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.

@TheForgetfulCat That's such a good question! I always assumed either English counted. Otherwise why make them bother doing both.

I think either English subjects should count for every requirements.
My older dd got an 8 for lit and a 5 for lang. It was ok as she got the 5 but I thought it would have been such a waste of time and resources to make her redo it if she got a 4.
A 4 is a pass, so what's the issue??
rants

entry requirements

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding

Section 6 4. As far as government is concerned either langbor lit counts for funding.
(However, employers may not take the same view.)

@TeenToTwenties thank you! That’s very helpful. Well, let’s see what Thursday brings. Poor lamb, she is already wanting to open them in the car because ‘all her friends’ are saying they’re stressed but are going to get 8s and 9s. I think this might be a teenagers definition of ‘all’ her friends, but even so :(

Hello.

DD has a conditional offer to study a T Level Health in Midwifery. We have been told they are the equivalent of 3 A Levels with the added bonus of placements for that extra experience.

Dd is doing a 2 year btec diploma in an arts subject.
Its equivalent to 3 x A levels.
There is also an option for a 3rd year foundation degree course which would be funded.

Hi everyone, how’s everyone feeling today? DD is quite calm considering and just said she’s trying not to think about it - I can imagine she might get more nervous as the evening goes on though. She’s just worried about Eng Language, so fingers crossed she gets a 5 or they let her do the btec whilst resitting it.

Dd seems ok.
It's been a rough few months for her. I just hope she gets what she needs.

My DS did two single BTECs and an A level and got D*DB after a very average set of GCSE grades. The way of working REALLY suited him although the lecturers did have to do some prompting to keep him organised I think. Two separate ones sometimes meant clashing deadlines. He went on to take a degree in one of the subjects which was structured very similarly, continual assessment in lots of different formats with only one proper exam so he was able to hit the ground running having worked that way for two years already.

Hi everyone, DD1 got what she needed for college. She’s enrolled on the level 3 extended BTEC in Sports and Exercise Science which is slightly different from what she originally said but I think it will be really good for her. Hope everyone else got what they needed.

My DS also got what he needed and will be enrolling later today. Huge relief here.

Dd got great grades - far more than she needed - so she'll be enrolling on her btec next week 😊

DD also got what she needed for her Level 3 in Animal Management! We were worried about her passing maths and needing to resit but she got the required 4. Her enrolment appointment is first thing tomorrow morning, can't wait!

DS also got better than he needed, he's enrolling on his photography diploma tomorrow. He's so pleased to not be going back to school for 6th form!

Delighted to hear that. Which type of animals are her favourites? DD favours dogs and cats, small mammals and reptiles. Relatively less keen on paddock, zoo or birds.

She loves reptiles and small mammals but her favourite is big cats/dogs. There's a wolf sanctuary in Bavaria that she would love to work at!

Thank you OP for thread

Being a dinosaur who did Olevels 40 years ago I don't really understand BTECs at all (!)

DS is 1 year into his Sport Level 3 - he has ADHD, dyslexia and tracking issues. BTEC curriculum seems to suit him and he gets on well with course Tutors.

Their prediction for him is DDM (?)

• obviously I would be thrilled if he achieved this - they seem very confident throughout year 1.

In his sat exams he has P, M,M

Awaiting to see Tutors in September to discuss as only have grade (no raw scores or anything) - there was a note to say not everyone needs to retake as it may not be worth it ? Is that because corse work could push the overall grade to a D ?

My other Mum concern is that he has no idea about what to do next ....

DC will be doing 2nd year of BTEC Foundation diploma from September. After completing this willing to do apprenticeship. Last year completed first 4 units and achieved PPM so I am concerned. Is on mild ASD. What are their options? Doing a lot of voluntary work and good Work experience.

Thanks for the link to this thread.

Ds did BTech drama and got a D. Rest of his GCSEs were not good, he's going to have to resit maths. The coursework and being kept on track by his teacher definitely suited him in drama.

He's enrolled to do level 3 BTech performing art, BTech in applied science and 'A' level in media studies. He didn't achieve the minimum stated to get on the latter two courses (need 4s in science, maths and English) which is a worry. It's a lack of application rather than ability or knowledge that is the problem.

Will need a significant attitude shift for him to do them in all honesty.

@Anxiousthoughts
Sometimes it's a maturity thing ime.
Hopefully he'll realise he needs to apply himself

It's absolutely a maturity thing and it worries me that I can't expedite that iykwim?

DD got better grades than she needed so that’s a relief. Enrolment is next week 🙂

Bit unsure as to whether DS is on the right course after enrolment today.

He passed English, maths and science and got a 7 in DT but has been put on a level 2 engineering diploma even though he had the grades for a level 3.

Spoke to the course director who said it would be best so he gets a year of practical engineering experience under his belt and then can move up to level 3 next year or do an apprenticeship if he chooses.

It made sense at the time but now doubting whether I should have pushed for a level 3. Any advice welcome.

DS has just finished his BTEC level 3 extended diploma in Sport and Exercise science. He achieved DDD and is off to university in a couple of weeks.

if you have any questions about how the course is structured, feel free to ask.

I would definitely recommend downloading a copy of the specification document from the Pearson website. It gives clear details about everything you need to know and include in coursework assignments. I’d also recommend buying the Pearson revision guide and workbook (if you haven’t already).