New T-Level Courses in Construction

7 Nov 2017

Information on the new T-Level Courses in construction to begin in 2020

There’s no denying that working in the construction trade requires a good deal of specialised knowledge and expertise. That’s why the UK government has established a new suite of T-level courses in construction to begin in 2020. These courses have been designed by industry panels set up by the Department for Education, and are intended to be as rigorous as the A-level courses intended for students with a more academic inclination.

Designed With Small Builders in Mind
One of the industry panel’s chairmen, Julian Weightman, is the owner of Border Craft Group and serves on the board for the Federation of Master Builders. Julian’s commitment to improving the quality of vocational education for small builders can be seen in both his 18 years of experience running a small building firm and in the integral role he played in establishing the bricklayer and plasterer apprenticeship group. His presence on the panel ensures that the needs of small building firms and their employees will not go overlooked.

Potential Stumbling Blocks>
The Federation of Master Builders chief executive Brian Berry cites one of the main challenges for the new T-level courses in construction to begin in 2020 as the amount of work experience required to complete the training. The T-level initiative will require all students to complete three months of work experience in their second year in the program, but the CITB statistics have proven the number of interested students outweighs the number of apprenticeship placements being offered. One potential solution to this problem lies in an anticipated merger between the Department for Education’s industry panel and the Institute for Apprenticeships construction panel.

Emphasis on Student Learning
The first year of the new T-level courses in construction will focus on teaching students core construction skills, while the second year will allow them to choose a specialty within this discipline for further training. Along with the work requirement noted above, this second year of construction training will focus on practical work within the student’s chosen field.

The Role of Major Construction Firms
Two major construction firms, Morgan Sindall and Skanska, have already committed themselves to joining the newly-appointed industry panels responsible for developing the new T-level courses. Along with many other industry specialists, representatives from these firms will be working together to ensure that students have both the practical skills and the industry training they need to enter into apprenticeships and start their careers out on the right foot.