FERNDOWN Upper School will be the first sixth form college across Dorset to offer the newly introduced T-levels in 2022.

On June 11, the department for education announced the latest wave of centres offering the new qualifications which will follow GCSEs and be the equivalent of three A-levels.

Philip Jones, headteacher at Ferndown Upper said: “It’s with great pride we continue to drive our exceptional STEM provision by further improving our sixth form courses.

“We are excited to win the bid to provide the digital T-level course and to be the first sixth form in our county to offer this opportunity to our local young people.”

T-levels are technical alternatives to A Levels, combining classroom theory, practical learning and a work placement to make sure students have the skills they need to progress.

These new qualifications have been designed with industry experts to make sure students have the skills they need to thrive in the workplace and give businesses the workforce they need to succeed.

T-levels have been backed by an additional half a billion pounds of investment every year whilst programmes are fully rolled out, alongside £133 million to ensure students have access to industry standard equipment and high-quality facilities.

Head of digital technology and enterprise at the school, Toby Osborne explained: “We are really looking forward to create stronger links with local digital and media businesses across Dorset to provide opportunities for our students and to further support the digital industry.

“With the launch of this T-level course we will be further improving our digital teaching and learning facilities.

We thank the department for education for recognising that we are in the ideal position to take the lead for this new qualification in Dorset.”

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