The government is to invest £50m in 65 colleges, schools and sixth forms delivering T Levels across England from 2022 to improve and expand teaching spaces and facilities.
T Levels form a key part of the government’s reforms to revolutionise skills and technical education, providing students with the skills and experience they need to progress into well-paid jobs, further study or an apprenticeship.
The funding will be used to refurbish buildings and facilities, including upgrading classrooms and creating specialist spaces such as teaching wards, and building or improving laboratories for health and science students.
Minister for apprenticeships and skills Gillian Keegan said: “T Levels are a game-changer for young people, providing a high-quality technical equivalent to A Levels that have been designed hand-in-hand with leading employers so students and businesses can be sure they will get the skills they need to thrive in a high-tech economy.”
Dr Paul Phillips, principal and chief executive of Weston College Group, said: “The successful application for the T Level Capital Fund Building and Facilities Improvement Grant has enabled Weston College to transform facilities and develop new opportunities for learners to work with state-of-the-art resources. As we move forward with the government’s skills strategy via the White Paper, funding such as this is paramount to realising the highly positive aims and objectives from central government.”
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, added: “T Levels will be available in more than 100 colleges and schools from this September and are a high-quality option for young people looking to build a career. I welcome the fact that the government is continuing to invest in up-to-date buildings and facilities for these courses and students.”
The new investment builds on the £133m made available to support providers delivering T Levels in 2020 and 2021, including funding given to all new T Level providers to purchase specialist equipment so students have access to the equipment they will use when they get a job. Further funding may be awarded later in the year.
