OCTOBER 2019 COVER STORY
Institutes of Technology: a network of learning
Milton
Keynes
A dozen Institutes
of Technology have
been announced
across the four
corners of England.
They will work
closely with industry
and academia to
deliver technical
training courses
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk 19
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Startlingly, two-thirds of the manufacturers
surveyed had never heard of T-Levels, while a
further 28% said they had heard of them but had
limited knowledge of how they work. If over 90%
of manufacturers are unsure – or unaware – of an
initiative, chances are it’s not going to succeed.
A common criticism of the Apprenticeship
Levy was that it was too complicated and poorly
explained to industry. This, says Make UK, can’t
happen again with T-Levels. It has outlined
seven principles that can help T-Levels be a
success for industry:
● Credibility: T-Levels must be treated with the
same respect as A-Levels
● Clarity: the T-Level pathway must be clear
and give students the chance to progress via
either university or an apprenticeship
● Capital: government must ensure sufficient
funding is in place for the delivery of T-Levels,
including direct support for employers
● Comparability: T-Levels should command
the equivalent UCAS points as A-Levels, allowing
students to enter higher education
● Longevity: T-Levels must not be susceptible
to ‘political chop and change’, and must be a
long-term success involving all parties
● Employer-led: employers must be closely
involved in the design of T-Level courses, now
and in the future
● Balance, breadth and depth: learners must
take part in a range of study to ensure they have
transferrable skills across sectors and industries
Susan Scurlock, founder of Primary Engineer,
is sceptical about T-Levels’ potential. “On
paper, T-Levels sound ideal. In practical terms,
however, there will be certain things that may
hold them back,” she says. “The number of
industry placements that the students will be
required to take is very high. The difference
between GCSEs and A-Levels is a big leap, and
I’d imagine the same will be true if you compare
design & technology at GCSE and T-Level. That
is something that children won’t be prepared
for. There are a few implementation issues that
become a barrier for it that need to be addressed.
If design & technology isn’t being taken to the
right level at GCSE currently, then the kids able
to feed into and succeed at T-Levels will be a
very small pool. The jury’s out in how successful
they’ll be at the moment.”
Institutes of Technology: joining the dots
A strong T-Level programme is all well and good,
but they are doomed to fail if the standard of
education isn’t high enough. The government
has recognised this and announced the
development of a network of so-called ‘Institutes
of Technology’ as part of its Industrial Strategy.
These Institutes will be, in the government’s
words, “a prestigious and high-quality
employer-led institution delivering higher level
technical education with a clear route to skilled
employment. They will specialise in technical
disciplines, particularly STEM at Levels 3, 4 and
5, but also extending to degree level and above
Durham
York
Lincoln
Dudley
Sollihull
Swindon
Exeter
Harrow
London Dagenham
Weston Super Mare
The UK is facing a crippling
shortfall of skilled engineers
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