Can my child go to university without A levels? Your T Levels questions answered

This story is sponsored by Harrogate College.

What does the term ‘T Levels’ mean to you? Work experience? A government initiative? Gobbledygook? If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. Even though most parents and carers of teenagers will have heard about T Levels, many will struggle to tell you what this technical qualification is about. 

In this article, we get down to basics by answering the most common questions people ask about T Levels.

What is a T Level?

A T Level is a technical qualification that is the equivalent level as an A level. One T Level is the same size as three A levels due to the breadth and depth of learning it offers students in a specific area. A single T Level also provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels, providing students with another post-16 pathway to university.

T Levels vs A levels, which is better?

Neither. T Levels and A levels are both valid choices for post-GCSE study, they both require the same level of academic acumen. The crucial difference is that T Levels have a technical focus and include a work placement, whilst A levels are theoretical. 

Whether studying a T Level is right for your child will depend on whether they want to focus on a specific subject in depth, or study a broader range of subject areas.

Can you progress to university with a T Level?

Yes, just like A levels, T Levels were designed as a route to higher education. The key thing to remember is that a single T Level provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels. This means that anyone who prefers to study a more hands-on course will still walk away with the right amount of points needed for entry to university. 

Okay, so which universities accept T Levels?

You can find out which universities accept T Levels by checking the entry requirements on their website. Many universities now offer T Level applicants equal consideration on degree applications, including Russell Group institutions like  the University of York, University of Warwick and King’s College London. 

However, due to its technical nature, you may find that a university might accept a T Level as an entry qualification for one degree, but not another. For example, a student could apply for an undergraduate degree in environmental science, but not mathematics. Fortunately, colleges can advise your child further based on their chosen progression route.

How many subjects do you study on a T Level?

Students study one subject on a T Level. Although studying multiple subjects is helpful for those who are still making up their minds about the future, if your child already knows what they’d like to pursue, a T Level will allow them to specialise sooner.

This was the case for Claire, a student in one of Harrogate College’s 2022 cohorts. “When my tutor told me about the T Level in Digital and IT, I knew it would be perfect as tech has always been my passion. The T Level helped to expand my horizons as there were many aspects of IT I wasn’t aware of.”

Like Claire, being able to focus on and explore different aspects of a subject in detail can help 16 to 18 year olds to feel one step closer to their end goal, providing them with a headstart when it comes to building employability skills for their desired career or job role.

What subjects can you study on a T Level?

There are now 20 T Level subjects in total, but the subjects colleges choose to deliver depends on a couple of factors. The first is the local and regional industry demand for that subject, as well as the amount of tutors and employers available for the necessary teaching and work experience elements. 

What are the T Levels at Harrogate College?

We offer students a choice of T Levels in Business, Engineering, Education and Childcare, Health, or Digital and IT. Students who successfully complete a T Level at Harrogate College will receive a nationally recognised qualification that readies them for higher education or employment. 

Why does a T Level have a work experience element?

To provide students with real-world skills. Take a T Level in Childcare, for example. A T Level Education and Childcare student will spend the academic year familiarising themselves with the fundamentals of the sector – child development, safeguarding, behavioural management and so on. They will also spend one day a week, for 45 weeks, putting what they’ve learnt into practice on a compulsory work experience placement, usually in a nursery or early years setting. This combination of practical and theoretical teaching equips learners with hands-on skills and knowledge they can build upon, which is the hallmark of technical education. 

Will T Levels eventually be scrapped because of the new Advanced British Standard?

No, the government’s recent announcement about a major reform of post-16 qualifications in England will see both T Levels and A levels merge into a single, new qualification. The hope is it will enable students to study a mix of technical and academic qualifications, providing better flexibility for future choices.

Are T Levels the same as BTECs?

T Levels and BTECs are two different qualifications. In fact, some might argue that the BTEC qualification is the predecessor of a T Level. 2024 will see thirty-eight BTECs discontinued where these subjects are now taught as T Levels.

The plus side is that T Levels feature a longer work experience period than BTECs (just over six weeks compared to the usual two to three weeks), allowing students more time to gain an insight into the working world.

What happens during a T Level work placement?

During their work experience, a student will be given tasks relating to technical areas in which they need to build experience. T Level work placements are hosted by employers, who will be made aware of each student’s objectives. This is so that they can ensure the student has access to the right type of work needed for each technical area.

