Is your school ready for T-levels?

T-levels have landed!

This new type of qualification will send shockwaves through the FE world, and make it easier for school leavers to get stuck into STEM subjects.

But, has your school got what it takes to prepare your kids to smash these new assessments?

So, what exactly are T-levels?

T-levels are brand new qualifications aimed at teens aged 16+. They’re equivalent to A-levels and geared towards preparing students for careers in practical industries, such as:

• Construction
• Social care/childcare
• Education
• Hardware/software development
• Product design
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Accounting and finance

You’ll see courses relating to the top four of this list rolled out from September 2020, with another 22 set to follow in 2021. So, you’ve got just enough time to get your students prepped!

Why all the focus on STEM subjects? Well, we’ve got an epic shortage of technical skills in the UK right now, and the economy’s starting to feel the pinch. Some reckon we’ll need a massive 1.8 million new engineers alone by 2025 just to keep things ticking over.

What equipment do schools need to help students ace their T-levels?

Selecting the right classroom technology will get kids excited about STEM subjects, and give them the hands-on experience they need to hit the ground running with their T-levels.

These are some of the handiest types of tech you should be looking at:

1) iPads

iPads are super-versatile educational tools that can help your students get stuck into all sorts of things, such as:

• Creating and improving designs with easy-to-use software
• Learning more about computing – using digital devices, writing simple code, staying safe/secure etc.
• Collaborating on exciting projects (with classmates or industry representatives)
• Visiting private, dangerous or hard-to-reach locations (like design studios or factories) virtually

This tech has already transformed education and made a place for itself in classrooms up and down the land. So, getting the teachers of tomorrow up to speed with it now will give them a skill they can call on for life.

iPads are also used widely in industries such as engineering, manufacturing, product design and software development. By introducing students to iPads now, using them will be second nature by the time they enter their chosen industry.

2) Interactive screens

You can also do all of these things with interactive screens, but in a more teacher-led way.

Download special educational apps so students can explore STEM subjects more closely. Use visualisations and videos to help bring technical topics to life.

Don’t just display a diagram – dive head-first into it and demonstrate what makes everything tick.

3) 3D printers

3D printers aren’t just great for learning about STEM subjects. Chances are they’ll be a significant part of the industries your students are training for by the time they’re ready to enter the world of work.

For now, you can take those designs your students have developed and make them real. This will teach them all about iterative design, prototyping and the manufacturing process – even new construction methods.

4) Laser cutters

Laser cutters are the other half of this jigsaw. Whereas 3D printers are all about adding material, laser cutters are all about removing it.

Get this bit of kit in your tech labs to inspire your students, and give them experience of designing products /engineering components.

Setting your school up with these types of tech will give your students the best possible start for when their T-levels roll around.

Want to get your school and its science labs prepped for T-levels? Speak to the friendly Utility Rentals team.