New Courses for a New Sixth Form

At Ada Lovelace CofE High School our Sixth Form will be offering T-Levels for students post-16.

T-Levels are new 2-year courses taken after GCSEs and designed to give 16-18 year olds a head start towards a career. They are an alternative to A levels, other post-16 courses or an apprenticeship. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with more than 250 leading businesses and employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

One T-Level takes 2 years of full-time study and is equivalent to three A levels. Students will get one of four grades, ranging from a distinction* to a pass. Students will receive a nationally recognised certificate showing their overall grade and listing their experience on the course. A distinction* is worth 168 Ucas points, which is the same as three A*s at A Level. A merit is equivalent to three Bs at A Level.

Source: Department for Education on bbc.co.uk/news

The DfE have advised that a considerable amount of higher education providers have confirmed they will consider T-Levels for entry onto at least one course at their institution. The list is not exhaustive, and there are likely to be differing entry requirements for different providers and courses.

Further information for students and parents/carers about T-Levels can be found on the HM Government website together with the T-Levels policy paper.

The video below provides insight into T-Levels.

 

       

You'll spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% on a 45 day placement with an employer to give you the skills and knowledge companies are looking for.

We currently offer two T-Level courses:

  • Digital Production, Design and Development T-Level
  • Laboratory Science T-Level

Further information for students and parents can be found in the presentations given at our Sixth Form Open Evening and our prospectus:

T-Levels at Ada Lovelace CofE High School

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Ada Lovelace T-Levels Prospectus

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Digital Production, Design and Development T-Level

Why study this course?

The world is being transformed by digital technology, resulting in a huge shift in how we embrace and embed technology into our lives.

The T-Level Technical Qualification in Digital Production, Design and Development is a new 2-year course that is an alternative to A-levels. It has been designed with employers to reflect the needs of the sector through developing some of the most sought after skills in the UK. The Digital T-Level will equip you with industry knowledge and a range of high tech digital design skills required to develop interactive and digital products. It will provide you with an up-to-date qualification within an ever-changing industry and enhance your employability within a dynamic market.

Over 125+ higher education providers have confirmed T-Levels are suitable for entry, including 80+ Universities. Depending on your overall grade you might decide you wish to apply to University, study a degree apprenticeship or join the world of work. 

As part of the course you will complete a 45 day industry placement working with an employer. This will give you a hands-on experience in the digital sector by working at firms such as IBM, KPMG and Khan Brothers and give you skills that employers will value. See Our Partners tab for more details.

What will I learn?

The T-Level is split into two parts (known as components).

In the Core Component you will learn about the digital industry and the following digital-related topics:

  • Problem solving
  • Introduction to programming
  • Emerging issues and impact of digital
  • Legislation and regulatory requirements
  • Business context
  • Data
  • Digital environments
  • Security

The Occupational Specialist Component is where you’ll really get your teeth stuck in and develop the digital skills in preparation for your career in the industry. In this component you will:

  • Be able to analyse a problem to define requirements and acceptance criteria aligned to user needs
  • Apply ethical principles and manage risks in line with legal and regulatory requirements when developing software
  • Discover, evaluate and apply reliable sources of knowledge
  • Design, Implement and test software
  • Create solutions in a social and collaborative environment
  • Implement a solution using at least two appropriate languages
  • Test a software solution
  • Change, maintain and support software.

Overview

1800 hours over two years (with flexibility) to include:

  • Core content
    • Paper 1: Digital analysis, legislation and emerging issues
    • Paper 2: Business Environment
    • Employer set project
  • Occupational specialist content
    • External set project
  • Industry placement with an employer (315 hours/45 days)

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for 16+ students who are passionate about the Digital world and want to pursue a career in the Digital industry. It is the equivalent to three A Levels and provides a route into a range of Post-18 pathways. You could progress to:

  • Undergraduate degree course
  • HND programmes
  • Industry apprenticeships
  • Industry based Degree Apprenticeship

A T- Level in Digital Production, Design and Development will prepare you for a variety of career paths within the IT industry, including: web developer, web designer, software developer, computer games tester, computer games developer, E-learning developer, user experience (UX) developer.

Further information can be found in the presentation from our Sixth Form open evening below:

Digital T-Level

Updated: 30/11/2022 1.78 MB

Please refer to Entry Requirements tab for admission criteria for this course.

Our Digital students recently attended the IBM Think event in London.

Hear from a Digital Production, Design & Development T-Level student:

Further information about this T-Level is available on HM Government website.

Laboratory Science T-Level

Why study this course?

16+ students with an inquisitive mind and love of science will discover that this T-Level course provides a fascinating look at science in an industry setting and provides a route into a range of Post-18 pathways. You could choose to progress onto an undergraduate degree course, continue industry linked learning through a degree apprenticeship or use the valuable skills and experience you have gained to enter straight into employment within the science sector such as healthcare, patient diagnosis and pharmaceuticals.

The T-Level Technical qualification in Laboratory Science is a new industry backed 2 year qualification the equivalent of three A-levels. This stimulating course has been designed with employers to bring the classroom and workplace together through a mixture of technical and core scientific knowledge. You will then have the opportunity to apply this knowledge during a 45 day industry placement, allowing you to put the theory in to practice. This collaboration with industry is integral throughout the course and will enhance your employability by providing you with the skills and knowledge necessary to work within, and meet the demands of, this ever growing industry sector.

Over 125+ higher education providers have confirmed T-Levels are suitable for entry, including 80+ Universities. Depending on your overall grade you might decide you wish to apply to University, study a degree apprenticeship or join the world of work.

What will I learn?

The T-Level is split into two parts (known as components).

