Truro College is one of seven colleges in the South West which have been awarded a share of £48.5million to ensure young people studying pioneering T Level qualifications have access to the cutting-edge facilities and equipment they need to get ahead.
The colleges are among 49 post-16 providers to secure government funding ahead of their roll-out of T Levels in September 2021.
The new technical qualifications - equivalent to three A Levels - combine classroom study with industry placements so students gain the skills and experience they need to progress into work, further study or an apprenticeship.
T Level courses have been co-created with over 250 employers, including Fujitsu and Amazon, so they generate the skilled workforce that businesses need for the future.
The first three T Levels were introduced in September 2020 – in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, Digital Production, Design and Development and Education and Childcare.
A further seven T Levels will be available from September 2021, in subjects including Health and Science and Construction.
Subjects including Finance, Media and Legal will be introduced from 2022 and 2023.
Truro and Penwith College has secured funding to provide T Levels in Construction and Health and Science from September this year.
From this week, T Level providers can bid for a share of £135million to upgrade classrooms and buildings in readiness for students starting courses in September 2022.
Part of this funding will be made available to pay for specialist kit such as surveying equipment and engineering tools to make sure students have access to the industry-standard devices they need to be ready for the workplace.
The funding announced this week brings the total capital investment by the government to support T Levels to over £250million.
Truro and Falmouth’s Member of Parliament Cherilyn Mackrory said:
“I am delighted to see Truro and Penwith College again leading the way with the provision of these new qualifications from when they are first available, which will unlock the potential of our young people to thrive in their future careers.”
“The funding awarded today will help Truro and Penwith College make the most of these new opportunities for local students. This sort of combined learning is vital to give students that irreplaceable work based training to go along with traditional classroom based study, and I look forward to seeing these qualifications on offer from the college, in conjunction with local employers who I am sure will be keen to get involved.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“The successful launch of T Levels represents the start of a transformation in our technical education system, giving young people the vital skills they need to get ahead and giving employers the talented workforce they need to thrive as we build back better from the pandemic.
“To deliver world-class qualifications, providers need to have world-class facilities and cutting-edge equipment.
“This funding will help to make sure students have the skills and knowledge to succeed when they finish their T Levels.”
T Levels will play a key part in rebuilding the economy after the pandemic, boosting access to high-quality technical education for thousands of young people across the country.
The progress made so far on delivering the new qualifications is outlined in the latest T Level Action Plan, including an update on the launch of the first three T Levels in September 2020 and the criteria for providers wishing to deliver in 2023 and beyond.