I’m an employer, how can I host a T Level placement?

Students are assigned a designated employer by our Employee Engagement Officer. We contact all employers we work with during the spring term of each academic year. If being a T Level work experience host is something you would like to be considered for, please contact Susan.Roberts@harrogate.ac.uk to express your interest. 

Council approves multi-million pound Bewerley Park upgrade

Senior councillors have given the go-ahead for a major investment in its outdoor learning centres at Bewerley Park and East Barnby.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive yesterday approved spending £4.2m on an 84-bed accommodation block at Bewerley Park, near Pateley Bridge, and improvements to the accommodation block and dining room at East Barnby, near Whitby.

Bewerley Park was built in the 1940s and has been used by North Yorkshire schoolchildren for decades. Its activities, which include canoeing, rock climbing and orienteering, enable young people to learn life skills and have fun.

The council’s outdoor learning service charges between £145 and £170 per night to attend Bewerley Park but it has struggled to record a profit since 2015.

This year it hiked the charge by up to £30 a night due to inflationary pressures.

The council’s Conservative executive member for finance, Gareth Dadd, said the service was “on its knees” but the investment has rescued the two sites “from the jaws of death”.

He added: 

“We were ready to send bulldozers in. Let’s make no bones about it.

“Officers and staff have responded and come up with what is a sustainable business model. Credit to them all in developing that.”

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Further works at Bewerley Park could take place at a later date with a decision expected by 2028. Cllr Dadd said any future expansion will be dependent on the success of the new accommodation block.

The council will still need to obtain planning permission for the work but it says the centres will remain open during construction.

Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, the council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, added: 

“This is an exciting project. For decades both centres have proven very popular, being visited by generations of families. Thousands of children and young people visit the centres each year and leave with positive, happy memories.

“It’s vital that our centres continue to deliver wonderful experiences in a more modern environment.”

North Yorkshire’s special needs black hole could soar to £100m

North Yorkshire Council has revealed it is facing an annual black hole of up to £100m over its spending on special educational needs and disability (SEND) children in as little as four years due to spiralling demand for support services.

While the council says the projected financial pressure was triggered by legislation in 2014, it says a simultaneous increase in complex needs has seen SEND children each cost up to £1.5m a year to support.

In addition, sources say while covid will have had an impact, it is difficult to pinpoint why North Yorkshire is seeing such an explosion in numbers of SEND children, for which the council already has a £13m annual deficit.

Some point to the Children and Families Act 2014, which allows young people and their families to request local authorities to carry out an assessment and provide support, including allocated funding, for each child or young person who applies.

While declining to go on the record, some politicians at County Hall have suggested the relatively large proportion of middle class parents in the county is partly behind the council’s plight, with a common view that getting a SEND statement for a child brings financial and other benefits.

North Yorkshire is in the bottom quartile of funding per head of population for SEND children nationally, partly because the government funding formula is weighted towards areas of high deprivation. 

However, some politicians believe areas with more middle class people able to articulate arguments for their children end up with significant SEND demand.

Parents are believed to have had an almost perfect success rate in getting children, some of whom have “mild” or “borderline” issues, classed as having special needs after appealing the council’s decisions.

One source stated: 

“It is getting to the stage where children with mild difficulties are taking funds away from children who actually need it. It is just unsustainable.”

The financial alert, issued at a full meeting of the authority this week, came days after the authority’s chief finance officer gave evidence to the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities select committee the authority was facing “a perfect storm” financially.

Gary Fielding, the authority’s corporate director resources, told the committee even well-run councils were now facing “existential challenges”.

He added the council was looking at using savings of between £30m and £70k generated by merging the county’s eight district, borough and county councils into a unitary authority, “cashing in the dividend that has been delivered by unitarisation” to balance the books.

Mr Fielding said: 

“There is a whole host of issues, which I would describe as a perfect storm, with SEND, adult social care and children’s placements.

“What we’ve got in part is a disrupted market, a dysfunctional market in most areas, we have supply and demand out of kilter, we’ve got not enough money chasing not enough places, so prices go up.

“We are seeing incredible increases in levels of complexity. There is demand increases, but what I am observing more is the complexity of need that’s presenting, and therefore the cost of that.”

