A college has dropped all of its A level provision to focus on the rollout of T levels.

Northampton College told students who were due to attend an induction day of their decision and is now offering them support.

The announcement left around 40 college students searching for alternative courses days before the start of the new college term.

‘We are working closely with all students’

The first T level courses will be piloted by selected colleges, schools and sixth form colleges from 2020. College principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said he hopes the college will be among the first to offer the new courses and is already piloting a programme of industrial placements.

She added: “As part of that transition, we have taken the decision to not continue with our current A level offering and will instead be focusing on ensuring students can continue their journey into higher education with BTEC diplomas - which are viewed by universities as an equivalent qualification.

“We are working closely with all students and their parents to offer an equivalent BTEC qualification here at Northampton College and we are partnering with alternative providers to offer places on A Level courses in local sixth forms.”