A case study from the TRIP led by Bridgwater and Taunton College.
Jim Odams is a TLA Quality Developer working at Bridgwater and Taunton College. As part of the preparations for delivering the new T Level qualification from September 2020, he took part in the Teacher Regional Improvement Project (TRIP) on ‘Embedding English and maths on placement’ led by South Devon College.
The TRIP was part of the first phase of the T Level Professional Development (TLPD) offer, which enabled T Level providers to participate in sector-led, collaborative action research projects.
Above all I valued the co-operation, partnerships and motivation of the colleges involved. There was a strong sense of collaboration and aligning of ideas between the colleges. Each college focused on their own particular T Level but through regular updates, face-to-face and online meetings we all shared a similar goal.
The materials produced will support those involved in T Levels to be equally focused on opportunities to embed and support math and English competencies within the T Levels units without impacting too much on time and preparation of resources.
The close working partnerships with the other colleges has facilitated an aligned community between us. This will, no doubt, encourage more collaboration in the future.
There has been an ongoing need to engage employers and students with English and maths. Especially, giving them the tools to enhance the students’ learning and work placement experience. Often, though, the English and maths skills can be neglected in a work placement such as being able to identify opportunities embed English and maths and employers having the skills and confidence themselves to support.
This project enabled us to focus on producing an easy to read guide to how to embed and support gaps in maths and English. Linking these to T Levels competencies and relating them to the work placement without impacting on the employer or the student.