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Mr Fielding said while the funding for many SEND services came from a ring fenced Department for Education grant, the increase in demand was draining the council’s general budget, for example with the SEND home to school transport cost soaring from £5m annually to £21m in just five years.

He added the council would be reviewing policy areas as a contingency if the unitarisation savings plan did not work.

The full council meeting had heard residents were questioning when the authority would “reap the benefits of the millions saved by becoming a unitary authority”, a leading argument behind the controversial reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire.

After outlining “benefits” such as devolution and savings on senior officers’ salaries the authority’s executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said the savings would “help mitigate some of those challenges that we are facing”.

He said: 

“We are in a far better position, I would contend, than most other local authorities up and down the country.

“We have a plan that’s yet to be fully aired and scrutinised by members and that will become apparent in the budget-setting process. It will be two or three years before we reach the top of that hill and can look down with some ease. We have a plan – it will be extremely difficult.”

After the meeting Cllr Dadd added: 

“The incoming government will either have to take the [SEND] criteria up and give children different guidance or find a load of money. This has the potential to bankrupt prudent, decent local authorities. It is the biggest hurricane we can see on its way.”

Harrogate school ‘could be judged outstanding’, says Ofsted report

A Harrogate primary school is to be re-inspected by Ofsted after an interim assessment suggested it could be judged ‘outstanding’. 

Oatlands Junior School was rated ‘good’ when Ofsted visited in 2018, and following inspectors’ latest visit in July, the school retained that status.

But in its report, Ofsted said there was “enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding if we were to carry out a graded (section 5) [i.e. more comprehensive] inspection now”. 

Oatlands is now expected to undergo a graded inspection within the next two years to assess whether it is still ‘good’ or has attained ‘outstanding’ status. 

The report, released today, particularly praises the school’s inclusivity, reporting that leaders and staff “help every pupil, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to be the very best that they can be.” 

It goes on to praise the school’s “broad and interesting” curriculum, pupils’ behaviour, sense of equality, and respect for difference and diversity.

Photo of four pupils from Oatlands Junior School in Harrogate, jumping in the air.

The headteacher of Oatlands Junior School, Mrs Estelle Scarth, said:  

“The report certainly captures everything about Oatlands Junior School that we are immensely proud of and quite rightly describes all the outstanding evidence that was found throughout a very thorough inspection.

“Our success is firmly based on the dedication and talents of everyone that works in our school, the strong, positive relationships that we have with our parents and carers, and of course, all the amazing children in our care.”  

Oatlands Junior School, along with Western Primary and Harrogate Grammar School, was one of the founding schools of the Red Kite Learning Trust in 2015. This has since grown into a multi-academy trust of 14 schools across North and West Yorkshire. 

Amanda Thornton Jones, Director of Primary Education for Red Kite Learning Trust, said: 

“Ofsted recognised the strong collaborative approach within our Trust and how talent and expertise of staff are developed across all our schools. Oatlands Junior School has a highly trained, dedicated and expert team led by an exceptional headteacher.

“Mrs Scarth’s high aspirations and vision are shared by all within the school community. Oatlands Junior is a highly successful school, providing a rich curriculum which releases potential and creates amazing opportunities for all pupils.”

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Harrogate village school admits discrimination against disabled pupil

A Harrogate district school has apologised after admitting five claims of discrimination against a disabled child.

Birstwith Church of England Primary School was taken to a special educational needs and disability tribunal by a parent of a child at the school.

The parent claimed the nine-year-old, who was recognised as disabled, was subject to five claims of discrimination between January 2022 and January 2023.

The tribunal was told that this included being excluded from the dining room and humiliated by a teacher, being humiliated by a teacher in class and being verbally abused by a teacher.

A further two claims included being verbally and physically threatened by a teacher in a church event and being harassed by a teacher.

The school, which was represented by a solicitor from North Yorkshire Council, admitted the claims, which were made in a case management order on February 13, 2023.

It offered to make an official apology to the parent in a letter and “set out measures in place concerning the teacher as far as is practicable”.

The letter, which was signed by the school’s chair of governors, Linda Turvey, and has been seen by the Stray Ferret, said:

“The school, represented by me, as chair of governors, apologises for the behaviour suffered by [named child] on 25th Jan 2022, 10th June 2022, 17th November 2022, 14th December 2022 and 16th Jan 2023. 

“These isolated incidents do not reflect the culture and inclusivity of Birstwith School, therefore swift and firm action has been taken to avoid repetition. 

