Fareham College students studying the Digital Production, Design and Development T Level have all passed the first year of this qualification with flying colours!
This is the first year that Fareham College has offered this two-year course and staff and students are delighted that they have done so well. T Levels are new qualifications which focus on high-level technical study and work-ready skills. They are the equivalent to studying A Levels, attracting the same number of UCAS points as three A Levels and provide students with a clear route to skilled employment, as well as progression to higher or degree Apprenticeships, or degree-level study at university. T levels combine the career focus and practical elements of current technical and professional qualifications like BTECs and NVQs with the theory and study of traditional A Levels. Where they differ from A Levels is that a core component of the T level qualification is an industry-based placement, where students will apply the theory they learn in the classroom to the workplace and develop the essential work-ready skills that employers are looking for.
Deputy Principal Christian Allen-Kotze, said, “Many congratulations to these students on passing their first year of T Level study. We are extremely fortunate to have been one of the first colleges in the country selected to offer these exciting new qualifications and delighted that the hard work and dedication of both staff and students has paid off. We wish all of our T Level students well as they embark on their second year of study and we look forward to welcoming our new T Level students commencing their new courses in September.”
Digital Production, Design and Development student Niall Dorrington commented, “I am really passionate about this subject and I have really enjoyed my first year of study at Fareham College. I especially enjoyed the industry placement element this year; I was lucky enough to work with the team at Hampshire Constabulary to create software which will be used by the force. Next year, I am looking forward to undertaking the final project to develop a new digital product. I am really pleased with my results at the end of the first year of this course. While it is a step-up from GCSEs, the lecturers are very knowledgeable and supportive and the College’s digital facilities are amazing.”
Fellow student Max Jewell added, “I am really pleased with my grades this year, especially as I am studying something I have never done before. I am really enjoying the course, especially the Masterclasses presented by various guest speakers on web development and next year I am looking forward to creating a new piece of software. The College’s digital facilities are the best I have seen for this course and the lecturers are always on hand to give you the help you need.”
Faculty Director for Enterprise and Digital Industries, Ashley Martin, said, “I am extremely proud of our T Level students who have just completed the first year of this new qualification. T Levels differ to A levels in that they offer an in-depth industry placement whilst providing students with the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours to successfully progress to employment, apprenticeships or higher education. With 100 percent achievement after this first year, we are looking forward to welcoming our existing and new students back in September and to the launch of our two new digital T Level courses; Digital Business Services and Digital Support Services.”
In addition to the T Level courses it already offers in Digital Production, Design and Development and Education and Childcare, from September 2021, Fareham College will offer T Level courses in two further Digital T Levels from this September, Digital Business Services and Digital Support Services, as well as T Levels in Health, Healthcare Science, Science, Design, Surveying and Planning and On-site Construction.
Fareham College is still accepting applications at all of its campuses; Bishopsfield Road in Fareham; Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST) and Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) both in Lee-on-the-Solent and is holding an open event on Saturday 4 September from 10am to 3pm. To find out more visit fareham.ac.uk/open-events/
