BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

[BTECnewbie]

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.

Re managing assignments.

We kept an ongoing paper list with
Unit name, due date, topic, and progress.
Eg 3/14 questions estimate 5 more hours to complete. Plan do in class, finish next weekend. (Or. Need help / need more teaching etc)

We went through the list every weekend and DD took more and more 'ownership' of knowing status, scheduling etc.

Ticked off when submitted but stayed on list until passed in case resubmit needed.

Just catching up, seem to have missed a lot since last night!

Need to read in full, but on skimming, looks like a huge 🙏 to those who have set out how we ( ND/SEN parent) and DC need to be on top of this from the start. I have no idea if DS knows this, but, given exams clearly were a stress I never want either of us to revisit…..🤷‍♀️🙀🙄🤯…

Does anyone have any experience of Level 3 Public Services ? DS chose it, he wants to go into policing.
I have tried to find any spec since @swampwitch0 kindly gave a heads up! Getting mixed with Uniformed and Protective Services spec at Pearson. Complicated by fact, that at enrolment the sign said “ Uniformed and P…. “SOMETHING”.. Services ( on a normal day, I’d have registered it, but was trying to keep it together for DS, so only remember a glimpse).

Anyway! Public Services.. does anyone have any experiences, please? I think I’ve googled all I can and panic is bubbling! Thanks in advance🤞🙏!

@TeenToTwenties

I’m so sorry to hear about your DM… sending positive thoughts and 🙏💕……x

@TeenToTwenties
💕

@MamaElephantMama

Just posted a long one to you, just checking its posted as was glitching…..

Hey, I’ve no idea what happened with my earlier reply ..

I am so so sorry you have both been put through a needless and wholly unacceptable traumatic time enrolling. I echo @SuperTrooper1111, and I’m afraid the lawyer part of me would mix with the furious parent part and I would absolutely be making a formal complaint asap.

There is a reason establishments who behave in such an appalling way get named and shamed on social media by livid parents…. I’m not a poster on instagram or FB, but I have friends who would be all over this. Precisely what message it sends out to students like your DD who have worked hard to gain their places and are so excited to enrol, baffles me!

Sorry to rant! 🙄 . I really hope your DD flourishes on the course she is now enrolled on, and this memory fades and it turns out to be an unexpected change for the best 🤞💕🤞…

I'm going to print this off to keep! Thanks @TeenToTwenties – your input on this thread has been invaluable.

There's so much useful info on this thread. Thank you to all of you who have been through it before and given us useful tips. My daughter enrolled on results day but apart from her lanyard being used on the day, we have received no communication since. Should we have received a confirmation email to confirm her course in writing? Or do they wait until the end of this week? She starts on Monday.

DS has had no confirmation in writing but has received his lanyard so I assumed enrolment was successful and he is on the system..

Dd got her lanyard and induction days info
She then got an email yesterday to confirm and agree to their t&cs

Also waiting for enrolment. Term doesn't start until next Wednesday (he's likely not in then anyway as it's traditionally the day for maths/english resits) but we'd love a timetable.
Went through this two years ago with DS1, think the college is sorting stuff out right until the 11th hour.
(My only worry, as DS did all the enrolment himself is that he's forgotten to tick some box accepting a place)

I've had an email from school re: possible re mark for drama.
Dds not too bothered either way.
I'm keen to know what days she's going to be in college, but we won't know until next Wednesday.

@TheFunSponge My DD got her lanyard when she enroled and also a booklet that had a QR code on it – when she tried it yesterday, it had details of her induction day on Thursday.

We had 3 separate emails checking she was definitely accepting her offer before results day; then one saying enrolment was now on results day (having said it wasn't at both the Open Day, and the New Starter Day).

We've been to enrolment, have a log in to the online portal (not much on there yet), but haven't had an email confirmation yet... and this thread has just made me realise I should have probably chased that up!

I did some upside-down reading at enrolment so we are pretty sure we know which days she is in... but no idea of times yet. Term starts on the 8th, but next week is apparently induction.

Personally I am looking forward to getting some peace and quiet... lovely as it has been to have her at home, I am sooooo ready for term time.

Thanks everyone. That sounds reassuring then. She received a sheet with her induction times and what to bring and we sat down with staff who inputted everything on the computer. Fingers crossed it's just the college completing the week before sending confirmation out.

DD has always been in for 4 days due to maths and english, but some of those days have finished at eg 2.20. I know they do run some groups of level 2 courses on 3 full days if no resits required. Some gaps in timetable. On her level 1 and 2 courses there has been some class time for assignments, with level2 requiring more work at home.

I think dd applied, got an offer and was accepted, all on the same day, all done online.
I think she feels its dragging now...
The wait, then elation on results day...it's like she's slumped a bit.
She's at work tomorrow which will keep her busy.
Dry run on public transport planned for monday...

Mine enrolled today on Level 3 Health and Social Care - slight moment of worry as she has grade 3 maths, but they were happy to enrol at level 3 with a resit alongside.

One of dds friends missed a 4 in maths by 1 mark 😔
She's distraught.
I pointed out to dd that, at 1 mark away, its very likely she will pass in November.

1 mark away! Heartbreaking.

I know..I'm gutted for her

1 mark away? That's a shame but very promising for November.

She should ask for a regrade.

This moved me to tears. What an absolute joy! Rooting for your boy. ❤️

@SuperTrooper1111
Dd says the maths hod has phoned her friend - not sure what that means wrt remark...