T Level in Ornamental and Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping

About the course

T Levels are technical qualifications - equivalent to three A Levels – that combine classroom study with industry placements. They have been designed to be of the highest standards, but also to equip you with the vital skills required in the workplace.

Welcome to the world of Horticulture at Myerscough College, where your passion for plants and the environment can flourish into a rewarding career. The T-Level in Ornamental and Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping offers an exciting journey into various occupational specialities within this thriving industry. Whether you dream of cultivating beautiful gardens, designing sustainable landscapes, or preserving natural habitats, our T-Level programme provides the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. As part of the course, you will become familiar with a range of contexts in which horticulturalists work, ensuring you are highly employable at the end of your programme.

Some areas of horticultural work you will explore on the T Level programme are as follows:

Garden design and maintenance: Dig into the world of designing and maintaining stunning gardens. Learn about plant selection, landscape planning, and effective maintenance techniques to create captivating outdoor spaces.
Nursery production: Master the techniques of nurturing plants from seed to maturity in nurseries. Gain hands-on experience in propagation, irrigation systems, and pest management to ensure healthy plant growth.
Landscape construction: Build the foundations of beautiful outdoor environments. Acquire skills in hardscape construction, such as paving, decking, and fencing, to craft functional and attractive landscapes.
Greenhouse management: Delve into the world of controlled environments for plant growth. Learn about greenhouse operations, climate control systems, and crop cultivation methods to produce high quality plants all year round.

The T Level is a popular option for both school leavers and successful Level 2 Technical Certificate students.

Knowledge Qualification

Knowledge Qualification

Working in the Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care Sector

This module provides an overview of the diverse career opportunities within the agriculture, environmental, and animal care sectors. Students will gain insights into industry standards, job roles, and the skills necessary to succeed in these fields.

Information and Data

In this module, students will explore the importance of information management and data analysis in land-based studies. Topics include data collection methods, data interpretation, and the use of information technology to support decision-making and operational efficiency across various land-based disciplines.

Sustainability

This course explores sustainable practices in land-based sectors. Topics include the principles of sustainability, sustainable resource management, and the importance of integrating eco-friendly practices into professional operations across agriculture, environmental management, and animal care.

Plant Propagation

Maintaining Ornamental and Environmental horticultural areas

Establish Ornamental and Environmental horticultural areas

Ornamental and Environmental horticultural areas

Install landscape features

Manage existing designed landscapes

Relationship Management

This module teaches students how to build and maintain positive professional relationships. Topics include customer service, conflict resolution, teamwork, and networking strategies, all essential for successful careers in land-based industries.

Supply Chain

This course examines the supply chain dynamics within the animal sector. Topics include sourcing of animal equipment and materials, understanding market demands, logistics, and ensuring the sustainability and ethical considerations of supply chain practices.

Ethics

This course examines ethical principles and dilemmas in the context of land-based industries. Students will explore topics such as professional integrity, ethical decision-making, and the impact of their work on communities and ecosystems.

Biosecurity

This module focuses on biosecurity measures critical to agriculture. Students will learn about the prevention and management of pest and disease outbreaks, strategies for maintaining animal health, and the protocols necessary to protect ecosystems from invasive species and pathogens.

Business

This comprehensive module covers the fundamentals of running a successful business within the land-based sector. Topics include business planning, marketing, management, and the strategic development of enterprises in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental management.

Communication

Effective communication skills are crucial in land-based sectors. This module focuses on verbal and written communication, active listening, and the use of digital tools to enhance professional interactions in agriculture, environmental management, and animal care.

Equality

This theme addresses the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace. Students will learn about relevant legislation, strategies for promoting inclusivity, and the benefits of a diverse workforce within land-based industries.

Health and Safety

This module covers essential health and safety legislation, regulations, and best practices applicable to land-based industries. Students will learn to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement safety protocols to ensure a safe working environment in agriculture, horticulture, and related fields.

Finance

This course provides an introduction to financial management in the land-based sector. Students will learn about budgeting, financial planning, accounting principles, and the financial considerations specific to agricultural, horticultural, and environmental operations.

Plant Growth and Development

This module delves into the biological processes underpinning plant growth and development. Students will study factors affecting tree health, such as soil composition, water and nutrient uptake, and the impact of environmental conditions. Practical applications of this knowledge will be explored in the context of planting, maintenance and care.

Establishing Ornamental and Environmental horticultural areas

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for all T Levels will be a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 5 (including Maths, English and Science).

