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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Vocational courses 24/25

65 replies

TeenToTwenties · 24/08/2024 07:11

Would anyone be interested in a vocational courses thread for the new academic year?
My DD did 2 years at level 1, has had a gap year and is now returning to do a level 2.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 31/08/2024 07:53

@Popfan Welcome. I think you have made a sound choice!

DDs exams at level 1 (with City and Guilds) were 2 multiple choice exams, both of which could be sat 3 times. One was health and safety, the other was 'working in land based industries'.

As well as teaching there were quizzes online for the H&S on things like signage, lifting etc and I worked through them with DD until she was solid, and for the land based stuff she had a PowerPoint from college we went through as the subject was quite 'dry'.

He has done so well to get the maths & English. They are still a work in progress in our household.

OP posts:
Popfan · 31/08/2024 07:39

Pleased to have found this thread. My DS is starting a carpentry course.. it's level one as carpentry is skills based everyone has to start here. He is dyslexic and although liked school and his teachers in terms of the social element, he hated the academic side. He's come out with 5 GCSEs / BTECs including maths and English after we made the decision to throw everything at these (tutors for maths and English). He did practically no revision for anything and I am very glad I now no longer have to stress over school work! He also had a place for a L3 BTech however I don't think either of us could face another 2 years of deadlines and coursework!

He's hugely looking forward to college. I've looked at the course content and there is no way I'd manage it (I'm academic but not practical) but he's going to love it. There are some theory exams and health and safety work but it's going to be soooo much better for him. He'll probably then go onto the L2 next year.

He's only in college Monday - Wednesday with Wednesday a very short morning as he doesn't need to do English and maths, Monday and Tues are pretty long days. He plans to work for 2 days as well (has a job in the kitchen at his golf club). So lots to look forward to!!

I hope everyone's DCs enjoy their first few days at college!

OxAl82 · 30/08/2024 18:58

TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 18:40

Yes you should get your access arrangements. Do you have record from school? If so you may need to pass them to the college exams office in due course? They may need to retest as they only last a certain length of time.

My DD now 25% extra time, rest breaks, reader/electronic reader, also small room, & green paper if desired.

Thank you. I have an email from their school confirming that they were entitled 25% extra time for exams as access arrangements.

good luck to your daughter for her level 2 course!

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 18:40

Yes you should get your access arrangements. Do you have record from school? If so you may need to pass them to the college exams office in due course? They may need to retest as they only last a certain length of time.

My DD now 25% extra time, rest breaks, reader/electronic reader, also small room, & green paper if desired.

OP posts:
OxAl82 · 30/08/2024 18:12

TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 17:53

What grade did they get?
If a 3 then they have to 'work towards' GCSE.
If less then OK to do functional skills.

DDs college would do FS level1 followed by GCSE though, they don't appear to teach FS level2 (except to apprentices on day release i think maybe)

But it seems to be college dependent how they approach it.

Show quote history

They got a 3 in English lang (one twin was 4 marks from a 4😩). I think they will be ok doing GCSE re-sit for that.
in Maths they both got a 2 and a very long way off from a 4. They got a 1 in mocks so slight improvement!.
they were on school SEN register (K support) and had 25% extra time for exams- does anyone know if they get extra time for re-sits at college?

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 17:53

OxAl82 · 30/08/2024 16:30

My twin daughters are both starting college on Monday doing Performing Arts level 2 diploma and also Maths and English re-sits. Sadly they both really struggle with Maths and can’t ever see them getting a 4- hoping college will let them do Functional skills instead.

What grade did they get?
If a 3 then they have to 'work towards' GCSE.
If less then OK to do functional skills.

DDs college would do FS level1 followed by GCSE though, they don't appear to teach FS level2 (except to apprentices on day release i think maybe)

But it seems to be college dependent how they approach it.

OP posts:
OxAl82 · 30/08/2024 16:30

My twin daughters are both starting college on Monday doing Performing Arts level 2 diploma and also Maths and English re-sits. Sadly they both really struggle with Maths and can’t ever see them getting a 4- hoping college will let them do Functional skills instead.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 15:25

Finally got confirmation of DD's enrollment, so it us really happening. She already has the PPE for practical days so is good to go. Even this year have bought blue plasters ready for practical days.

Just getting ends of hair dyed on Monday before induction on Wednesday.

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Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 25/08/2024 10:53

@LastTimeLosingIt You should be able to find it online if you know the course and providor, eg https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/creative-digital-media-production-2016.html
But he would still need to know which units he is doing.

For anyone who will need to keep an eye on their DC's progress I thoroughly recommend identifying the spec of their course.

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LastTimeLosingIt · 25/08/2024 10:30

@TeenToTwenties thank you, I will get him to ask for that

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 25/08/2024 06:00

@LastTimeLosingIt My eldest did a L3 BTEC back in 2015-2017. She has dyspraxia. What we found very helpful was to print out the spec for each unit to see what was required content, and then make sure assignments showed knowledge of the content.

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LastTimeLosingIt · 25/08/2024 00:16

My son is starting a vocational media BTEC level 3 in Sept. He has an EHCP. Worked incredibly hard at GCSE and got 4s and 5s , and enough of them to go straight in at L3. It might prove too high a pace for him, so I know he might have to drop down to L2 if so.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 24/08/2024 14:26

College was so much better for DD than school. Smaller classes on the level 1, and everyone is on level 1 for a reason and the teaching staff understood that.

The biggest issue DD had was sometimes MH of other students triggered her own issues.

DDs official attendance was at 70% in her first year, though more maths / English missed than her proper course. No one got cross about it.

DD has EHCP, only got in y12, how about others of you?

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 24/08/2024 13:27

DD is enrolled on a level 1 working with children course along with maths and English.

The main priority right now is to help her feel comfortable and safe enough to attend college. School has been a very frightening experience for her and her attendance was very low for the last 2 years.

I'm just hoping she finds college a happier place to be.

coffeeandteav · 24/08/2024 10:25

Yes my dd is starting level 2 Criminology with resits.
I am a worried as she struggled with school.

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