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Further education

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

BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

991 replies

BTECnewbie · 14/08/2025 19:34

Hello all. My DS will hopefully be starting a level 3 extended diploma in September (assuming he gets the grades). I know very little about BTECs having come through the A level route myself. So I’d love to have a support thread for parents of kids taking vocational qualifications this year.

OP posts:
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swampwitch0 · 14/09/2025 12:38

@BTECnewbie
Dd has got 2 x work to hand in on Wednesday.
She's almost finished.

BTECnewbie · 14/09/2025 11:47

DS has had a good full first week. His course seems quite fast paced and he’s already been set 3 assignments as well as a couple of pieces of homework. The work seems quite a step up from GCSE in terms of needing to do a lot of independent research and write reports. He was expecting that though as he has gone straight in at level 3 with mainly 4s and 5s at GCSE. His course is almost entirely taught with very little practical element. He doesn’t have an official timetable on a piece of paper but he is doing 4 different units at the moment and he knows which one he is doing on which day.

OP posts:
SuperTrooper1111 · 13/09/2025 19:06

Bellyfat · 13/09/2025 12:52

There's a local school who run the same course who I've contacted. It wasn't what they wanted, but if college can't/won't make reasonable adjustments it's something that will need to be considered.
It's an early years education course, in our area the funding for these is via the T Level route now.

Edited

What reasonable adjustments does your DD need? There's no excuse for the ALS team not responding to you after you've contacted them three times. Can you speak to your daughter's tutor directly and ask them to give the ALS team a nudge? My DD has been given a number and email address for hers.

I do understand why, when your DD achieved the grades she needs, you are reluctant to explore her dropping down to Level 2. However, FWIW, my DD, who also gets ALS, has started at Level 2 and she's already thriving because it's an excellent way to transition from GCSEs. We can see how Level 2 will help her develop the self study and research skills she needs to progress to the higher level and because it's manageable her confidence is growing by the day.

Bellyfat · 13/09/2025 12:52

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 13/09/2025 11:16

Are there other colleges and courses you could look at?

Maybe a L3 Extended BTEC instead of a T Level.

My DD's is very definitely taught and there are clear defining lines between taught in-college work and guided self-study work.

There's a local school who run the same course who I've contacted. It wasn't what they wanted, but if college can't/won't make reasonable adjustments it's something that will need to be considered.
It's an early years education course, in our area the funding for these is via the T Level route now.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 13/09/2025 11:16

Are there other colleges and courses you could look at?

Maybe a L3 Extended BTEC instead of a T Level.

My DD's is very definitely taught and there are clear defining lines between taught in-college work and guided self-study work.

Bellyfat · 13/09/2025 10:50

Borka · 13/09/2025 10:44

@Bellyfat have you been able to speak to anyone in the ALS team? They might have a better idea about reasonable adjustments. I don't think T levels are usually self-taught.

I've contacted them three times in the last week and they have not yet responded. I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but I'm exhausted of having to fight for her inclusion all the time.

Bellyfat · 13/09/2025 10:47

TeenToTwenties · 13/09/2025 10:37

@Bellyfat Moving to level 2 sounds a great idea. Do something where the academics is well within ability whilst other skills catch up.

I've not heard that 'T levels are self taught' before, though I know research skills are needed.

Perhaps drop to level 2, but do the college open day rounds again and ask more detailed questions of course providers to see if some do more active teaching than others?

We did open days last year and asked the questions, they said they were confident they could support her. She worked hard and achieved the grades needed for the T level, she actually exceeded what she needed to get.
For me, being given the option for her to drop a level doesn't sound like a great idea. It feels like are not prepared to support a disabled learner in their classroom.
I'm so frustrated (not at you!) that in 2025 it's still not possible to have inclusive learning environments.

Borka · 13/09/2025 10:44

@Bellyfat have you been able to speak to anyone in the ALS team? They might have a better idea about reasonable adjustments. I don't think T levels are usually self-taught.

TeenToTwenties · 13/09/2025 10:37

@Bellyfat Moving to level 2 sounds a great idea. Do something where the academics is well within ability whilst other skills catch up.

I've not heard that 'T levels are self taught' before, though I know research skills are needed.

