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

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

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.

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for all T Levels will be a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 (including Maths, English Language 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

Progression

Careers

Work experience

Landscape

Landscaping involves the design, construction and maintenance of urban and rural environments – to develop ‘greener living’ in these areas. It’s a real government focus and includes everything from gardens, parks, streets, waterways, leisure facilities and open spaces through to large urban redevelopments. There are fantastic career opportunities as the landscape industry is made up of nearly 8,000 businesses employing around 140,000 people, including local authority departments, heritage garden attractions and commercial landscape companies.

Staff and students won Gold for their entry at the Southport Flower Show in 2015.

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 Gilts 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.

Students on the Myerscough College APL Programme

Association of Professional Landscapers

Myerscough has developed a unique partnership with the Association of Professional Landscapers and the Landscape Skills Academy. The scheme, which represents a first for the sector, has a clear vision to produce the next generation of landscaping professionals. It showcases the latest products, tools, equipment and practice, to fully prepare learners for their future careers in the landscape sector.

Superb facilities

Our landscaping students have access to some of the best facilities available. There’s a purpose-built teaching unit that comprises four fully-equipped landscape and construction workshops. There are dedicated garden plots for project work, a CAD suite and drawing studio and five hectares of inspirational grounds.

They say: Elliot Smith

"Myerscough ticked all the right boxes for the landscape studies that I had my heart set on. The Level 3 Diploma course is brilliant, and I particularly liked the balance between practical and theory-based work."