To celebrate T Levels Week, we caught up with three students at City of Westminster College to find out why they chose to study a T Level, what they’ve enjoyed so far and how they’re preparing for their future careers.
T Levels offer an alternative to A Levels and other vocational qualifications, combining classroom learning with practical skills and industry experience.
For Poppy Smith, Maya Fonseca and Jaliyah Ansong, who are studying the T Level in Management and Administration at City of Westminster College, it’s an opportunity to develop real-world business skills, build confidence and take their first steps towards exciting careers.
Every student has their own reasons for choosing a T Level, but for Poppy, Maya and Jaliyah, the opportunity to learn practical skills and prepare for employment was a major attraction.
Poppy initially studied a BTEC course at CWC before deciding to switch to a T Level.
“My BTEC course was more theoretical and concept-based, but I felt a T Level would open up more career opportunities for me, especially as I want to do an apprenticeship in the future,” she explained.
For Maya, the practical approach to learning was particularly appealing.
“I’m more of a practical learner than someone who thrives in exams,” she said. “The best thing about T Levels is that you learn skills and knowledge you wouldn’t necessarily gain in a normal classroom.”
Jaliyah has always been interested in understanding how businesses operate and sees her T Level as an important step towards her future career.
“The practical course content also equips me for a degree apprenticeship, particularly in areas such as property and marketing, which I’m interested in pursuing after graduation.”
Although the students only started their T Level in September, they’re already gaining valuable experience through group projects, presentations and practical business activities.
For Maya, these opportunities are helping her become a more confident communicator.
“We’re already doing presentations and learning how to take feedback on board. We also work in groups with people we may not know and develop ideas together,” she explained.
“I’ve learnt how to communicate the right information to the audience and at the same time gain more confidence speaking in front of people.”
Jaliyah particularly enjoys applying what she’s learning to real business scenarios.
“The best part of the course is being able to apply business skills to real-life situations through case studies” she said.
“We recently explored how charities operate, grow and support people with different needs.”
Meanwhile, Poppy has enjoyed the collaborative nature of the course and the opportunity to develop her understanding of business, from finance and money management to professional communication.
“The best part of the course is working with other people and getting to know them,” she said.
One of the key features of T Levels is the industry placement, giving students the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice in a real workplace.
While Poppy, Maya and Jaliyah are still at the beginning of their courses, they’re already looking ahead to how this experience could support their future ambitions.
Maya is particularly excited about applying her learning during her industry placement in her second year.
“This helps me understand what I’m learning better while also strengthening my CV,” she explained.
Alongside their studies, students can also access careers guidance and opportunities to explore their next steps.
Poppy recently attended a workshop with Birkbeck, University of London, designed to help students prepare for higher education.
“The college offers a wide range of workshops and good career support,” she said. “We’re also encouraged to seek advice from the careers team early on, which is really helpful for planning our future path.”
For Jaliyah, the combination of practical learning, teamwork and career preparation makes a T Level a great option for students who want a different approach to studying.
“I would recommend this course to other students because, compared with courses that focus more on independent study, T Levels are collaborative, interactive and practical.”
“It also gives me greater confidence and a clearer sense of security about my future.”
Whether you’re interested in gaining practical skills, experiencing the workplace or preparing for university, an apprenticeship or employment, T Levels could be the next step towards your future.
At City of Westminster College, we offer T Level courses designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their chosen careers.
Explore our T Level courses and discover where they could take you.
“Being named a finalist for the AoC Adult Student of the Year Award is honestly one of the proudest moments of my journey so far. When I became Student Union President, I wanted to prove that student leadership could genuinely change how a college feels from the inside, more connected, more supported, better able to access opportunities. Seeing that work recognised on a national stage means everything, and it’s pushed me to keep going, not just for the role, but for what I want to build in my future career.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