T-Levels are available for 16 to 19-year-old students. They are also available to students up to the age of 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Applicants are expected to show a strong commitment to the industry and ideally, have some practical work experience working with animals prior to starting the course.

Learning and assessment

This course is designed for students who wish to develop the core practical skills and knowledge to seek employment in the Animal industry. It will prepare you for entry into a practical employment position within the industry. Alternatively, it provides an ideal progression route to higher education.

Assessment of technical qualifications is a mixture of internal practical assessment of skills conducted by the teaching team, internal written assignments marked by the teaching team, an externally set synoptic examination that combines the knowledge and practical skills of all of the mandatory units, an external online exam that combines the knowledge of all mandatory units, an online health and safety exam and a employer set project. The assessments and exams are spread throughout the two years.

Progression

Upon completing your T level in your Occupational Specialism, you have several options to pursue:

T levels provide the same UCAS points a full A level programme giving you the option of further study in higher education in fields such as landscape architecture, plant sciences, or environmental management.

The technical skills you will acquire also prepare you to enter employment or a higher apprenticeship directly as a skilled horticulturalist, ready to contribute to a wide range of employers including landscaping companies, botanical gardens, nurseries, and more.

Careers

Employment opportunities the horticulture industry are currently very good and the T Level provides the qualification and experience for entry into the industry at an operational level with future prospects for management.

Opportunities include:

Landscape designer – create outdoor spaces that enhance the environment

Plant nursery manager – manage nursery operations, and the production and distribution of a diverse range of plants

Greenhouse technician – Manage greenhouse facilities to cultivate crops efficiently and sustainably

Horticulturalist – work in plant care and management across a range of settings, including parks, estates, and conservation projects.

Work experience

In order to successfully complete your T level qualification, you will need to complete a minimum of 315 hours (45 days or 9 working weeks) of Industry Placement with a maximum of two employers. We will assist you in helping to secure a suitable placement.

T level Industry Placements are expected to provide you with real work experience as part of your wider studies. It should be linked to your main course of study so you can develop up to date technical knowledge, and skills and apply your college learning to real work activities. Your placement should reflect your pathway, and be related to your occupational specialism.

Horticulture

Horticulture is a rapidly growing area of the economy thanks to a strong public interest in gardening, plants, sustainability and food security. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the horticulture industry is the largest employer in the UK, supplying 18 million gardeners.

The number of garden centres continues to increase and the public demand for attractive horticultural landscapes remains strong. This means that plant growers, suppliers and managers are constantly looking for ways to improve their businesses.

Our Gold Medal winning garden at Southport Flower Show

Show Garden Success

Work experience doesn’t get much better than here at Myerscough. Our learners have helped build award-winning gardens across the country - from a Gold-Medal entry at Chelsea Flower Show to Gold and Silver Medals at Southport Flower Show! They’ve also been involved with garden builds for the BBC DIY SOS project in Blackpool and show gardens at the RHS Tatton Flower Show and Chorley Flower Show.

PlantWorld

Myerscough’s award-winning gardens are laid out across much of the western edge of the Myerscough campus. As part of our garden kingdom, horticulture students are spoilt for choice in our Plant World display glasshouses! There are bananas growing in the Tropical Zone, coffee plants and pineapples in the Edible Zone, a Mediterranean atmosphere in the Temperate Zone as well as beautiful specimen plants in the Flowering and Foliage Zones.

Myerscough College - Horticulture Glasshouses

Superb Facilities

Our horticulture students have access to some of the best facilities available. There are brand new commercial glasshouses, an extensive plant collection, fully-equipped landscape and construction workshops, a new Sportsturf education facility, a CAD suite and drawing studio and dedicated garden plots for project work.

Scholarship Programme

Every year there’s the chance for students to apply for funding to undertake overseas trips as part of their studies thanks to travel scholarships. The annual fund, from the Lancaster and Morecambe Agriculture & Horticulture Society Scholarship programme, pays significant bursaries to encourage young horticulturalists to study or explore business ideas abroad. This year, Bronwyn Jones, 19, went to Singapore to be involved as a volunteer on the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ project looking at increasing public accessibility to gardens and using innovation and technology in creating a city in the garden.

Latest news, Horticulture

Myerscough College Fellow - Christine Walkden

Christine Walkden: Honorary Fellow

"My passion for gardening was nurtured at Myerscough College and I've been getting my hands dirty ever since." Celebrity plantswoman and horticulturalist Christine was awarded an honorary fellowship and regularly works with the College and our Horticultural department.