“You Get a Real Understanding of What it’s Like to be in the Industry” Ella and Jess Share their T Level Reflections

Loughborough College Group students are discovering the power of T Levels, combining classroom learning with hands-on industry experience to build the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need for their future careers.

For students Ella Richards and Jess Arnold, studying T Levels – in Early Years Education and Health, respectively – has opened the door to valuable industry experience and a clearer understanding of their chosen career paths.

Now in their second year, both students are undertaking industry placements as part of their course requirements. Ella is gaining practical experience in a home nursery, while Jess is developing her skills on placement with the NHS. Both are seeing first-hand how T Levels connect what they learn in college with the realities of working in their chosen industries.

Reflecting on the placement aspect of the qualification, Ella said: “One of the biggest benefits of a T Level is the opportunity to put classroom learning into practice. When you learn the skills in college you can apply it almost immediately to your placement, and vice versa.”

This practical approach helps students develop their skills in a real working environment, giving them the opportunity to build experience and understand what their future careers could look like. Developing transferable and life skills can also support student progression into a range of specialisms, allowing them to explore different career directions within and beyond their original interests.

For Jess, her NHS placement has helped her develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be a nurse. She shared: “We’ve learnt so many skills that can be used in so many pathways, including communication, responsibility, and confidence.”

T Levels give students the opportunity to learn from teachers who understand the industries they are preparing to enter. 

Jess reflected: “I really value being taught by nurses and people with direct industry experience. It means we can discuss situations we have encountered on placement, gain first-hand perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of why we do certain things to help patients.”

Ella believes the qualification is particularly valuable for anyone who wants to develop skills for a specific career. “Having industry experience already gives us something tangible to talk about in job interviews,” she said, adding: “It helps us demonstrate our understanding of the workplace and stops that cycle of needing experience before employment.”

For those who want to continue studying, Jess also points to the opportunity to progress to university using the UCAS points gained through their qualification.

For Ella and Jess, T Levels offer much more than a qualification. They provide practical experience, access to industry expertise, supportive teaching, and the opportunity to develop the confidence and transferable skills needed for the future.

Thinking about your next step? Explore the T Level opportunities available at Brooksby College, Loughborough College, and Stephenson College to discover how practical learning and real-world experience could help you work towards your future career.