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.

@crumpet
instructions for projects can be quite high level - and there are no guides such as CPG revision guides which help to better understand A level requirements

THIS.
I (and some other parents) found it hard with the L2 BTEC to work out what was actually needed for some modules... and that was with it being Pearson who are quite good at publishing the spec.

Understanding what you need to do, and what needs to be included is not always easy, and you need everything and more to get the top grades.

Hey, welcome!!!

My DS also started BTEC in Public Services this week 😸… and, yes, I absolutely agree, it is overwhelming as I don’t really know anything about it, at present- other than he is in college Monday, Tuesday and Thursday!

It is helpful knowing the hours you set out that your DS has…. I did not know how they are broken down, so I will ask my DS when he gets home, and let you know what the make up of his lessons are.

As regards the sports, I know my DS had an outdoor based Induction week, and one of his lecturers ( do we call them that?! 🤷‍♀️!?) is serving military so quite sports based.

Well, it’s lovely to have you join us! We can get to know how to get through this all together 😸…!

@swampwitch0

Only TWO early morning starts a week!!!! Whoo- Hoo (😹!)!! Oh, excellent news! So, what days are those?
Is Wednesday going to be weekly, 2.5 hours?

I’m sorry Older DD sad about BF going….. I felt terrible the other night.. DS19’s GF was upset now he has gone to Uni ( she goes next week) and weepy, and I was agreeing how sad it is…. Then! I read some thread on here about evil MIL and always “ making it about themselves” over the son/BF!!.. 😳🙀🙄…. I hope she feels better soon. I’ve been giving advice to get a date booked to next meet, if possible, to have “ something to look forward to”…….. ( whilst enjoying Freshers Week!!! 😹!).

Not good as to project… well, good if you are DD’s lucky friend!! That’s really lovely of her .. I hope it gets finished soon……. 🤞., and they have a bit of a laugh doing it!

I will dig to see if we get a parent portal!

I’m really sorry that you’re feeling tired and fed up…. What is your weather like? It’s gone sunny here… Can you escape outside for a bit of Vit D, or think of something like a really good movie or TV series you fancy watching, or favourite treat “ snicky snack” as I call it, and plan that for later ( if you manage any DD downtime?).., in the meantime, sending of a huge 🤗….x

Eeeek! Ok, thank you for the heads up!!! I def need to be helicoptering DS here, otherwise it does NOT bode well…

🙏

First of all, thank you SO much for the heads up, here! I know zero about BTEC, but learning!!

But, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on such amazing results!!!!!!! And off to UNIVERSITY!!!! 🌟🌟🌟!!!!!
You must be SO PROUD!!!! Have they just gone?
(My DS just left for Edinburgh.. weird without him).

Thank you for your story of success!!! 🥳

Yes, it was quite the learning curve to understand the scoring.

Scoring is based on pass/merit/distinction.

For example it was entirely possible (this is just made up for illustration) for the specific elements of a single module to get 6 distinction marks and one pass mark (ie out of 7 elements for that module) which would mean the entire module was classed as “Pass” only, even though everything else was at distinction level - it really is all or nothing, and no scope, in that example to get a merit in that module.

it might work slightly differently for different courses so if you can get a handle on how it works for your particular cases it would really help.

Oh, how is yours finding it?
I ended up calling the college who said he’d missed his English and Maths lessons this morning. He says the 2nd years told him he didn’t need to attend as he’s got the grades.
That conversation didn’t help. I’m not sure my son is mature enough for this level of independence.

Oh, that sounds like a very unfair scoring system.

It is what it is. To get a Merit you have to meet all Pass and all Merit criteria.

Often things build, so a Pass criteria might be describing something, the Merit might want you to explain, and the Distinction to analyse.

Some assignments may not have any distinction criteria, that is OK. But if you want distinction for a unit you have to meet any criteria that are there for the assignment iyswim.

This is pretty much the format of most assignments at BTEC.

Describe, explain and analyse.

It's worth having a look at the spec and crossing off the words as they appear in the assignment.

Depends on the level to some extent. For level 3 it's usually Explain, Analyse and Evaluate. Which often trips up students progressing from level 2 because they think they can still get away with Describe for a pass, and they can't.

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? 🤞

Crikey!!! This marking system is scary!!!! I can’t seem to even find his spec online?! I am going to email his ALS/ SEND contact as he is on this “ provisional” 6 week trial, which is terrifying me! The excitement of being in a “super cool” environment, where he can be himself, and walk the corridors without having things thrown at his head, or being verbally and physically abused is excellent!!!, but I don’t want him to lose sight of the fact he has to learn, too!

How is everyone else doing?! Today’s new starters?! 🤞😸

@Sisublondie Is this the course? BTEC Nationals | Uniformed Protective Services (2020) | Pearson qualifications

DS has about 15 hours teaching time for his BTEC spread over 3 days (2 very long days plus a morning). He got a 4 in English and a 5 in Maths and there has been no mention of studying them any further.

DD just finished second full day... and seems to be a very happy bunny so far.

Likes all the staff and all lessons gone well so far. And seems to have plenty of potential friends.

Having been thrown by the last minute timetable change she is now very happy with it.

Sooooo relieved.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
Brilliant 👏

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. 😁

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 😡😕

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.

So….. how did it go?!?! 🤞🙏🤞x

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

@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?

@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!!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

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.