New T Levels in energy and sustainability on the cards

IfATE confirms it is researching new T Levels and new occupational specialisms in existing T Levels

IfATE confirms it is researching new T Levels and new occupational specialisms in existing T Levels

16 Jan 2023, 16:21

More from this author

Potential new T Levels in energy and sustainability are being explored by education chiefs as part of efforts to boost green skills.

A climate change and environmental skills action plan was published by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) today which sets out its ambitions to bolster green skills in post-16 education.

Among its commitments for 2023/24 is to assess T Level provision, with its report confirming that it is currently researching potential new T Levels with employers to “understand their needs and support pathways into energy and sustainability careers”.

FE Week has asked for more details from IfATE on when this research is set to end and when it may plan any potential new T Levels planned.

In addition, it has also not ruled out more occupational specialisms in existing T Levels to “future proof” the bellwether new qualifications, designed to be technical equivalents of A-levels.

The report said: “For existing T Levels, we will increase the climate change and environmental content in line with changes to the occupational standards on which they are based, expanding the content to cover some aspects of energy and sustainability.

“For those T Levels in the engineering and manufacturing, and construction and built environment routes there may be a need to create additional knowledge content or add further occupational specialisms to accomplish this.”

The action plan said that any changes would expect to be made as part of the annual review process for T Levels.

Elsewhere, the organisation has identified 228 priority apprenticeship standards to be reviewed across 11 themes including engineering, logistics, forestry, energy and electric vehicles, which could result in brand new apprenticeships being introduced or existing standards being revised.

So far, IfATE has reported that 100 of those already have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for climate change and the environment, with a commitment to have half of the 228 “greened” by June.

It pledged to complete that list by March 2024.

Among standards already looked at include the building services engineering senior technician to include green considerations in planning and resourcing, and adding more sectors to the sustainability business specialist occupational standard.

It has also approved new apprenticeships in domestic electrician (to include electric vehicle charging points, solar panels and heat pumps) and forest craftsperson to feature commitments to increasing tree canopy and woodland cover.

Over the next year, the institute plans revisions to installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeships to add skills around EV charging points, a new apprenticeship expected to launch in the summer around battery manufacture and a low carbon heating technician standard.

IfATE said it plans to publish a future innovation strategy this spring which will outline how future skills will be met.

Judy Ling Wong, chair of IfATE’s green apprenticeship and technical education advisory panel, said it wanted to ensure employers could secure the skills they needed to meet the country’s net zero carbon emissions goals.

She added: “Surveys have shown over 60 per cent of young people want to work in a role committed to tackling climate change and we will make it easier for employers and individuals to find the right apprenticeship or technical qualification for them.”

IfATE announced it was forming a green apprenticeships advisory panel back in December 2020 to advise on how apprenticeships could consider the environment more and fill gaps in provision.

Last summer, it continued that it was working with the Department for Education’s Unit for Future Skills to identify emerging skills needs, and said it planned to publish a refreshed green strategy at the end of last year.

Latest education roles from

Principal & Chief Executive – Bath College

Principal & Chief Executive – Bath College

Dodd Partners

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Functional Skills reimagined: Drive success in English & Mathematics with modern qualifications.

In today’s educational landscape, supporting learners with essential English and maths skills goes beyond traditional teaching. It’s about providing...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Do you want to be part of The Bedford College Group’s next chapter?

At The Bedford College Group, we are passionate about transforming lives and communities through education. As one of the...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Framing the future of creative education: new BTEC HTQ in Photography nurtures talent beyond the lens

The creative industry is evolving rapidly, and so is the way we teach photography. Discover how Pearson's new BTEC...

Advertorial

More from this theme

Apprenticeships, DfE, IfATE

More data needed to tackle apprenticeship dropout rates

Researchers found that nine out of ten non-completing nursing associate apprentices dropped out close to their end dates

Josh Mellor
IfATE

IfATE adds two new board members

Mark McClennon and Jane Hadfield to join institute as two members step down

Anviksha Patel
IfATE

Five things we learned from IfATE’s 2023 annual report

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has published its annual accounts for 2022/23. This is the fifth annual...

Anviksha Patel

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One comment

  1. Dan Jones

    And as if by magic we’ll have a plethora of T levels, like we have a plethora of apprenticeship standards and gone will be any talk of too many qualifications which are too hard for employers to understand and have very little take up.