talk to the school or college about hiring them, or taking on another industry placement student.

Find out more about:

What's in it for councils?

Referenced from LGA website.

Local government can be a varied and positive career destination for young people – by providing quality experience to young people they will look seriously at councils as future career options. By hosting a T Level industry placement councils get the following benefits:

a motivated student for 45 days
extra capacity for sector specific project work, with no employment contract, PAYE or N.I. liability
no recruitment costs
try and test potential apprentices, trainees or employees
level 3 'workplace ready' candidates
an opportunity to promote your employer brand to young people to attract local talent for future employment
recruit workforce of the future by providing progression from T Level to apprenticeship, entry level job or traineeship
retain local talent
opportunity to shape a young person to fit your council’s needs
build stronger links with local training providers and other employers
an opportunity for line managers to contribute to the development of a young person

Support and Manage Industry Placement Students

Helping students learn

How can you help students to learn while they are on a placement in your organisation?

Helping students learn – T Levels and industry placement support for employers

Managing young people who are new to the workplace

Students on industry placements are moving out of a school, college or other training environment they know and into one that’s new. It could be their first time in a workplace.

Managing young people who are new to the workplace – T Levels and industry placement support for employers

Supporting industry placement students with special educational needs and disabilities

Industry placements can be really valuable for students with special educational needs and disabilities (sometimes known as SEND).

Supporting industry placement students with special educational needs and disabilities – T Levels and industry placement support for employers

Effective mentoring for industry placement students

Your industry placement student should be allocated to a supervisor who will be responsible for their day-today activities. It’s not essential for students to have a mentor as well, but a good mentor can add a lot to a student’s experience.

A mentor will provide additional support and advice on issues wider than just their team role and responsibilities.

Effective mentoring for industry placement students – T Levels and industry placement support for employers

Mentoring

There is a mentoring support package, which has been developed specifically for T Level industry placement mentors. Sign-up and access via the Improving Technical Education website.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a common term but what exactly does it mean? The term is sometimes used in different ways by different people. It is often used in the context of autism and ADHD.

Neurodiversity refers to the natural differences in the way our brains work. Some people refer to themselves as neurodiverse.

The aim of the Neurodiversity guidance, is to help support managers and employees with any queries regarding neurodiversity in the workplace. We aim to promote a greater understanding of neurodiversity, and seek to eradicate any discriminatory practices.

Neurodiversity, is a relatively new term that many people may not yet know much about. Learning more about neurodiversity, and taking steps to understand how to best support everyone in workplaces, can be hugely beneficial for employers and employees.