In the Core Component you will learn about the Health and Science industry through the following topics:

  • Working within the health and Science sector
  • Ethical, scientific and clinical practices
  • Experimental equipment and techniques
  • Advanced Science concepts that build upon GCSE understanding
  • Legislation and regulatory requirements
  • Work place context
  • Data and security

The core component also includes an employer set project designed to develop a range of transferable skills including project management, problem solving, team working and innovation skills.

The Occupational Specialist Component is where you’ll develop the laboratory skills you will need for your career in the industry. In this component you will:

  • Perform a range of scientific techniques to collect experimental data in a laboratory setting.
  • Plan, review and implement improvements to scientific methodologies.
  • Gain an understanding of industry regulations and requirements
  • Use data to identify and resolve problems and form conclusions

Overview

1800 hours over two years to include:

  • Core Component
    • Paper A: The Health and Science Sector
    • Paper B: Science concepts
    • Employer set project
  • Occupational specialist component
    • Four externally set assignments
  • Industry placement with an employer (315 hours/45 days)
    • As part of the T-Level you will be placed with a Health and Science employer to gain some valuable work experience applying some of the skills you learn in the lab and classroom, in the workplace

Further information can be found in the presentation from our Sixth Form open evening below:

Laboratory Science T-Level

Updated: 30/11/2022 1.17 MB

Please refer to Entry Requirements tab for admission criteria for this course.

View a T-Levels employer case study in the Laboratory Science sector:

Further information about this T-Level is available on HM Government website.

Mr Knox will be developing the wider timetable for our T-Level students which will include:

  • Careers Pathway programme
  • Leadership Development
  • Learning and developing in a social and collaborative environment

More information can be found in the presentation from our Sixth Form open evening below.

New Way to Work

Updated: 20/11/2023 139 KB

T-Level Students

David

David

Student studying Digital Production, Design & Development T-Level

Hello, my name is David and I am studying T-Levels at Ada Lovelace High School. I came to this school for two main reasons: for work experience and for the programming opportunities. The work experience at this school is one of a kind, it’s amazing. They offer placements for 9 weeks at major blue-chip Tech firms including IBM, which are amazing opportunities for people my age to grow and develop and to see employers in a work context, ask them for advice and question them. For me, programming was a passion that I have had since I was younger, and when I heard that Ada Lovelace was running a digital course, I was definitely interested. I love the programming here and the teachers are very good. You get to learn programming very quickly. If you’re looking for work experience and you want to get a taste of the real world, then T-Levels at Ada Lovelace are amazing for that.

Karolina

Karolina

Student studying Laboratory Science T-Level

Hello I am Karolina and I am studying the Laboratory Science T-Level here at Ada Lovelace High School. The reason I chose this school is because we learn practical skills rather than only studying and revising from books.  We also learn soft skills which we are going to need in the future, for example ‘How to Stand out from the Crowd’ and interview techniques. In Year 13 we will have the opportunity to work for a Laboratory, so it is a perfect opportunity for someone who wants to study science not only from books but also using scientific knowledge in a laboratory setting. I have been passionate about science since I was a little girl so I would love to work with the NHS because they have the best knowledge on how to help people and learn from the best. The teachers here on this course are lovely and really help us to solve our problems and teach us the skills which we need.

Thanks to our P-tech partnership we already have an excellent relationship with IBM.

 

 

Other valued Industry partners are:

         

Join us as a partner

Our partners play a crucial role in providing our students with the best opportunity to succeed in the workplace. Our Industry Partnerships Lead, Mr Knox, is focussed on developing further partnerships with new partners. If you are interested, please contact Mr Knox: [email protected]

Please refer to the Admissions Policy for September 2024 entry below:

Sixth Form Admissions Arrangements for Sept 2024 Entry

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We are inviting applications from both internal and external students to join our new Sixth Form at Ada Lovelace CofE High School.

The Ada Lovelace Sixth Form Entry 2024 application form is now open. Please apply online here.

Sixth Form applications must be submitted through the online application. Please be advised we will not be accepting paper applications.

To apply, please note that before you begin completing your form ensure that you have the following information to hand:

1. Applicant details and contact information

2. Parent(s)/carer(s) details and contact information

3. Current school (including Head of Year 11 contact details)

4. Previous and current courses of study (including grades already achieved and predicted grades for current courses of study)

5. T-Level course choice

Application to Ada Lovelace Sixth Form

Preference is given to students who attended the school in Years 7-11 followed by students currently in Year 11 in other Trust schools and then from other schools in the wider community.

The closing deadline for External applications is Wednesday 20th December 2023 and the closing deadline for Internal applications is Monday 22nd January 2024. Late applications will be considered.

Below are the Subject Specifications for Laboratory Science and Digital Production, Design and Development T Levels along with the Professional Skills Programme. The Professional Skills Programme is a weekly programme aimed to develop professional skills and experiences to ensure you are ready to stand out from the crowd on applications, in interviews, and during work placements.

Conditional Offer Information

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All students who believe they are eligible for an Ada Lovelace 16-19 Bursary should download and complete the application form and submit it to the school along with the supporting evidence, including those who may have previously been in receipt of an Ada Lovelace Bursary.

Application forms and evidence must be emailed to tlevels@adalovelace.org.uk. Applications will not be processed without evidence. All completed applications and evidence should be submitted by 30th September 2023.

For enquiries relating to the Ada Lovelace 16-19 Bursary please contact Mr Will Knox, Head of Year 12:  [email protected].

Please read the Ada Lovelace Bursary Statement detailing eligibility for 2023-24:

Ada Lovelace Bursary Statement, Student Support

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Please see the 16-19 Bursary Policy below:

16-19 Bursary Policy

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Bursary Application Form

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