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.

@MotherMary14 The college are confident they will find something. But DD's mental health will be much helped by being with animals which is why we have been focusing on them. We gave them a long list at the start of term, and have said we will chat and give another non-animal related list after half term too. Also going to post something on facebook as who knows who might see that.
It is a shame she hasn't been well enough to learn to drive yet as that restricts (though we can drive her to a location, but some jobs require driving as part of the job)

A friend of mine in Northern Ireland was telling me about the transition year that's offered there, where kids can take time out after their GCSE equivalent and do a year of work experience and vocational learning before doing their Highers. Your idea sounds a bit like that! I think taster courses are an excellent suggestion.

The DS of a friend of mine seems to be doing something like that. He didn't get the grades for Level 3 and he seems to be doing a broad level 2 course, which keeps his options open to choose a level 3 course next year. She's happy with that (my friend) as DS had initially chosen a course she thought might not suit him, now he has a year to decide and if he does choose same course, at least he's more informed.

I think BTECs could be streamlined, I don't think T Levels are working as well as hoped (certainly in my area the work experience is a struggle to find) but I am kind of glad that we will be out of education before the V levels kick in.

With you on the MH + animals – we can see how our DD's is boosted by being surrounded by, and talking about, animals all day. Where are you in the country? You never know, some of us on here might be able to help. A FB shout-out is definitely a good call too.

The other thing about T-Levels that seems weird is they appear to be 16-19 only ? Is that right? So if you want to do vocational as an adult you still do BTEC?!

@MotherMary14
We are Romsey, Hants (so between Winchester and Southampton).
DD is at Sparsholt.

So yes If anyone knows anyone who can offer an animal loving 21 yo a placement as part of a Supported Internship, please contact me!

My DD didn't get the science grade she needed for Level 3 so she's doing Level 2 for a year first. While it's still the same subject (animal care), the gentler transition into the college style of studying has been a godsend for her. We're actually glad now she didn't go straight to Level 3 as I think she'd have struggled but now she should hit the ground running next year.

Small world – I was just at a wedding this weekend in Ringwood, Hants!

So presumably the college has tried places like Marwell Zoo?

I suspect not Marwell as Zoos tend to want/need people with a level 3. Though I had been thinking DD could maybe do entrance / retail there as it isn't too 'sensory' for her and she would have the space in breaks to decompress. Thank you for reminding me though, it will go on the list.

Welcome back, I hope you are feeling better after your break.

If other people had continued posting, or newbies had posted, then it wouldn’t have become a back and forth between two posters. No one else was making a presence to keep the thread alive, so it’s really unfair to criticise those that have kept a presence, and who ALWAYS chat to
everyone who posts, for that which is beyond their control.

I hope you have a.lovely day.

I shall do!! DS is safely off to college, ( according to DH, as DS didn’t pick up!!) so I have all day to explore and await the 👻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👻!!! I will update later!!

There was no criticism and I'm sorry you are taking it as such – it was simply an observation that the thread had gone down a different route and that's why I suggested starting another thread for anyone who wanted to just discuss practicalities.

Really hope they can find her something. Have you also heard of this website? It's the British & Irish Association of Zoos and they often list volunteer/WE positions and part-time weekend roles. My DD has secured two weeks of WE at Easter at a tiny local zoo we didn't even know existed until we looked on here!

https://biaza.org.uk/jobs

One of the things for DD is the 'aim' of SI is for the placement to have the possibility of actually turning into a job.
So spurred on by this thread, I have started a 'take 2' list of target placements.
She's not great at independent travel, so we have a limit of 30mins drive too (as that is 2hrs daily for us dropping and collecting.)

Looking for animal adjacent, or places that aren't too 'sensory'.
I have: Pet shops, Moles (countryside / agricultural / pet supplies shop), Marwell, and I am now adding in garden centres/nurseries.

I’m still here and watching the thread. I haven’t posted for a while as I’ve nothing to say. DS is still loving his course and working hard. The course is really quite strict and several kids have been kicked off due to poor attendance or not completing assignments. We had our first parents evening recently which went well.

DS is still a scatter brain and is working well on the content of the assignments but still struggles keeping on top of all the bits and pieces, eg remembering which bits he needs to resubmit etc. I’m trying to help him with this but he pushes me away a bit. I’m slightly nervous that he will work really hard but fail the entire course due to forgetting one tiny resubmission. However, hopefully college will send reminders before that point. Although could he get the merit mark but be limited to a pass overall due to forgetting to finalise one of the pass criteria. These are the things I am still a little unclear on.

