Lancashire student becomes one of first to take new 'T Level'

A Leyland student has become one of the first young people to study the new ‘T Level’ and could help to plug a UK 'skills gap'.
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Becca Catterall, 18, is a student at Runshaw College and is interested in computer science.

She is currently studying a digital production, design and development T Level.

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The new qualification is equivalent to 3 A Levels and students started the first courses in September 2020.

Becca Catterall, 18, is a T Level student at Runshaw College, Leyland.Becca Catterall, 18, is a T Level student at Runshaw College, Leyland.
Becca Catterall, 18, is a T Level student at Runshaw College, Leyland.

Students learn both in the classroom and through on-the-job experience during a 45-day placement.

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For student Becca, the T Level gives her the skills and experience she needs to work in a field she loves.

“I did computer science at GCSE and that’s when we really started diving into the proper theory and coding behind how computers work,” she said.

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“I fell in love with it and despite having a number of options available I knew I wanted to be a software engineer.

“I like the logic of it all and the fact you have a set number of rules to follow to make things work.”

“The content has been brilliant so far,” said Becca, “The T Level offers a rounded experience of the digital sector because you learn the theory and how to apply this in the industry.

“I think they are great courses for young people to consider.”

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Aspiring software engineer Becca could one day help to fill a large UK skills gap.

Skills such as coding and data science have been in growing demand over the last two decades and, according to a recent study, a skills gap could be costing the UK £10 billion a year.

This is because skilled jobs remain vacant or underqualified workers fill the roles according to the research by analytics firms Qlik and Accenture.

“I would encourage all parents and students to consider a T Level,” she said.

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“If your child is keen to work in the digital industry, the T Level provides a good theoretical and practical course in that sector with a placement.”

T Levels are a new qualification for students aged 16 to 19 after they complete their GCSEs.

More information about the new qualification can be found at this website.

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