Macclesfield College started delivering T Levels in September 2022. Claire Lomas, Head of Professional Development explains how the Education Training Foundation’s (ETF) in-house delivery offer, part of the T Level Professional Development (TLPD) offer, supported her teams’ professional growth.

How did you feel when you found out you’d be delivering T Levels?

We welcomed the opportunity to deliver a rigorous new technical qualification that aligns academic learning with industry requirements, and we were eager to make a start. We launched our first T Level programmes in 2022 for Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, Digital and Health, and have since expanded into additional subject areas by adding Education and Childcare, as well as Engineering, to our offer.

How easy was the process of arranging the in-house training with the ETF?

Our Area Relationship and Development Lead (ARDL) contact, Punam Khosla, has worked with the College since we started delivering T Levels. From the beginning, she has kept in regular contact with us and highlighted all the training available for our staff. She advised us which in‑house training would benefit staff most and organised it quickly, keeping in contact throughout the process. Since our initial training courses we completed in 2023, we have undertaken several additional courses to capture new staff teaching on T Level programmes and update knowledge for existing staff. Overall, the process has been easy as she supported us.

What aspects of the training sessions did your team find most useful or insightful?

The Teaching T Levels in FE Part 1 and Part 2 courses enabled staff to go back to basics and consider how to plan their delivery to develop learners’ knowledge, skills and behaviours. The T Level is delivered in a very different way to traditional qualifications and needed a re‑think in how we devised the curriculum. The Assessment in T Levels in FE Part 1 and Part 2 courses enabled staff to develop their assessment strategies further by exploring curriculum design models and methods of formative assessment. Learning together as a team provided the opportunity for us to collaborate and share problem‑solving, and the ability to discuss concepts in real time and provide immediate feedback was also beneficial in deepening our understanding.

In what ways has the training influenced your team’s approach to planning and delivering T Levels?

The training has helped to develop our staffs’ ability to teach at a higher level and understand the differences between delivering a traditional vocational pathway and delivering T Levels. Additionally, the training for non‑teaching staff has ensured that they understand the requirements for industry placements and how to meet them.

What impact has the in-house training had on your learners?

The staff are all experts in their field, and the training has enabled them to express their lifelong passion for their work and inspire learners through engaging, expert‑led instruction. Learners have had fantastic opportunities to learn what it’s like to work in industry.

Would you recommend the in-house offer to other providers?

Yes, we would recommend the in‑house training to any provider. It is free, which is unusual in this day and age, and run by experts who are knowledgeable, reliable and professional.

 

Access the T Level Professional Development offer.