It’s T Levels Week so we want to discuss the different progression routes students can take after completing a T Level and the benefits they have on future careers. 

T Levels were officially launched in September 2020 but have already proved to be an excellent pathway for many learners, allowing them to progress onto apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, university and full-time employment.  

T Levels are two-year qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds designed in collaboration with employers to provide a perfect blend of classroom learning and real-world experience. They are a fantastic alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships, ensuring that learners graduate with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their chosen fields.  

According to the Department of Education’s Technical Education Learner Survey 2024, around 72% of T Level completers agreed that their T Level had allowed them to progress into their desired field. Not only this, 71% said their T Level prepared them for their current study and the workplace, and 68% felt ready for their future career. 

At Weston College, we have many examples of students who have successfully progressed from T Levels to Degree Apprenticeships. One learner, Lewis, studied the T Level Health and has just begun the new Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship at University Centre Weston (UCW). Lewis said, “I’ve been a full-time carer for my mum for years, which inspired my goal to become a paramedic. The T Level Health course stood out for its blend of theoretical and practical learning, allowing me to practice my skills in a simulation room and on placements.”

Another student, Ben, studied the T-Level: Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, completing his placement at Hydrock where he was kept on as a Structural Engineer Apprentice through the Level 4 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship at UCW due to his hard work and talent. He even revisited the current T Level Construction learners to discuss his role in the company, his progression, and his future plans to complete a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship with UCW. 

However, there have also been many instances where students have progressed from T Levels to university. One student, Katy, studied the T Level in Education and Early Years which provided her with hands-on experience at different primary school placements, before progressing to a degree in Education, Society, and Childhood at UCW. 

One of our current Year 2 Business, Management and Leadership T Level students, Ellie, is planning to progress to university or go down the apprenticeship route once she has completed her T Level. She said, “What drew me to the T Level is that it’s not all classroom based. You get to go to a placement in a major business and explore what it is like to work there, get stuck into tasks, and work together with new people in teams. I am currently completing my placement at Lloyds Banking Group and I am really enjoying it. It has improved my confidence and my practical knowledge of business that I may not have got solely in a classroom.” 

T Levels provide the perfect blend of classroom and hands-on work placement. With many future opportunities desiring both a qualification and industry experience, these new qualifications allow students to apply their knowledge to a real-world setting. It develops their transferrable skills and better prepares them for their future careers by enhancing their personal and professional growth. 

If you are interested in exploring our T Levels, click here.