BTEC Level 3 Nationals An update Michael Hewens Business Manager – BTEC 21 November 2012

Qualifications & Credit Framework Size Level ENTRY – 12 credits 13 – 36 creditsAbove 36 credits Level AWARDDIPLOMA CERTIFICATE

The qualifications are made up of units, and each unit is allocated ‘credits’ and Guided Learning Hours (GLH) 5 credit units have 30 GLH; 10 credit units have 60 GLH Each QCF BTEC qualification is sized in terms of the number of credits (not units, as in the NQF) Credit is based on Learning Time; supervised and independent study QCF Design Principles GLH (Guided Learning Hours) will continue to be used for planning and funding purposes

QCF BTECs The new BTEC qualifications have been extended Titles on the QCF have changed, due to the QCF rules BTEC Level 3 Nationals

QCF Revised BTEC L3 Nationals Titles with Equivalences Level 3 BTEC National Diploma 18 units (1080 GLH) = 3 A Levels Level 3 BTEC National Certificate 12 units (720 GLH) = 2 A Levels Level 3 BTEC National Award 6 units (360 GLH) = 1 A Level Level 3 BTEC Nationals (NQF) BTEC Level 3 Nationals (QCF) BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma 180 credits (1080 GLH) = 3 A Levels BTEC Level 3 Diploma 120 credits (720 GLH) = 2 A Levels BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma 60 credits (360 GLH) = 1 A Level BTEC Level 3 Certificate 30 credits (180 GLH) = 1 AS Level

BTEC benchmarks BTECQCF National Occupational Standards Continues funding is ensured by accreditation onto the QCF On Performance Tables (SCAAT points) BTEC L2 Firsts equivalent to GCSEs (A*-C) BTEC L3 Nationals equivalent to A Levels BTEC L3 National on the UCAS Tariff

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 higher- order skills – Sport: impact of Olympics. Phase 2 - Redevelop remaining sectors for first teaching from 2015