T Levels – George Knight, InTandem Systems

T Levels are an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. Equivalent in size to 3 A levels, a T Level focuses on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships.

Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace while employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

T Level students spend 80% of the course in their learning environment, gaining the skills that employers need. The other 20% is a meaningful industry placement, where they put these skills into action.

George Knight is enrolled on a T Level course in Building Services Engineering: Electrotechnical, at Fareham College, and spending one day a week at InTandem Systems, a specialist in energy and performance controls.

Explaining his reasoning behind choosing a T Level course after completing his GCSEs, George says: “I wasn’t originally planning on going into a trade but then I realised I was quite keen to do something challenging, a bit more hands-on and a bit more practical. I saw a brief overview of my course and it covered everything I’m interested in. So I gave it a go, I stuck with it and am now really enjoying it.”

Doing the work for real

Putting the skills he’s learned in the classroom into real life practice has been a huge benefit of his industry placement at InTandem Systems, as he explains: “In the first year of college the work was a lot more theory-based, and we did a lot of non-practical learning, and then when I came to my placement I was actually doing the work for real. I feel like I have learned quicker using my hands at InTandem than when I was at college doing the theory.” George has taken his real life skills back to college where he is able to apply them as his course progresses. He explains: “In the second year we’re doing practical work as well so I’m really flying through it now because of the experience I have gained on my placement.”

George believes his T Level course was the right move for him and is happy to highlight the benefits to other students considering their options, saying: “T Levels are a good introduction to construction and engineering. They give you an understanding of the industry and explain the process of what you’ll be doing by walking you through all of it.”