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.

Entirely depends on the course/path

There was a really interesting article on the front page of The Times on Friday.. “ GCSE reform aims to draw a line under endless resits”….

My friend’s DS has just received a 3 in English, but has already passed the Functional Skills…. Her description of how it is taken (can’t remember specifics, six parts? “Each broken down into parts, so he only had to remember certain amount at a time”), sounds preferable, in a lot of ways, for many students, ND or not…. in my opinion!

@Sisublondie
I think the DfE have to do something about post 16 maths and english entry requirements/expectations.
Its crippling post 16 provision (where I live, anyway...)
Imo if you've got a young person who has maths and English FS to do a vocational qualification, that should be acceptable.
Some kids, no matter how hard working or well supported, will never be able to achieve a 4 at gcse in English and/or maths.
I have dyscalcula. No teacher - no matter how good, and no matter how hard I worked - could get me to a grade 4.
It's ridiculous to keep putting kids through these hoops.
My dh has a cousin whose dd has taken English re sit 6 times. Gets a 3 each time.
Its had a terrible effect on her wellbeing/self esteem.

...I got a B in English and As in history and communication studies and law, along with Cs for the rest.
I actually got U for maths.
As did my sister - who now works in Finance 😃

English amd maths passes lowest since 2013...

Extended Diploma is equivalent to three A levels. Extended Certificate is roughly one and a half. Do check the actual qualification name!

The course/path is irrelevant though, isn't it? Virtually all employers in any field would want you to have maths and English passes.

Yes, it was extended certificate they offered, which tutor told us was equivalent to two A-levels.

Just saw that! Papers are also reporting Govt is now considered scrapping compulsory resits in maths and English.

@Sisublondie functional skills English is 3 parts, that can be taken and passed separately until all achieved.

The straight Diploma is two, Extended Cert is a weird halfway house one. Or at least it is in the subjects I course manage. You can check for yourself in the specification, if the qual gets a single grade then it's considered equivalent to one A level (even if the guided learning hours are more like 1.5) and if it's a double grade (e.g. Pass Pass) then it's two.

About time imo

But 1-3 IS a pass...

Yes it is. Unfortunately there's a snobbery about 1-3 passes and anything below 4 isn't taken as seriously.

Tutor said the Level 3 that DD could do at this stage having not passed science was definitely worth two only A-levels. DD"s now doing a year at Level 2 to get her GCSE equivalents.

I have very little time for Gove's actions whilst Education secretary.
Our young people are now reaping the bitter harvest of his ridiculous ideas.

I'd love to know how his kids did in their GCSEs and whether they were stressed up to the eyeballs throughout. One weaselly man's ego has got a lot to answer for.

Well.
They all went to private schools...
Goves "reforms" were always about undoing the great results of poor/wc kids in the much fairer continous assessment method.

But why? His upbringing was lower middle class – why stomp over the achievements of many in the same boat as him?

Tories gonna tory 🤷‍♀️

True story. Bloody Tories.

Thank you for this….. Yes, I met with the ALS team ( the lovely Carol said he could decide on which biscuits at their first meet!😺), that were there at enrolment and we gave them an outline of how the day had started with his
results. They were both very kind and let him talk, and chatted about what additional support he was getting/laptop/calm safe space, etc… They swapped emails and arranger made for him to meet with “Carol” very soon after starting ( hopefully induction week)..

But, I had previously called the college before the day, spoken to a few people, and a member of the safeguarding team called me back. “ Emma” said she would be his one to one mentor, but I don’t know how accurate this is/ will be. We chatted about his difficulties and she was most convened about his bullying, and said she would “ red flag” 🚩 this on his records. Incidentally, that is one comment he made before he went into a slump, how he was proud he had coped with the “ crowd” at enrolment ( busy, but was also a massive building, too), but the flip side being “out of, like 1000 students ( 🤷‍♀️!), I did not see ONE one from school. Score!”….. I also have been given her email, and I’ll contact her again now that he knows his results.

So, I hope I’ve dove everything I can at this stage? He has brightened up a little today, we went for a quick burger 🍔 at a local barbecue, and the fact he agreed to even go was astonishing! I’m hoping he’s starting to settle down into the changes that are happening….🤞🙏..

It’s really good that your DD has similar support. When does she start? How is she feeling?

🙏 for posting!

😹😹😹😹😹.. this tickled me!! 😻

@Sisublondie
All sounds very positive?

That sounds really encouraging - the meeting with the ALS team, him wanting to go for a burger with you and the fact he was proud of himself for navigating a busy enrolment day. Maybe he's at last seeing there's a path for him and his bullies won't be on it. DD's college sounds similar – you're not in London are you?! – with so many students but she found it okay too. She had a wobble when they said she had to start at Level 2 but now she's just really excited to get started. Her first day is the 3rd.