Perhaps drop to level 2, but do the college open day rounds again and ask more detailed questions of course providers to see if some do more active teaching than others?

Bellyfat · 13/09/2025 10:26

Having originally felt positive about the moving to college, the wheels came off this week and it's been horrendous.
I spoke with the tutor about my daughter (diagnosed autistic) struggling with the transition into college, and apparently because T Levels are mostly self taught no reasonable adjustments can be made.
Prior to this, I actually had no idea it was a 2 year self taught course. I'm not sure what the tutors do now apart from facilitate group discussion. Even more helpful, the course book isn't due to be published until next year.
Tutor suggested moving to a level 2 course instead as a way to support transition from school 🤷‍♀️

SuperTrooper1111 · 12/09/2025 11:52

sashh · 12/09/2025 06:44

Oh another tip. If / when you have to do some research and then analyse your results please find something you can say went wrong or was hard or could have been done better.

I can only give you so many marks and, "Everything went well" doesn't let me give you many.

Also if/when you are doing your research be realistic and focus on a particular angle. I've had students tell me they are going to research abortion for a level 2 qualification.

That is such a huge topic you could write multiple PhD theses. What you could do is ask people (and it would be interesting to include males) do you know how to access abortion should you want one?

Really helpful tip, thank you!

How are everyone else's DDs and DSs getting on?

sashh · 12/09/2025 06:44

Oh another tip. If / when you have to do some research and then analyse your results please find something you can say went wrong or was hard or could have been done better.

I can only give you so many marks and, "Everything went well" doesn't let me give you many.

Also if/when you are doing your research be realistic and focus on a particular angle. I've had students tell me they are going to research abortion for a level 2 qualification.

That is such a huge topic you could write multiple PhD theses. What you could do is ask people (and it would be interesting to include males) do you know how to access abortion should you want one?

SuperTrooper1111 · 11/09/2025 12:14

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 11/09/2025 11:30

Baffling is definitely the word @SuperTrooper1111

I spent a lot of Y11 being baffled by what exactly needed to be done for the L2 stuff.

What was useful was prying examples of top grade assignments out of the teacher and off the internet. But, we were lucky that the course followed the Pearson spec and quite a few schools did it and seemed to share resources on their websites.

I'm very stuck this year as DD's college is the only one in the country doing her course (that I have found so far) and I am struggling to find a spec. I am hoping Moodle will eventually provide everything we need, or that teachers will be sympathetic to my control freaky ways and hand over the details!

I hope you can get the details! I don't know if this is helpful, but I just asked ChatGPT to explain in very simple, teen-friendly terms, how to answer a Level 2 question to get a distinction mark, using an animal care topic as an example. I've copy and pasted it – it seems straightforward!

🎯 What “Distinction” Means
Getting a Distinction in your Level 2 Pearson work is like getting the top grade. It shows you haven’t just done the work, you’ve shown you really understand it, can explain your choices, and can look back and judge how well things went.

📝 What Makes a Distinction Answer?

  1. Answer everything properly
  2. Don’t skip any parts of the question.
  3. Make sure your work shows you’ve covered all the points.
  4. Explain your reasons
  5. Don’t just say what you did.
  6. Say why you did it that way, and how it helps.
👉 Example: Instead of writing “I observed the meerkats”, write “I observed the meerkats because I wanted to study their social behaviour and see how they interact with each other in the group.”
  1. Use examples or evidence
  2. Add real observations, data, or measurements to prove your point.
  3. Show that your choice wasn’t random, but based on something real.
👉 Example: “I counted the number of times each meerkat groomed another over 30 minutes. Meerkat A groomed 5 times, Meerkat B groomed 3 times, showing a pattern of social bonding.”
  1. Be clear and organised
  2. Write in order, keep it neat, use headings if it helps.
  3. Make it easy for the teacher to see you’ve done what was asked.
  4. Reflect (look back and judge)
  5. At the end, say what worked well, what didn’t, and how you’d improve it next time.
  6. Teachers love it when you show you’ve thought about your work.
👉 Example: “If I did this again, I’d observe for a longer period so I could see more interactions. I think my notes on grooming behaviour were accurate, but I could improve by recording vocalisations too.”