“Again, this does not in any way reflect the ethos or history of the school as echoed in our recent Ofsted report.”

The Stray Ferret approached Birstwith Church of England Primary School for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council, which represented the school at the tribunal, said it did not comment on individual cases.

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Harrogate Grammar School head says 20mph zone should include Otley Road

The headteacher of Harrogate Grammar School has said a section of Otley Road should be reduced to 20mph to improve safety for schoolchildren.

North Yorkshire Council announced last week speed limits will be introduced outside seven schools in Harrogate under plans for a “landmark” 20mph zone across Pannal Ash and Oatlands.

The move followed repeated calls from headteachers and parents to introduce lower speed limits around schools following high-profile collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians. This included an incident this year that left two schoolchildren in hospital.

The seven schools Harrogate Grammar School (HGS), Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.

The 20mph zone by HGS will be introduced on Arthurs Avenue and its surrounding side roads.

But the headteacher of Harrogate’s largest secondary school Neil Renton said the zone should be extended to include the busy B6162 Otley Road, which is a key route in-and-out of town and currently has a limit of 30mph.

A statement was read out on behalf of Mr Renton at a meeting of councillors on the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday.

He said:

“I absolutely support the landmark scheme put forward and hope this pioneering initiative will also include Otley Road. A large number of students leaving the site at start and end of school would make it entirely sensible to reduce the speed limit on Otley Road.

“Our staff see the need for this daily when supervising children. As a school we fully support reducing the speed limit for the safety of children in our community and hope you will also include Otley Road.”

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Officers published a report ahead of the meeting that said due to national and council policy as well as “the volume of traffic” on Otley Road it would not be possible to introduce a 20mph speed limit.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park, Monika Slater, asked the council’s chief highways officer Melisa Burnham if she was aware of how other cities had “circumvented” national guidelines to introduce 20mph limits on A or B roads.

Ms Burnham said: 

“We do look at examples in best cases across the country, so yeah, the team certainly have the knowledge but whether it’s something we can look at for the specifics here I’m not sure. 

“We do have that policy in place for a reason and we do have to adhere to it. It’s about that consistency across not just Harrogate but across the county as well.”

Government urged to ‘come clean’ on North Yorkshire RAAC schools

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called on the government to “come clean” on which schools in North Yorkshire are affected by dangerous concrete.

The Department for Education revealed this week that 156 schools in England have been identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

There is concern that those facilities with RAAC are prone to collapse.

Nick Gibb, schools minister, has said the number of schools affected may still increase.

The government has not said when a list of the affected schools will be published.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said ministers should say which schools in North Yorkshire have been identified as being at risk.

He said:

“The government must come clean about what schools in our area are affected by crumbling concrete.

“Parents, grandparents, guardians and carers of children attending schools in North Yorkshire have a right to know that their children are safe at school.”

Mr Gordon blamed “years of underinvestment by the Conservative government” for “crumbling school facilities”. He added:

“The government has known about this crumbling concrete for years, but time and again has denied our children the money needed to stop schools from collapsing completely.

“Ministers must release information about each and every school that has been affected so far, and also set out a timetable to complete inspections on all other schools suspected to have RAAC.”

Mr Gordon added that he has called on North Yorkshire Council to confirmed if all schools in North Yorkshire have been surveyed for the crumbling RAAC ahead of the new school year.

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Councillors agree to create new school for autistic children in Harrogate

The former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton will become a new special school for children with autism, councillors confirmed today.

North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative-run executive unanimously approved the creation of the school, which will cater for up to 80 students and is set to open in September next year.

The results of a six-week consultation over summer revealed considerable support, with 86% of 105 responses in favour.

The council has pledged a £3.5m investment into creating the school.

The meeting was held this morning at the Civic Centre in Harrogate — the first time a North Yorkshire Council executive meeting has taken place outside of Northallerton.

Michael Harrison, the Conservative councillor for Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, said the council was doing a “wonderful thing” by opening the school, which he said would help meet demand for special educational needs places locally.

Cllr Harrison said:

“Our commitment to education in the area and at that site specifically, and for children with autism, is evidenced in that we are proposing to reopen a school on that site so soon after Woodfield closed.”

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Since 2016, the number of children in North Yorkshire with identified special educational needs and disability and a legally-binding education, health and care plan has increased by more than 110%, leading to a shortage of special school places and numerous children being taught by independent providers.

