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Construction (T-Prep Foundation Programme)

Course Code: TPBSEC
  • Level: 1
  • Qualification: College Certificate
  • Awarding body: City College Plymouth
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Full-time
  • Time of day: Daytime
  • When you'll study: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 9.00am - 4.30pm
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What's it all about?

The T-Prep Foundation Programme is a study programme specifically designed to develop the skills, experience, knowledge and behaviours to support progression onto a T Level. It is aimed at students who have the potential to progress onto their chosen T level route. The primary purpose of this course is to prepare you for a T level programme.

The knowledge and skills picked up in the foundation programme include trying your hand at different trades, gaining a CSCS health and safety card, flying drones and using thermal imaging equipment along with virtual reality equipment. The course allows you to see industry standard equipment that you will be coming across in the workplace.

The foundation programme includes a work placement with a local employer that is designed to help you make the best decisions about next steps and to experience industry hands on.

Course information

The course covers the following …

  • Tutorial and personal guidance sessions which will vary from career guidance, group sessions through to CV writing.

  • Workplace preparation – these sessions will be varied from interview techniques through to purchasing PPE and ensuring you are ready and able to enter the workplace.

  • Technical teaching – this will be made up of a Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills. This allows you to gain a hands-on understanding of the different trades common in construction from plumbing to plastering, bricklaying to decorating. This will help gain a solid foundation for you to go on to further study on a course such as the full T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning. You will also be completing a drone flying licence through the CAA and a thermal imaging training course. 

  • CSCS card – a vital element to help you understand health and safety in the workplace and be able to work safely.

  • Maths, English and digital skills to ensure you have the knowledge and understanding required to take you to the next step in your learning journey.

  • A 70 hour work placement – this will consist of around ten days in a workplace tailored to the job role you would like to go into. We have a team of workplace coordinators that will find you a workplace and work alongside you to ensure that it supports your college studies and helps you find your next steps.

The topics you will study include:

  • construction materials

  • health and safety

  • construction methods

  • building regulations and standards

  • relationship management and teamwork

  • mathematical techniques to solve construction problems

  • construction design principles and processes

  • sustainability and the environmental impact of construction.

In our experience, to be successful on this level of programme, you will need an appropriate functional level in English and maths to be able to fulfil the coursework requirements. Therefore, you will need to have gained GCSEs at grade 3 or above in English and maths.

The course is via a mix of practical, coursework and exam-based assessments 

Upon successful completion, you may be able to progress to the following:

  • a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning

  • a full-time trade qualification

  • an Apprenticeship.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

Download course PDF

Future careers

What you could earn:

Plumbers and Heating and Ventilating Engineers

£48,241.48

Potential salary

£20,023.17

Entry level salary

£33,893.96

Average salary

22

Annual openings in Plymouth

View career details

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