University of Sunderland backs Bede Academy digital course

The University of Sunderland is supporting Bede Academy in Bylth with the development and delivery of a new Digital T Level qualification.

T Levels are technical qualifications in England designed in collaboration with employers, offering an alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships. They combine classroom learning with work placements to prepare students for skilled employment, apprenticeships, or higher education.

Martin Davies, Graduate Academic Assistant from the University of Sunderland talks with students(Image: David Wood)

The University of Sunderland will provide staff training, curriculum guidance, and further collaborations for student-facing teaching.

David Lloyd, head of sixth form at Bede Academy, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be embarking on this partnership to develop and deliver a Digital T Level course with the University of Sunderland.

"This will serve to increase our offer to our students, widening participation and success within our community in this growing industry.

Charlotte Wheatland, University of Sunderland Director of Student Home Recruitment, with Bede Academy Principle Andrew Thelwell signing the partnership(Image: David Wood)

"This will also help cement our ability to support our students towards the very best higher-level careers and training in our locality and beyond."

A launch event held at Bede Academy on September 15 included a live demonstration of the university’s robots and a Q&A session with current Sunderland students.

Charlotte Wheatland, director of home student recruitment at the University of Sunderland, said: "This is a fantastic way to demonstrate what the University of Sunderland stands for - working in partnership with education providers in the North East to support young people to get the skills needed to be successful in the jobs of the future.

Representatives from the University of Sunderland take part in a questions and answer session(Image: David Wood)

"We’re so excited to work with Bede Academy on this project."

Dr Derek Dixon, Interim Head of School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Sunderland, said: "This represents the beginning of an exciting partnership between the School of Computer Science and Engineering and Bede Academy.

"The opportunity to work on a new project with both staff and students from Bede for the benefit of the student experience is something which we’re hoping is transformational for everyone.

"Our facilities and expertise are there to be shared with the whole community."

The partnership is set to continue for at least three years to support the development and delivery of the Digital T Level.

T Levels are designed to provide students with a blend of academic knowledge and real-world industry experience, making them well-prepared for a range of future pathways in the digital and IT sector.

The University of Sunderland is encouraging other schools and educational institutions interested in similar collaborations to contact its student recruitment team.