On Monday 26th September, Anna Firth MP visited South Essex College’s Stephenson’s Road campus. She was given a tour of the campus by Mr Anthony McGarel and spoke with a number of the pupils on her visit.
South Essex College offers an impressive choice of academic, applied general, T-Levels and apprenticeships. T-Levels are two-year, technical-based qualifications, which integrate studying and working in industry, which helps prepare students for skilled employment.
The college now runs six different T-Levels: on site construction, digital production, design and development, health, management and administration, early years education and childcare, and maintenance installation and repair.
On Anna’s visit to South Essex College, she was able to discuss plans to develop and support a new ‘Investment Zone’ for the city, following the announcements made in the Chancellor’s ‘mini-budget’. Anna has been pushing for investment into schools and colleges in the city as they have the potential to not only change the way we educate in Southend West for generations, but to also transform lives and the student environment as well. She also saw the T-Levels students in action at the workshops, where Anna was able to turn her hand to some carpentry and bricklaying.
Anna said,
“I think T-Levels are an amazing opportunity for young adults to study and work at the same time. From their work in industry, they are able to learn valuable skills which they can take into skilled employment. South Essex College has fantastic facilities and a high standard of teaching, which brings no surprise seeing such strong growth in T-Level numbers. I hope to see more schools and college’s offer this innovative qualification.”
