Question about BTEC levels

[AgualusasLover]

DS was under the impression that he could do BTEC level 3, but has just been told he will have to do level 2 followed by level 3.

Looking at the sixth form website for Level 3 it says you need:
BTEC level 2 + maths and Eng at 4

But the video that accompanies it says:
BTEC level 2 equivalent to 3 GCSEs

He has 7 GCSEs at grade 4 which our school says is a pass.

Does he really need to do a qualification that is going to effectively provide him with 3 more of what he already has? (Plus add an additional year).

We both read it as you need level 2 or at least 3 GCSEs at grade 4 inc maths and English to do level 3?

He will clarify with the school on Wedn at induction and sort it himself either way, but just wondering if we are misinterpreting the available info.

Obviously, he will have to actual do whatever they tell him, we aren’t attempting to flout any rules.

My DS is about to start a Level 3 BTEC with similar results to yours. I took it that the Level 2 was for those that need to resit core subjects alongside their new course but I could be wrong.

Is it because there is no space on the L3? Or are there additional higher specific requirements for the L3, like a 5 in science, English or maths?

Ex BTEC teacher. If he's passed Maths and English Language and has 5 other passes, a level 2 BTEC is not appropriate. What's their rationale for putting him on Level 2?

She said he didn’t qualify for level 3, but the requirements are:

4 in maths/English which he has
BtEC level 2 but that is 3 GCSEs so weird to need this

I actually think the teacher had just confused his results because she is pretty remarkable and though there are other members of staff she is the go to, but just wanted to check if we were just not understanding what it says on the website.

Ah @Felixinthefactory thanks for clarifying. I think it’s just confusion, but it’s caused him to get upset all over again. That’s reassuring, he will hopefully just be able to speak to her on wedn and sort it out.

DS1 did a BTEC and did level 2 the first year and level 3 the second year.

I think level 2 is like AS level and to get full A level equivalent you need to complete both years

Hopefully just confusion.

Often it is either GCSE requirements or the previous level btec at a certain grade plus requirements on maths&English.

Yes, that is how we understood it @TeenToTwenties

His friends are certainly going straight to level 3 with broadly similar profiles.

Hope you can get it sorted.They may have higher requirements e.g. for maths if it's computing/science related, (but that should be clearly identified in entry requirements). I'd be inclined to look at other 6th form options if that's the case.
If he really wants to stay at school, doing a level 2 will only stand him in good stead for Level 3 next year and will probably result in him coming out with higher Level 3 grades as he'll be used to the format/how marks are awarded as well as having a good foundational understanding of the subject. So not all bad.

My daughter is just about to start an extended BTEC level 3 and she got 1 x 6, 6 x 4, 1 x 2 and a BTEC (I think) in horticulture but she doesn't know her result for that as it wasn't on her transcript.

The course requirements were 5 GCSEs at grade 4 including maths and English. The normal level 3 BTEC needs 2 x GSCES with English and either maths or science.

My local college ask for 4 grade 4 GCSEs including English and Maths to take a level 3.
The local school asks for an APS of 3.7 (8 highest GCSE grades divided by 8).
I would be very surprised if your son was not allowed to take a level 3.

The requirements very clearly state 4s for Eng and Maths (and across the board).

I think it’s an error.

Make sure you call them and make sure. Otherwise induction will be stressful going from one place to another trying to find out what course he should be on.

She said she will speak to him on Wedn and he will go and find her and he is armed with the info and I’ve told him to ask her to clarify or reword if he doesn’t understand the rationale, and that he can call me with her if necessary.

There would be no point in doing a Level 2 course with those grades. Level 2 is meant to be equivalent of GCSE so as he's passed his GCSEs he needs to move up to Level 3.

My son has slight learning difficulties and got grades 1-3 in his GCSEs and is being put on a Level 1 course with the (slight) possibility of moving to Level 2 in the first few weeks if he does well. I think Level 1 is right for him personally. But when we went to open evenings etc we were told that if he got Grade 4 in maths and English plus two or three more Grade 4s that would qualify him for a Level 3 course. So your son's teacher must surely have got confused.