Two Camden students have been awarded prizes for their commitment and drive in their T Level studies at the borough’s inaugural T Level celebration event, hosted at The Francis Crick Institute.
Julia Oduro from Acland Burghley School was named the Camden T Level Student of the Year 2026, while Khaled Albitar from Haverstock School was the Camden T Level Highly Commended Student of the Year 2026.
The celebration event for T Levels on Thursday 25th June was attended by over 100 guests, including Councillor Marcus Boyland and Baroness Dinah Caine, to recognise the achievements of young people, their schools and the employers who have supported them.
There was also recognition for local employers who have supported Camden students with their studies and workplace placements. The Francis Crick Institute was named Camden T Level Employer of 2026 and Curve Media won the Camden T Levels Highly Commended Employers of the Year 2026.
Giving greater priority to developing technical and vocational education, including T Levels, is a core part of Camden’s Education Strategy to 2030, Building Back Stronger, and the borough’s post-16 offer. Currently, five Camden secondary schools deliver T Levels.
These two-year qualifications were launched nationally in 2020 and in Camden in 2023. They are technical qualifications which include a 45-day industry placement and are aimed at students aged 16 to 19.
Camden’s T Level celebration event recognised the outstanding achievement and dedication of Camden’s first cohort of T Level students. It was also a chance to hear directly from students and businesses about the impact of the industry placements, including the two commended students.
Julia won her award for embracing every aspect of her T Level programme and for demonstrating exceptional commitment, resilience and personal growth. Judges were particularly impressed by the breadth of her achievements, industry engagement and the positive example she set for her peers.
Khaled won his award for his determination, hard work and willingness to step out of his comfort zone and for showing maturity and leadership throughout his industry placement.
The event also highlighted the strength of collaboration between schools, employers and local partners in creating opportunities for young people and supporting the development of a highly skilled local workforce.
The popularity of T Levels among young people in Camden has increased significantly in just a year, with the number of young people signing up to these qualifications increasing from 22 last year to 66 this year.
The borough hopes that, by next year, there will be 115 T Level students in Year 12 and 13 across the borough.
Cllr Marcus Boyland, Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families, said:
T Levels are preparing Camden’s young people for their futures by combining high-quality technical learning with valuable industry experience. Through their 45-day industry placements, students develop the skills, confidence and real-world experience to progress into higher education, apprenticeships and employment.
Tonight has been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their achievements and to recognise the commitment of our schools, teachers and employer partners who have made T Levels such a success in Camden.
Baroness Caine, Chair of the STEAM Partnership Board, said:
It has been a privilege to celebrate the achievements of Camden’s T Level students and to recognise the dedication of the schools, employers and partners who have supported them. Through the Camden STEAM Partnership, we strengthen partnerships between schools and employers to equip young people with the technical, creative and professional skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.
T Levels are a fantastic example of education and industry working together to build the future talent pipeline, and I am excited to see even more young people benefit from these opportunities.
Caroline Dean, Head of STEAM and Partnerships for Camden Learning, said:
The Camden T Level Celebration event was a wonderful chance for us to commemorate the power and importance of young people and their experiences in the workplace.
The Camden STEAM Partnership was born from the belief that all young people in our borough should aspire to gain access to working in the STEAM companies that surround them and we were delighted to celebrate this achievement at this event.
