T levels or BTEC?

[CornishGem1975]

My DS needs to make a choice between taking a T level or a BTEC. I know T levels are relatively new however they are accepted onto a the degree course he is interested on (I've checked with the unis).

I am wary of the T level - mainly I guess because it's an unknown, but the similar BTEC option that is available at the college only gives the same UCAS points as 2 A levels, which means not enough to get into uni - anyone got any experience here?

If they did the BTEC Diploma (2 A levels size) then they would need to do an A level alongside or an additional BTEC certificate (1 A level size). Would they like the variety/is there anything else that takes their fancy?

If they are looking at uni are they OK at exams etc? I understand T-Levels are more exam and less coursework based?

Have they taught the T level yet or is it new this year?

Check how they are assessed in case that make a difference to you.

@TeenDivided Thanks. I considered that about A Levels but the college doesn't offer A Levels so we'd need to look to find somewhere else that could do it.

The college has just had its first cohort finish T levels and they seem to have done well, gone on to apprenticeships with good companies etc.

Following as a careers adviser has recently suggested this to dc.

they want a healthcare related apprenticeship- radiography, medical physics, but open to anything between that and nursing.

they’re not daft, but don’t enjoy traditional study. Want to get on with earning money while learning 😂

If it’s accepted onto the degree course he’s interested in then it should be fine.

The major risks are that it limits next steps, that the delivery isn’t great because it’s new and that there are issues with work placements.

students also have to fund their own transport etc for work placements if this is a concern.

I would be asking what the success rate is - how many students continue after first year? How many students finish the course? Nationally the picture isn’t great. What are the passing rates? What are the options if the work placement doesn’t work out?

Also worth bearing in mind that there’s no option to leave half way through with a qualification, so if it doesn’t work with him and he leaves at the end of Y12 to restart he’ll have nothing to show for it.

All good points @Bunnyannesummers I guess a BTEC is similarly limiting. I wish the BTEC was equivalent to the three A levels. We're going to the college next week so maybe I'll ask them about this in more detail. Whatever DS does, he needs to be able to go to uni or get a degree apprenticeship at the end so we want to get it right.

Is he not able to go somewhere else and do a BTEC extended diploma equivalent to 3 A Levels? It seems strange the college is only offering the smaller one, is it intended they're supposed to do an A level alongside?

@rabbithearted Unfortunately it's the only college that he can get to.

I agree it's strange, especially as they don't offer A levels but it's a college that also does degree level courses. The BTEC definitely won't be enough on its own as it's only about 8/9 units. I would have thought they'd have something so maybe something will come to light when we go in to see them.

They must offer something, otherwise the students doing the BTEC Diploma wouldn't be 'full time'. Though maybe they only offer it to students who are resitting GCSEs.

The plan was that the Extended Diploma BTECs would be phased out in favour of T-levels. I can see why somewhere wouldn't teach both.

They do one but not in the subject area he's interested in. Think computing but two different areas of specialism. The extended one just isn't of interest to him where as the T level content or the other BTEC is more relevant/appealing to the area he wants to go into.

With that choice I’d say T level.

If it was a 3. A level equivalent BTEC then I’d say BTEC. As can get paid work alongside. T level work experience could be unpaid. Do the college find the work placement?

The BTEC diploma will offer enough UCAS points to get into some degree courses if he does reasonably well. Worth checking with the university whether he specifically needs three grades or whether they'll accept the right number of points from a smaller qualification.

DS is going to do 2 different BTecs- one equivalent to one A level, one equivalent to 2.
We looked at T levels- the curriculum and work experience element are very attractive- but rejected because it was all graded on 2 final exams. The BTec approach is modular and mostly course work based and that suits him better.
I remember the T Level tutor saying, if you fail one exam, you have to resit both.

I guess it depends on whether the 'exams' are written or practical. If they are both written then I think that would be ridiculous. Whereas an exam that said 'fully service this vehicle' would be quite a good test (for motor mechanics, not so much for animal care!)

Are you based in Cornwall, and would your DS be doing this at the Cornish college starting with a T or a P?

If so, please feel free to DM me, but I would not want my child to do a T-level at those colleges at the moment. If not, feel free to ignore!

If OP is in Cornwall, I know students who travel 90 minutes each way to get the provision they want. Geographically, they simply may not be able to access the tertiary education they want.

Public transport in a lot of Cornwall is a bit crap, so you can be limited to the college (and it's often only 1 or 2, max 3 but one is quite a specialist agricultural college) that puts on a special bus from your town. Plus the cost of your bus pass can be very expensive.

There's also a shortage of places, so even if OP's son can physically get to the college, they may no longer have spaces. I know the college some students go to from our town (which is a long journey in itself) is oversubscribed this year- we had some students try to get a place after GCSE results, and if they hadn't previously applied they were turned away.

I'm sure it's similar in other rural parts of the UK.

I thought T Levels had replaced BTecs are they running alongside each other now?

One final point re T-levels in Cornwall is that Plymouth uni don't seem to accept them at all and Exeter will only accept them for very limited courses. Both accept BTECs widely. Obviously this may change in two years time (and it may have to if the changes to BTECs go through).

Most students don't want to pretty much rule out two of their closest university options at 16.

Funding for most BTECs hasn't been withdrawn yet. The current plan is for most BTECs to be phased out over the next few years BUT there are lots of issues with this, and the hope is that the government will listen and put this on hold.

At the moment, the last cohort for most BTECs will start in 2024 or 2025.

Some BTECs, particularly in the arts, I believe will remain long term as there isn't an equivalent T-level.

My worry about T Levels is that there won’t be enough employers to support the work based hours.
I would be asking questions to ensure there is stability.

Many students do 2 different btecs. Alternatively he could go to another college which does the extended diploma.

I would avoid the T level too tbh. If he can do the 2 AL equivalent BTEC plus one other AL or BTEC, even if the latter is in a subject he isn't particularly interested in, that would be a better option.

@Postapocalypticcowgirl Thanks very much for that explanation.

@Postapocalypticcowgirl My point was more that if they offer a 2 A level equivalent BTEC, surely they need to offer at least 1 thing that is 1 A level / equivalent?

Otherwise anyone on the BTEC won't count as full time and thus they wouldn't get funding for them. Whether it will be suitable or not is another matter of course.

Thanks all, we're off to college later today so will see what they say. I think I am swaying towards the BTEC route rather than T Levels. The college says there is good support from employers but it's just such an unknown and as has been pointed out, it's quite limiting. We're not in Cornwall but geographically we don't have another college that he could attend. Annoying that they don't offer A Levels.

If there is space, he could do an extended diploma, it's just not in the subject areas he's interested in and I'm worried that he'll just not engage with it if it's boring for him. But I'm starting to think he needs to suck it up, and that's what you get for not pulling your finger out and listening to your parents for the past 3 years.

All sorted. Opted for the Extended BTEC even though it's not perfect, it will give the most options for the future. Thanks for all the advice!

Hi, I am interested in this thread as my son has been offered a t level option in business administration and management. He was initially registered to go on the btec business studies course which I have been told is equivalent to 3 A levels.
The T level option does sound intriguing but what’s not clear is whether they find you the placement and is this guaranteed? The recent ofsted report had mixed reviews. What does interest us is the work placement option and the opportunity to get foot in the door on a full time apprenticeship. However, my son also prefers a coursework based assessment as opposed to exams that are a key feature of the T Level framework. We might go see the college next week for some more clarification but any further information around these points would be appreciated if anyone can add anything. Thank you