YORK College and Archbishop Holgate’s School in York are among the first 52 colleges and schools in the country set to teach new technical courses called ‘T-levels’, the Government has announced.

Prime Minister Theresa May said T-levels represented "the most significant reform to advanced technical education in 70 years".

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said they would be on a par with A-levels and provide young people with a choice between technical and academic education post 16.

Other colleges in North and East Yorkshire to become the first to teach T-levels include Scarborough Sixth Form College and Bishop Burton College near Beverley.

A Government spokesman said courses in construction, digital and education and childcare would first be taught from September 2020, with a further 22 courses rolled out in stages from 2021, covering sectors such as finance and accounting, engineering and manufacturing, and creative and design.

Mr Hinds said: “T-levels represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform technical education in this country so we can rival the world’s best performing systems.

“For too long young people have not had a genuine choice about their future aged 16. Whilst A-levels provide a world class academic qualification, many technical education courses are undervalued by employers and don’t always provide students with the skills they need to secure a good job - that has to change.

“Naming the first 52 colleges and providers where young people will be able to study the first T-levels is an important step forward, and we will continue the work with business and the education sector so everyone can benefit from these vital reforms.”

The Prime Minister said: “Everyone should be able to have access to an education that suits them, but we know that for those that don’t choose to go to university, the routes into further technical and vocational training can be hard to navigate.

“That’s why we’re making the most significant reform to advanced technical education in 70 years to ensure young people have gold standard qualifications open to them whichever route they choose.T-levels provide a high-quality, technical alternative to A-levels.”