Transcript Slide 1

BTEC Level 3 Nationals
An update
Michael Hewens
Business Manager – BTEC
21 November 2012
Qualifications & Credit Framework
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
Level
1
ENTRY
Level
AWARD
1 – 12 credits
Size
CERTIFICATE
13 – 36 credits
DIPLOMA
Above 36 credits
QCF Design Principles
The qualifications are made up
of units, and each unit is
allocated ‘credits’ and Guided
Learning Hours (GLH)
Each QCF BTEC qualification
is sized in terms of the
number of credits (not
units, as in the NQF)
5 credit units have 30
GLH; 10 credit units have
60 GLH
Credit is based on
Learning Time;
supervised and
independent study
GLH (Guided Learning Hours) will
continue to be used for planning
and funding purposes
QCF BTECs
BTEC Level 3 Nationals
The new BTEC
qualifications have
been extended
Titles on the QCF have changed,
due to the QCF rules
QCF Revised BTEC L3 Nationals Titles with
Equivalences
Level 3 BTEC
Nationals (NQF)
Level 3 BTEC National
Diploma
BTEC Level 3
Nationals (QCF)
= 3 A Levels
BTEC Level 3 Extended
Diploma
18 units (1080 GLH)
180 credits (1080 GLH)
Level 3 BTEC National
Certificate
BTEC Level 3 Diploma
= 2 A Levels
12 units (720 GLH)
Level 3 BTEC National
Award
6 units (360 GLH)
= 1 A Level
120 credits (720 GLH)
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary
Diploma
= 3 A Levels
= 2 A Levels
= 1 A Level
60 credits (360 GLH)
BTEC Level 3 Certificate
30 credits (180 GLH)
= 1 AS Level
BTEC benchmarks
National Occupational Standards
Continues funding is ensured by accreditation
onto the QCF
On Performance Tables (SCAAT points)
BTEC
BTEC L2 Firsts equivalent to GCSEs (A*-C)
BTEC L3 Nationals equivalent to A Levels
BTEC L3 National on the UCAS Tariff
QCF
Drivers for L3 redevelopment
• Progression from NG BTEC Firsts
• First-mover advantage re:
o UCAS QIR consultation
o New KS5 performance tables
o
Improve clarity of assessment criteria
o
HE asking for A levels alongside
o
Increase core - what a learner has actually covered
What employers/HE want
• Strong consensus in response from employers and HE
• Want a large core (c.50%) so they know what a BTEC learner has
studied/experienced
• All want learners to have covered the basics (e.g. maths in
engineering)
• All want development of employability skills: self-management,
responsibility, literacy and numeracy skills
• High approval for external assessment to provide evidence of
knowledge and understanding, especially externally set research
project
Redevelopment (proposed)
• Phase 1 - Redevelop 4 sectors for first teaching from September
2014:
– Business: new trends and needs alignment with NG Firsts
– IT: Curriculum review in 2010 with new focus on computer
science
– HSC: sector becoming more professionalised. Looking for higherorder skills
– Sport: impact of Olympics.
• Phase
2 - Redevelop remaining sectors for first teaching from 2015