Independent day sector placements typically cost the public purse up to £70,000 annually and the average cost of a special school placement is about £23,000.

Paul Haslam, the Conservative councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said he “very much welcomed” the proposals and has already heard from parents interested in sending their children to the new school.

The Woodfield site also includes large playing fields and Cllr Haslam called on the council to allow them to be used by the local community in Bilton.

He said:

“I wondered whether we can consider making the playing fields dual access with separate changing rooms so the community can also have access when it’s not in use by school. 

“It’s more benefit for my area which has a lot of outdoor space but no playing fields. It could also create additional revenue for the school.”

‘Highly ambitious’ village school near Ripon rated ‘outstanding’

A village primary school near Ripon has been graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in its latest report.

Dishforth Airfield Primary School was praised across the board by inspectors, who described the school community as  “safe, happy and highly ambitious”.

In the report, published this week, they said:

“Pupils thrive at this exceptional school. Staff expectations for pupils’ behaviour and achievement are very high. Pupils behave extremely well in lessons and are highly enthusiastic about their learning. They talk confidently about what they know and take pride in their work.

“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported and make excellent progress. Staff know how to get the best out of every child.”

While visiting the school last month, inspectors noted that many of the pupils had a parent or carer serving in the armed forces.

They found pupils were “extremely well supported” with this, including through a club for them to join while their parents were deployed overseas.

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The early years provision was described as “superb”, while curriculum planning throughout the school was “extremely well thought through”.

Inspectors praised pupils’ behaviour across the school, as well as their understanding of life in modern Britain.

The report added:

“The leadership team is deeply committed to providing pupils with the very best curriculum and pastoral care. Governors are experts in education. They support and challenge leaders to continually develop the school.

“Teachers describe a supportive ethos. Workload is well managed. Leaders ensure that staff access high-quality training and coaching. Subject leaders receive very effective support. They are confident in their roles. There are regular opportunities for collaborative working.”

The school, which has around 100 pupils aged from three to 11, was rated ‘outstanding’ at its last full inspection in 2015. However, Ofsted has since changed the way it grades schools meaning fewer are now achieving the top rating.

Its leaders have welcomed the latest report, saying it puts Dishforth Airfield Primary School among only 17% of previously ‘outstanding’ schools to maintain that rating.

Headteacher Julie Lyon said:

“The inspector’s judgement is testament to the hard work, determination and commitment shown by all the staff at the school as well as the governors which in turn enables the children to flourish.”

Chair of governors Jim Brown added:

“It is a fantastic result for the whole school. A testimony to the hard work, dedication and teamwork of everyone involved including our excellent pupils over a number of years. Results like this do not happen overnight.

“Let’s hope everybody can look forward to the summer break with a smile on their face and a spring in their step and come back in September refreshed and ready to continue where they left off.”

More than 150 Nidderdale children take part in moorland education event

More than 150 children from Nidderdale have taken part in an educational scheme which aims to teach people about moorland landscapes.

The Let’s Learn Moor events are co-ordinated by Countryside Learning, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Regional Moorland Groups.

The scheme saw children from Nidderdale put out wildfires with an argo, rescue a teacher who needed stretchering off the moor with fell rescue, and watch a sheep shearing demonstration this week.

Also in attendance were Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue and the fire brigade from Lofthouse Volunteer Fire Station, which supplements the nearby retained stations of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

Almost 12,000 children have now attended Let’s Learn Moor events since the project was launched in 2017 – and more than 2,000 of them attended events across the north of England this week alone.

Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of education and outreach, said: 

“Nidderdale Moorland Group’s Let’s Learn Moor days are a fantastic example of how multi-faceted our moorland areas are. 

“Hosted by the gamekeepers, but supported by Yorkshire Water, Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue, Lofthouse Fire Station, a local farmer and local beekeepers, the children learn to understand that these are incredibly important ecosystems which require a multitude of management techniques. 

“Who better to teach that than the very people who live and work on the moor.”

Tracy Johnson, from the Nidderdale Moorland Group, said:

“As an organiser it’s s so rewarding to see how excited the children are to learn about what happens on the moors and to have a go at doing things themselves.

“Although for many of them the Yorkshire Moors are not far from where they live, lots of them may never visit them or understand what goes on.”

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