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.

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.

Sportsturf studies

There are fantastic opportunities both in the UK and overseas for people who are trained and qualified in sportsturf. Careers exist at all levels, from assistant groundspersons and greenkeepers to managers of international sports facilities such as Premier League Football Clubs and the major elite Golf Courses. Our courses will equip you with the skills that are necessary to build, maintain and manage quality turf surfaces to a high standard.

Students learn the science behind how grasses grow, as well as soils, drainage and a wide range of maintenance practices. You will gain an understanding of the demands of sport and what players need or expect from turf surfaces. You will be taught how to provide these conditions all year round and in all weather conditions.

A solid reputation

Myerscough College enjoys a fantastic reputation across the UK and Europe as one of the leading providers of sportsturf education. Ex-students from the programmes can be found at some of the top sporting venues across the country including Wimbledon, the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and St Andrews.

Excellent Facilities

Myerscough benefits from superb sportsturf facilities including a nine-hole golf course, fully automated irrigation systems with various controllers and fittings, turfgrass research laboratory and more. The department has also recently had a brand new turfgrass unit built, offering specialist workshops, classrooms and research facilities.

A World of Opportunity

There are fantastic opportunities throughout the world for people who have training and qualifications in sportsturf. All our course equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience to progress to either the next level of education, or a career within the industry.