Ofsted Outstanding Exeter College has been named by the Government as one of the first providers of new ‘T Levels’ – marking a revolution in technical education.

T Levels are courses, which will be on a par with A Levels and will provide young people with a choice between technical and academic education post 16.

Exeter College is delighted to be amongst a select group of colleges and post-16 providers nationwide – and the only one in Devon – selected to deliver the new T Levels.

Courses in Construction, Digital, and Education & Childcare will be first taught from September 2020.
A further 22 courses will be rolled out in stages from 2021, which will cover sectors such as finance & accounting, engineering & manufacturing, and creative & design.

As the colleges and other post-16 providers, including Exeter College, were named, the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, said: “Everyone should be able to have access to an education that suits them, but we know that for those that don’t choose to go to university, the routes into further technical and vocational training can be hard to navigate.

“That’s why we’re making the most significant reform to advanced technical education in 70 years to ensure young people have gold standard qualifications open to them whichever route they choose.

“T Levels provide a high-quality, technical alternative to A levels ensuring thousands of people across the country have the skills we need to compete globally – a vital part of our modern industrial strategy.”

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “As an Ofsted outstanding college, we are delighted that we have been selected as a pilot provider to help develop and implement T Levels. As a college we work closely with employers to ensure that all of our technical provision has a ‘line of sight to industry’ and is relevant to both the industry of today and tomorrow.

“We see T Levels as a great addition to our technical offer and we hope that through the pilot we will be able to further enhance the links between full-time study and our award-winning Apprenticeship programme.”

The Education Secretary, The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, said he was committed to working with businesses and learning from our international competitors to ensure these new qualifications lead to a generational shift in technical education.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “T Levels represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform technical education in this country so we can rival the world’s best performing systems.

“For too long young people have not had a genuine choice about their future aged 16. Whilst A levels provide a world class academic qualification, many technical education courses are undervalued by employers and don’t always provide students with the skills they need to secure a good job – that has to change.

“Naming the first 52 colleges and providers where young people will be able to study the first T Levels is an important step forward, and we will continue the work with business and the education sector so everyone can benefit from these vital reforms.

“Technology and the world economy are fast-changing, and we need to make sure our young people have the skills they need to get the jobs of tomorrow. This is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy.”