T-Levels

Georgia Pirelli - T-Level Work Placement Coordinator

Georgia joined Derwentside College in January 2024 as our designated T-Level Work Placement Coordinator.  

As the T-Level Work Placement Coordinator, Georgia will play a pivotal role in facilitating high-quality work placements for learners who are enrolled in T-Level programmes.  She will work closely with educational institutions, industry partners, and learners to ensure all have a successful placement experience. 

Georgia is responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining relationships with employers, overseeing the placement process, and providing support to both learners and employers throughout the placement period.

T-Levels: A New Pathway to Your Future

T-Levels are a Level 3 qualification taken over two years after completing your GCSEs.  They are equivalent to three A Levels and combine 80% classroom-based learning with 20% industry placement. The industry placement lasts for approximately 45 days, giving you valuable hands-on experience in your chosen field.

Developed in collaboration with employers and education providers, T-Levels are designed to meet industry needs and prepare you for skilled employment, apprenticeships, or higher education.

T-Levels are Career focused enabling you to:

• Gain both practical and theoretical knowledge
• Get real-world experience through an industry placement
• Earn UCAS points to support university applications
• Build essential skills for a successful future

To enrol on a T-Level course, you will typically need five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and Maths. However, individual circumstances may be considered at enrolment.

• T-Levels Education and Early Years  - Assisting Teaching or Early Years Educator
• T-Level Health - Supporting the Adult Nursing Team or Supporting the Mental Health Team
• T-Levels Building Services Engineering for Construction with Electrotechnical Engineering 
• T-Levels Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing with Mechanical Engineering
• T-Level Digital Software Development 

T-Levels are assessed through a combination of externally marked exams and an Employer Set Project that tests your core knowledge. In addition, you complete practical assessments and professional discussions related to your chosen specialism.

A key part of the T-Level is a substantial industry placement, which is mandatory and provides valuable real-world experience.

Upon completion, you receive:

• Separate grades for each component:

  • Core Component: graded from A to E*

  • Occupational Specialism: graded Pass, Merit, or Distinction

• An overall T-Level grade:

  • Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Distinction*

The final certificate also confirms:

• Completion of the industry placement

• Achievement of Level 2 English and Maths, if not already held

The industry placement is a vital and compulsory part of the T-Level course. These placements provide valuable hands-on experience in a real working environment, helping you apply your classroom learning and develop essential employability skills.

Placement opportunities will be arranged within a reasonable distance, typically between Consett, Newcastle, and Durham. Learners are expected to travel to their placement location and should plan accordingly to meet this requirement.

Students’ individual circumstances will be discussed and taken into consideration before confirming any placement. We aim to ensure that each placement is suitable, accessible, and aligned with the learner’s needs, career goals, and personal situation.

T-Level: Education and Early Years
Placement opportunities are available in nurseries or primary school settings, allowing students to gain hands-on experience supporting children’s learning and development.

T-Level: Health
Students can undertake placements in various NHS departments, care facilities, or nursing homes, gaining valuable insight into health care practices and patient support.

T-Level: Building Services Engineering for Construction (Electrotechnical Engineering)
Placements may include roles within: Building services teams - Building Information Modelling (BIM) teams - Facilities and maintenance departments - Electrical installation teams - Other areas across the construction sector

T-Level: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing (Mechanical Engineering)
Students will gain experience in design and/or manufacturing facilities, developing practical engineering skills and understanding of real-world processes.

T-Level: Digital (Software Development)
Placement opportunities include: In-house IT departments - Computer information systems teams - Software development teams - Data management teams

After completing your T-Level, you can choose from several exciting options to take the next step in your career or education:

• Enter the workforce – Start your career in a skilled role related to your T-Level specialism, using the knowledge and experience gained through your course and industry placement.

• Apprenticeship – Progress to a higher or degree-level apprenticeship, where you can continue learning while earning and developing your skills further.

• Higher education – Many T-Levels are recognised by universities, giving you the option to apply for a degree or other higher education qualifications.

A T-Level grade carries a certain number of UCAS points that are equivalent to 3 grades at A-Levels.  

Whichever path you choose, your T-Level will have equipped you with the skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed.

There are no tuition fees to study a T-Level if you start before you are 19.

The College provides a range of financial support to assist learners undertaking a programme of study.  The support is designed to help learners with the greatest financial needs and is subject to specific eligibility criteria being met. 

For further information regarding financial support and the eligibility criteria please read the Student Finance Information.

You can apply for support by downloading the Application for Financial Assistance and once completed, please submit along with the required evidence, which can be scanned or screenshot to financial.support@derwentside.ac.uk alternatively, print off the forms complete and submit with the required evidence to the Finance Department. 

Should you have any queries regarding Financial Support you can contact Caroline Swainson on 01207 585 971 or email caroline.swainson@derwentside.ac.uk

Please click here to access the College's Financial Support for Learners Policy.

Learning support is available for anyone who has a disability or learning difficulty and is tailored to individual support requirements.

Please speak to your course tutor if you feel you would benefit from an assessment or for further information, please contact the college on 01207 585 900.