Experiences of the Health T Level and progression to university

[nextstepmum]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to hear from parents, students or anyone with experience of the Health T Level and progression to university?

• Did you feel well supported by your college and placement provider? How long was placement?
• Looking back, would you recommend the Health T Level to someone who wants to become a health professional? Thank you.

I know a YP taking a T level (not health and I think they are happy with the progression as a degree apprenticeship looks likely, which is a real positive (it’s related to their placement).

Not sure that you’ll get many “looking back” type replies as the health T level was only introduced in 2021, so first completed three years ago; so even the first YP to take it could only just be finishing uni, if they chose that route.

It's very good if the college takes responsibility for running and finding the placements. Entry to university courses is good if it's for nursing. College struggling to find midwifery pathway as unable to recruit a midwife to run the course. First year is a common pathway and specialism is in second year. All midwifery students had to then progress to nursing pathway.

It's only equivalent to 3 a levels but is in reality the work of 3.5 a levels. Taking on paid employment e.g. MacDonalds etc probably not possible for most students due to the workload of college work , exams and placement.

Excellent preparation for realities of studying to be a HCP and really good course in my opinion ( I taught on it from 2023). The first year science module is very rigorous.

Thank you so much for the detailed information. We were concerned about the length of the placement hours, but I guess it differs with the employers / placement providers. I know its a total of 315 hours, but we are not sure if there will be 12 hour placement shifts. Many thanks anyway.

Thank you so much.

I’m a university lecturer in an Allied health profession degree. We have had a few students now who have come via T levels. I’d say that they seem well prepared for university, both the theory side but especially placement. They know what it’s going to be like. It’s not unusual to have some A level students and even Access course students drop out mid first placement block as they decide that being a healthcare worker isn’t what they thought it was going to be.

No idea what their shift lengths would be but wouldn’t surprise me if they were 12 hours as that’s likely what their supervisor would be working (assuming nursing or midwifery). Certainly if they’re did a nursing or midwifery degree they’d be doing 12/13 hour shifts so good prep for that.

Following as DS likely to be starting Health T level in September with a view to progress to Paramedic Science at Uni. Not sure how the placement works yet although college have said they organise it. I'm happy to hear it mostly takes place in second year as hopefully he will be driving by then.

Placements were in nursing homes etc in year 1 and were pretty much 9-5. Students not able to do a huge amount themselves but Shadow and support HCP. The better organised the college, the better the placements were spaced out. I taught science t level too and due to lab environment, no students could start placement until year 2 so it was all crammed in to year 2. Who wants a 16 year old in a lab? Employers would only take them once they turned 18. 🫣😭

They aren’t allowed to do 12 hour shifts till they’re 18.