BTECs: Secure now and for the future
On Friday 16 March the DfE published an updated list of qualifications that will count towards headline measures in school performance tables from 2014.
We were surprised not to see our next generation BTEC First Award in Health and Social Care on the list.
Since the publication of the initial list in January 2012, all nine of our new BTEC next generation suite have been accredited by Ofqual. These new 120 GLH qualifications meet all the characteristics required of high-quality vocational qualifications under the guidance laid down by the Wolf Report.
They have also been enthusiastically received by hundreds of you attending our recent launch events.
We believe BTEC Health and Social Care’s exclusion from Friday's list to be a result of a technicality and we are in active discussions with the DfE as to how this can be resolved as quickly as possible.
We won’t know the outcome of these discussions until after Easter, but in the meantime we want to stress that you still have a number of options to deliver BTECs and get them recognised appropriately in headline measures and performance tables generally.
BTECs in Health and Social Care from September 2012
You can still offer BTEC Health and Social Care as an option for your level 2 learners and ensure that learners’ achievements are recognised in 2014 headline measures.
The following existing qualifications have been confirmed for 2014 headline measures, so you can continue to deliver these excellent qualifications with confidence:
BTEC Level 2 First Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care (180 GLH)
BTEC Level 2 First Diploma in Health and Social Care (360 GLH).
- These are successful and reputable vocational qualifications.
- They're 100% internally assessed with teacher-led assessment for maximum flexibility and to enable assignments to meet local needs.
- They include popular units, such as Unit 9: Creative and Therapeutic Activities in Health and Social Care.
- Units are mapped to personal, learning and thinking skills to help develop learners’ transferable skills.
- They provide an excellent opportunity for learners to progress to BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care.
Either way, BTECs can remain at the heart of your vocational teaching now and for a new generation of learners.
If you have any questions, please contact us at btec@edexcel.com.
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