Today’s Education in the Media blog will cover the announcement of the second wave of Further Education providers as well as bereavement support that schools offer children
T levels
Today, Tuesday 18 June 2019, we announced the second wave of Further Education providers who will teach T Levels from 2021. This brings the total number of T Level providers to over 100, teaching up to 10 T Levels.
T Levels are new courses, which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to 3 A Levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work.
T Levels will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days). They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.
We also published the response to our T Levels funding consultation, which includes an additional £3.75 million to support the first T Level providers to roll-out the first three course from September 2020. This has been covered TES and FE Week.
Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, said:
Everyone agrees that a radical shake-up of technical and vocational education in this country is long overdue. T Levels are our chance to do that – offering young people high-quality alternatives to our world-class A Levels from September 2020.
The second wave of post-16 providers we have announced today demonstrates our commitment to making this happen. They will play an important role ensuring more young people across the country can access these courses and help develop the skilled workforce the country needs for the future.
I’m also pleased to confirm today the details of how we will fund providers to deliver T Levels, and that we are making an additional £3.75 million available to the first T Level providers to support them to develop and offer high-quality courses for every student from 2020.
Support for bereaved children
The Cambridge University has released a report today, Tuesday 18 June, which claimed that there is not enough support for children who face a bereavement whilst at school.
This has been reported by the Guardian.
We are clear that the support a school provides will depend on the individual circumstances of the pupil who have suffered a bereavement.
The Government has provided funding for charity MindEd who provides resources for schools on this issue.
We also recognise that school based counselling by well-qualified practitioners can play an important role in supporting pupils’ mental health. To support schools to provide counselling, the Government has provided advice to schools on how to deliver high quality school-based counselling.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
The death of a loved one can be devastating for anyone, and we expect schools to support a pupil who suffers a bereavement.
The Department’s Mental Health and Behaviour guidance for schools includes links to sources of information and support, including on bereavement and other traumatic events.
Where children need more specialist support, it is important that other services work together. The NHS Long Term Plan sets out how specialist mental health support will be increased by 2023/24 with mental health support teams linked to schools and colleges.
Please read the full announcement on our T levels here.