Growing our own – the T-Level success story

You may have heard the term ‘T-Levels’ mentioned recently, perhaps by a grandchild or a neighbour’s teenager, and wondered what they actually are.

Unlike traditional A-Levels which are based mostly in a classroom, T-Levels are two-year qualifications that include 315 hours of industry placement. T-Levels are essentially a way for young people to learn on the job while gaining a qualification equivalent to three A-Levels.

At the council, we aren’t just supporters of this programme; we are leading the way. Our Democratic Services team has spent the last two years partnering with the East Kent College Group to provide high-quality placements. This isn’t just ‘making the tea’ work experience. Our students are right in the thick of it: setting up council meetings, operating the timing clocks, and even taking minutes. They rub shoulders with senior officers and Councillors, gaining real-world confidence.

The best part? This success is spreading. We now have T-Level students in our Technology and Transformation teams, with more joining our Finance department this autumn.

We are also incredibly proud to share that this hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Our Democratic Services team recently won ‘Project of the Year’ at the Association of Democratic Services Officers Awards for their work with T-Level students. It was a wonderful ‘pinch-me’ moment for the staff involved, but more importantly, it recognises our commitment to local young people.

In Thanet, where young people are sometimes told they have to leave the area to succeed, we want to prove the opposite. By offering these ‘golden tickets’ to local students like our recent stars, George and Gabi, we are showing that a bright career is possible right here at home.