⭐ Distinction vs Pass Example

  • Pass answer:
  • “I watched the meerkats. Some of them groomed each other.”
  • Distinction answer:
  • “I watched the meerkats for 30 minutes to study social behaviour. I recorded how often each meerkat groomed another and noticed patterns of social bonding. Meerkat A groomed 5 times, Meerkat B 3 times. If I repeated the study, I would observe for a longer period and record vocalisations to get a fuller picture of their interactions.”

Distinction = detail + reasons + evidence + reflection.

Mini-Assignment: Observing Meerkat Behaviour (Distinction Example)
Task: Observe the social behaviour of meerkats in a zoo enclosure over a 30-minute period.
Distinction-Level Answer:
Over a 30-minute observation period, I focused on recording the grooming and interaction behaviours of the meerkats to understand social bonds within the group. I recorded the number of times each meerkat groomed another: Meerkat A groomed 5 times, Meerkat B 3 times, and Meerkat C 7 times. I also noted any chasing or playful behaviour, which occurred mainly between Meerkat B and C. I chose this method because recording frequencies allows for measurable, reliable data to identify patterns of social interaction. Using a table to log each behaviour made it easier to spot trends and compare individuals.
Reflecting on the observation, I noticed that some behaviours, such as vocal communication, were difficult to track without audio equipment. In future studies, I would include a recording device to capture these sounds and extend the observation period to one hour to gain a more complete understanding. Overall, my observations showed clear social hierarchies and frequent grooming behaviour, which supports the idea that grooming helps maintain bonds within the meerkat group.

✅ Why this hits Distinction:

  1. Covers all parts of the task – clearly records observations and identifies patterns.
  2. Explains why – justifies the method (measuring grooming frequency, using a table).
  3. Uses evidence – includes numbers for behaviours observed.
  4. Reflects and evaluates – notes limitations and suggests improvements.
  5. Clear structure – easy for the teacher to follow and see how each criterion is met.
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 11/09/2025 11:30

Baffling is definitely the word @SuperTrooper1111

I spent a lot of Y11 being baffled by what exactly needed to be done for the L2 stuff.

What was useful was prying examples of top grade assignments out of the teacher and off the internet. But, we were lucky that the course followed the Pearson spec and quite a few schools did it and seemed to share resources on their websites.

I'm very stuck this year as DD's college is the only one in the country doing her course (that I have found so far) and I am struggling to find a spec. I am hoping Moodle will eventually provide everything we need, or that teachers will be sympathetic to my control freaky ways and hand over the details!

SuperTrooper1111 · 11/09/2025 11:17

Hello everyone! It's been great to read how everyone's DC are doing so far. I'm going to go back and re-read all the comments about marking and assessments though, because I'm finding it all quite baffling. DD is being so diligent about writing up all her notes from every session and is working hard on one assessment she's been set so far – I'm going to have a look at it with her over the weekend (it's due in on Tuesday) to see if she has met the criteria, even though I'm not entirely sure what that is!

She's absolutely loving college life so far though. She loves the casual atmosphere and being allowed to wear her own clothes, also being able to leave campus in her breaks and calling the teachers by their first names. No sign of anxiety – it's like someone's stuck a pin in her and she's finally relaxed. Even the Tube strike hasn't rattled her – she's been getting up early to make sure she can hop on the Overground in time. She's also made a really good friend. We couldn't have asked for a better start, frankly. I feel quite teary just thinking about it, considering this time last year she'd just had an urgent referral to CAMHs.

swampwitch0 · 11/09/2025 10:24

Ds first full day today!
I absolutely agree that 16 year olds are not adults...thats been my only gripe so far with the FE college

TeenToTwenties · 11/09/2025 08:19

No they are not adults now.
That is the line the college spun to DD1 10 years ago when she had only just turned 16. It was disastrous.
Luckily DD2's college has far more sense.

Sisublondie · 10/09/2025 19:36

@NoMoreHotHols

Thank you, it is a massive change, certainly. I used to feel physically sick daily, waiting for DS to come home from school.

So, your son doesn’t need to resit ? It sounds perhaps this “ Extended Project” you refer to is the class my DS college run for those students who have no resits, either. They referred to it as studying to just keep up with Maths and English skills?

