On 5th March, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson visited Nottingham College’s flagship City Hub campus to launch new policies on curriculum reform and outline what these changes will mean for students across the country.
During the visit, Ms Phillipson met with Principal and CEO Janet Smith before touring several of the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the bespoke eSports classroom, mock hospital ward and industry-standard TV studio.
Students from across the college had the chance to share their experiences and aspirations. BTEC Journalism students interviewed the Secretary of State about the introduction of the new V Level qualifications and how they will work in practice, when they come into effect in September 2027.
Meanwhile, students on T Level Business and Level 2 Health and Social Care courses discussed how their studies are shaping their next steps and opening career pathways.
Janet Smith, Nottingham College Principal and CEO, said: “With a college of our size, serving more than 21,000 students, it’s extremely important that we have variety and breadth of course options that suit individuals from all backgrounds and at all levels.
“Our students have career aspirations in place and it’s our job to equip them with the skills, confidence and experiences they need to achieve them.
“We welcome the government’s plans for curriculum reform, and value the simplicity of this adaptable model built around V Levels, A Levels and T Levels at level 3. The complete framework of qualifications will offer our students real choice and clear pathways of learning. We are keen as a college to continue to offer our expertise in the ongoing co-design of the new V Level routes, providing young people with accessible, relevant and meaningful qualifications and skills that will better connect them with the jobs of the future.”
17-year-old Evelyn Russell, a BTEC Journalism student, put her skills into practice during the visit when she had the opportunity to interview Ms Phillipson in the college’s TV studio. She said:
“Getting the opportunity to interview the Education Secretary was a highlight of my course. It gave me a proper journalism experience and insight into what goes into interviewing people in government. The opportunity has made me even more interested in pursuing journalism at university and later as a career.”