Ada Lovelace CofE High School has been offering T Levels in Digital Software Development and Laboratory Science for the past two years.
This September we launched our third T Level – Accounting, and we were thrilled to welcome 23 students into Year 12 to study this T Level – not only our newest but our biggest cohort!
T Level Accounting was launched nationwide in 2022 to give learners an opportunity to develop technical skills and knowledge to work in accounting and payroll sectors. Developed in collaboration with major employers, the aim is to help bridge the skills gap evident in the accounting sector in recent years.
What does the course cover?
The Accounting T Level covers a wide range of topics from business environment to regulation. We are teaching our students the fundamentals of accounting including the importance of cash flow and budgeting in business, as well as how to complete simple income statements and balance sheets. They have also discussed the impact global events such as the 2008 financial crisis, COVID and political instability have had on financial markets.
As well as the core topics in the curriculum we are also educating the students on the type of roles and careers that are available in the accounting sector.
Later on in the year we’ll be inviting guest speakers from within the industry into Ada Lovelace. This will be an opportunity for our students to build connections with prospective future employers.
Progress so far
We are pleased with how the students are responding to the content so far. We have delivered a series of prep lessons to help them complete a mini-mock ESP (Employer Set Project) and a full written internal exam this term. We’ve found that by getting our students used to the ESP and exam format, they should perform much better when the actual moderated exams come along.
Students have just completed group presentations regarding the Autumn 2025 budget and its impact. To build confidence, we will select some groups to present their work at the end of term assembly. Giving them lots of opportunities to present in front of peers and potential employers and people in industry equips them with the skills and knowledge needed for the world of work.
In fact, many financial firms are transforming their recruitment process with many removing degree requirements and relying on skills assessments instead.
Looking forward
We are working hard to develop close relationships and to foster links with a number of businesses and industry partners to secure high quality placements for our students.
If you are interested in supporting Accounting T Levels at Ada Lovelace we would love to hear from you. This could be as a guest speaker, delivering a workshop or hosting a T Level student at your business. Please email Will Knox to discuss: wknox@adalovelace.org.uk