Oh, yes, I absolutely agree, three afternoons seems insanely little!! So, I have narrowed it down to my son 1.20-4pm ish on Monday, unsure about Tuesday and Thursday and a random hour on Friday am. I have zero idea as to what “ self study” he is meant to to do. He does a “project” to do in a team for next week, something circuit training related, but my attempts to ascertain precisely what, and to help, have been shot down in flames!!

“ They’re adults now “..?! Oh, no, no, noooooooooo!!! Not here, they are not!!! I’m so sorry that you are as bemused/ confused as I am!!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

swampwitch0 · 10/09/2025 19:26

@Sisublondie
Hi 👋
It's been an odd one!
Dd only had 3 hours today, then we attended a wake (!), and now at the first meeting of her hobby group after their (rather longer than normal) summer break.
She seems happy and enthusiastic...let's see how she feels getting up at 7am tomorrow 😃
How is your ds?

Sisublondie · 10/09/2025 19:25

TeenToTwenties · 09/09/2025 15:41

Ooooh!! I do not know!!! Thank you!, I shall see if I can find out…. that’s so kind of you 🙏😻

Sisublondie · 10/09/2025 19:23

swampwitch0 · 09/09/2025 19:32

Dd's first proper day tomorrow...
She seems ok. Difficult to tell with her, sometimes 🤞
Only 3 hours, though.
Dd got a 5 & 6 in maths and English so no re-sits...I do hope the government do something about the re-sit conveyor belt some kids find themselves on 😡😕

So….. how did it go?!?! 🤞🙏🤞x

sashh · 10/09/2025 06:47

Just a reminder to those of you email / phoning the college. Don't forget your young people will mostly reach 18 before they finish the course. At that point the Data Protection Act means that the college can't tell you anything without your 'child's permission.

I'm so glad there are all these positive stories, I'm a big advocate for BTEC as you have probably guessed.

swampwitch0 · 09/09/2025 19:32

Dd's first proper day tomorrow...
She seems ok. Difficult to tell with her, sometimes 🤞
Only 3 hours, though.
Dd got a 5 & 6 in maths and English so no re-sits...I do hope the government do something about the re-sit conveyor belt some kids find themselves on 😡😕

NoMoreHotHols · 09/09/2025 19:12

Sisublondie · 09/09/2025 15:31

Oh, no!! Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. What did you say to him? Were the college ok about it? I can imagine that if the older year group told him that, then he obviously believed that to be the case.

My DS passed maths but is having English Language remarked ( got a Grade 3). When I spoke with his college on enrolment day, they says that if his grade goes up, he will be able to stop the English resit classes but will have to do “support class” which is what students who have passed Maths and English still have to do? Perhaps your DS college is similar? Did he get Grade 4 and above us Maths/ English? Maybe his second years were confused in relation to this?

My DS is happy at the moment, but I think he is so relieved to be in a learning environment different to his secondary school ( badly bullied throughout), that that probsbly accounts for a lot! You said your DS has 11 hours, is that theory/written? I’m very confused. My DS has English resit 9.30-11am on Monday am, then nothing till 1.20pm. He is then in Tuesday and Thursday and an hour on Friday am. Been told 80% practical and 20% theory/ written. Beyond that, I have zero idea! He absolutely needs prodding ( but believes he doesn’t) so I plan to email his ALS / SEND contact and ask her for advice…..

How did yesterday go, apart from the English/ Maths? How are his hours spread out throughout the week? Did he manage to sort the sports academy clash out? 🤞

Oh, I’m glad your son managed to get away froma bad environment, I’m sure the change will improve his self-worth.
It turns out noone in his class attends the English and Maths session as they all have the required 4s/5s. I might email his teacher just to confirm but seeing how disorganised the college actually is. Timetables are still changing. :-) His 11 in class hours are Monday, Tue and Friday 1 to 5. Totally crazy to me, it’s barely anything. English and Maths on top and it appears as part of an ‘Extended Project’ - no classroom so I really don’t know what it is. Today they’ve been told ‘they’re adults now’… Yeah, I wish. 😁

swampwitch0 · 09/09/2025 18:19

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
Brilliant 👏