Meet the Subject Officer – Tom Leahy, T Level Building Services Engineering.
Meet Tom Leahy, Eduqas T Level Building Services Engineering for Construction Subject Officer. Tom has over 16 years of teaching experience and spent 25 years working in the Construction Industry.
I started my career in Building Services in the late 1990s where I served a four-year Plumbing apprenticeship working on both commercial and domestic properties gaining the knowledge and practical experience in all aspects of Plumbing and construction. During my career as a plumber, I gained significant experience of the training and development of company apprentices. This is what sparked my move into education.
What is the role of a Subject Officer?
The role of a Subject Officer (SO) brings something new each day, The overall purpose of the role is to manage the qualification, however there are many steps to that.
We have recently been updating the T Level Building Services Engineering for Construction qualification specification and sample assessment materials in preparation for delivery from September 2025.
My role also involves me working with the Professional Learning and Resources teams to help create a comprehensive package of support for qualification delivery. This includes guidance documents, delivery materials and sample assessment materials.
The focus of the role is to provide support for the colleges, through collaborative efforts across the organisation. By working with our Regional Support, Professional Learning and Educational Resources teams, we can provide colleges with all aspects of support. Whatever the need, we are here to support them.
Throughout the year I work with the Principal Examiner and revisers who write the papers, while my role as SO involves quality-checking to ensure fairness and consistency. We also have to balance coverage of the specification and ensure a fit for purpose assessment through the two written exams and employer set project.
Following the published assessment window my role will involve ensuring the marking process runs smoothly, review applications from the teachers and lecturers who apply to become examiners, work with the Principal Examiners and their teams to help train our new examiners, quality-assure their marking and monitor their progress.
Supporting our T Level Building Services Engineering centres
Throughout the academic year, we will provide ongoing support through a range of free resources. These include 'ready-made' delivery content, including PowerPoints, worksheets and knowledge tests, which lecturers can deliver right away. These tools not only support the delivery of the core content but can also help learners with independent study and revision.
We will also be providing further support through our annual programme of Professional Learning events, including both face-to-face and online sessions. These sessions foster connections with educators and ensure our training is accessible to all.
What do centres like best about Eduqas?
Centres appreciate Eduqas for its accessible and reliable assessment and the support we provide to teachers and lecturers who deliver our qualifications - from online resources to subject specialist advice.
The focus is always on the learners taking our qualifications. We strive to create a positive experience that maximises their chances of success.