T Levels

T Levels are a new qualification which are an alternative to A Levels. This 2-year qualification will help students to build the future that they want. 

The T Level qualification will train students in practical skills and knowledge in their chosen industry, alongside core English, maths and digital skills, and 315 hours of work placement with a relevant employer. 

T Level work placements provide students who are studying a vocational course the chance to apply the theory they have learned in a real work setting. Students will spend a minimum of 315 hours working for an employer in a role directly relevant to their course. Through this they will gain technical skills, be prepared for the world of work, and have potential connections to help secure a job once they are ready to apply. 
  

What is a T Level? 

  
 

Work Placements   

Here at the Middlesbrough College Group, we are dedicated to providing all of our students with a meaningful work placement as part of their study programme. 

Taking on a work placement student is a valuable addition to your business. Work placements can help grow your current team and support future generations with the skills they need to succeed in industry. 

Employer benefits for taking on a work placement student include: 

  • No cost to the employer
  • Help to generate a pipeline of talent for entry level jobs, apprenticeships or higher-level skills training 
  • Work with your future employees and give them the tools to succeed
  • Have a low cost, effective method of recruiting from an untapped skills pool
  • Create a loyal and valued team
  • Achieve greater diversity amongst your workforce
  • Provide opportunities for existing staff to act as mentors, coaches or line managers
  • Play an important role in skills development in the area

Find out how we can support your business with a  T Level or Work Placement student. Complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
  

   
   

What to expect ...

... during placement

Regular contact will be maintained with the employer and each student in order to monitor and evaluate student progress as well as health, safety and welfare. We will agree with the employer on how often we meet to review progress and will contact the student regularly. A midpoint review will be organised between the student and employer. This will be held in person and is an opportunity to check in with the student’s progress, review learning objectives and make any changes to improve the second half of the placement.

Ongoing safeguarding checks will be carried out as are necessary to ensure the safety of the student whilst working with the employer. We will use reasonable discretion in considering the track record and experience of employers to determine the level of monitoring they may need. If any serious issues arise relating to the student’s performance on the industry placement, we will address this with the student. Any issues will be raised promptly with the employer and handled appropriately.

... on completion of placement

A final review session will be held in person between the assessor, student and the employer at the end of the placement to reflect on the student’s progress.

The employer will provide the student with a reference using a standardised template after completion of their placement.

Discuss opportunities for progression into full time work or routes into a paid apprenticeship or study/train on a higher level course. 
   

  
 

Work Placement FAQs

A minimum of 315 hours. The hours completed should be recorded in the student log book.

Provide the student with a full induction, including a tour of the workplace; introductions to relevant staff; any necessary training; health & safety arrangements; fire precautions and emergency evacuation arrangements; and how to report accidents, incidents and unsafe conditions.

The student will need a suitably qualified person to be their day-to-day.

The mentor will:

  • Hold regular weekly check-ins to track and review the student’s progress
  • Remind the student to complete their logbook and sign the fortnightly student reflection
  • Identify and deal with any issues (e.g. relating to colleagues, work content, workload etc) at an early stage
  • Provide regular, constructive feedback to the student and encourage the student to think and problem-solve for themselves where possible
  • Meet (via phone or in person) with T Level work based learning assessor regularly to review progress as well as attend a midpoint and final review meeting with the student and their assessor to discuss the student’s progress, review their learning objectives and make any changes to improve the placement.

The student is required to tell the work place mentor at least 1 week before their assessment week that they will not attend their placement due to exams or assessments.

The student will inform you of the date they will return to the placement.

Each student has a T Level placement log book. Their attendance should be verified and signed each week. The students also have fortnightly reflection pages to complete which should be signed by their work place mentor. Students can work on their log book for short periods of time during their placement.

The students are aware that they should not be working for sustained periods of time on log books and should not use placement hours to complete other college work.

  
  
If you have any questions or feel you are able to support our team, please get in touch by emailing placements@mbro.ac.uk