For any newcomers thinking about BTEC next year, I would really recommend it. It’s been great for my DS, although perhaps more work than expected.

I haven’t read a great deal about the V levels but it does seem to be unnecessary. Refining the BTEC system would be my suggestion to the government. I agree that a 1 year taster BTEC covering several subjects for kids that are undecided would be a great idea.

It does seem to be quite leap from GCSE to level 3. DS is doing ok but he’s been surprised at the extent of the work. He’s spending far more time on it than he did for his GCSEs

Glad it is going well @BTECnewbie . It is good they are kicking people off the course too. DD got quite frustrated on hers by people who didn't really apply themselves / seem at all interested.

It's a shame your DS is pushing you away on keeping track. I used to keep a list with DD so we knew due dates, submitted, whether marked yet or needing resubmission. It helped us both!

I think if all the BTEC-detractors knew the work in a level 3 they would change their mind.

Yes I’m trying to do something similar with DS but he wants to be independent! I can see all the marks etc on a parent portal so I can at least see outstanding resubs. But then if I ask him if he’s done it, I just get a yes. I guess I’ll have to try to trust him more.

@TeenToTwenties sorry to hear your DD is struggling as well. It can be so hard for young people to get placements/part time jobs at the moment. So many business are unwilling to give them a chance. My DS has finally got a part time job but it has taken months and multiple applications. It was also a nightmare trying to get work experience in year 10. I don’t really have any advice as I don’t know much about your DDs field but perhaps it will come down to perseverance and eventually something will come up.

The slightly frustrating thing is all the talk about understanding MH, SN etc coupled with certain groups on MN being so negative about people not working.

But then balance against reality. My DD will need an employer willing to be understanding and a bit flexible at first (hence doing the supported Internship). But why would an employer take her over a 'fully functioning' young person iyswim?

You've just reminded me that we are STILL waiting for the login info for the parent portal. I attended an information evening where they said we'd be sent it but it hasn't materialised. I got the feeling from the info evening that they don't really give much thought to parents! But I really do want to keep an eye on making sure my DD submits the right work. Level 2 is obviously a lighter workload to Level 3 though.

I think yes, they would and particularly when it comes to working with animals. The beauty of this profession our girls have chosen is that they just need to show skill and ability to be able to care for animals – it's not a job that requires brilliant people skills! So as long as your DD demonstrates passion, commitment and a good work ethic, there's no reason why she would receive less consideration than someone who is NT.

Following on from what you just said about the nightmare of work experience @BTECnewbie , one of the best things the Govt could do to get more young people on a vocational path is to lower the age requirement to start work instead of keeping them in education until 18. We found quite a few companies couldn't accommodate DD16 for WE because of employer liability insurance only kicking in at 18. There are so many kids who have done so well in life after leaving school at 16 and going straight into jobs.

Yes they can be very reluctant to take on under 18s. Where we live it’s almost impossible to get a supermarket job under 18 as they don’t want to supervise the sale of alcohol (this never seemed to be an issue when I was young as another person would just come over to approve). Also a lot of the fast food restaurants are open 24/7 and want people who can do shift work. So hard for young people to get a chance even if they have no additional needs.

My DS has finally got a job with a well known fast food restaurant who have been willing to give him a chance and train him up.

DD absolutely loving her course and the college. Adores her tutors, seems to have friends and is also ramping up extra curriculars after college.

I'm feeling twitchy over the difficulty in understanding EXACTLY what is required on her course (only her college run it and it doesn't fit neatly in a box).

In particular after I asked for her paper back for the BTEC L2 she did at school so I could see where marks were lost and there appears to be nothing in terms of mark breakdown or even a paper where you can see... or at least school isn't saying they have anything of the sort.

Also the case that while she is doing a huge amount of work, it's work that she would be doing anyway because the course, her main hobby and what she wants to do in life are all one and the same. And most of it is practical so nothing on paper that I can stress over (if that makes sense).

Tutors all seem to be very happy and are pushing her hard and giving her lots of extra opportunities and stuff that sits outside the course remit, so I am guessing that everything is going well. Her only complaint is that she's only in 3 days a week not 5...