T Level Construction: Carpentry & Joinery (September 2024 Start)

T Levels are new two-year, technical qualifications which have been designed with employers to give you skills which are needed by industry. T Levels will give 16–19-year-old learners the technical knowledge and practical skills that are valued by the industry. They follow immediately after GCSEs as a technical alternative to A-Levels. They are the biggest reform to vocational training in a generation, giving learners the skills, knowledge, and attitude to excel in the Construction sector. The T Level programme includes the following compulsory elements: Core theory, concepts and skills; Specialist skills and knowledge; Industry placement with an employer; A minimum standard in maths and English if learners have not already achieved them at the start of their T Levels.

All T Levels include an industry placement, this runs for a minimum of 315 hours (45 days) overall and will give students practical insights into the sector and an opportunity to embed the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. At Yeovil College we have a team that will support you with your industry placements.

Successful completion of this qualification could lead you to: Employment in the Construction Industry; A Construction focused apprenticeship; Other higher-level study.

Onsite Construction is a qualification for students to learn about construction at a Level 3 standard. You will cover core content related to the construction sector and choose an occupational specialism which can be either brickwork or carpentry and joinery. Your learning will cover a range of topics and practical skills. The learning is a mix of practical and theory, so that you can develop your skills in research, problem solving, solution-development, communication, and collaboration. Throughout the qualification your English, Maths and Digital skills will also be developed and stretched to support your progression opportunities. Your practical learning will be designed to ensure you develop your experience within your occupational specialism. By selecting the Carpentry & Joinery occupation specialism, you will learn: • Knowledge of carpentry work undertaken; • Knowledge of joinery work undertaken; • Skills to plan carpentry and joinery work; • Skills to set out, mark out, cut and fix timber components to carry out structural and first fix carpentry; • Skills to mark out, cut, fit and fix timber components to carry out second fix carpentry; • Skills to set out, mark out, produce, assemble, and finish joinery products.

In order to study the T level you will need to have the following: 5 GCSE’s at the minimum grade of 5 and above, this must include your English Literature, Language and Maths, you may also be expected to complete a group interview and complete a small diagnostic task to look at your level of current knowledge. You will also be expected to already have the following qualities: an interest in Construction; able to demonstrate general analytical and mechanical skills, a capacity for mechanical reasoning and the potential to research, analyse and solve problems; well organised, methodical, and good attention to detail; good spatial awareness; able to work in a team and to communicate well both orally and in writing.