BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26 - part 2

[BTECnewbie]

New thread for those of us with DC doing vocational courses (and for those with DC looking for an alternative to A levels next year and looking for advice).

My DC is currently doing a level 3 extended diploma. He struggled academically at school and was pretty miserable in year 11. With a lot of hard work he got the grades needed for the level 3 BTEC and is now thriving at college.

Sorry to butt in but I have a question re BTEC assessment timings..!
My DC is starting a BTEC in business (double) and sport (single) in September at 6th form. He’s been given the opportunity to go on a once in a lifetime sports tour in 2027. At the moment the organisers can only say “it’s going to be sometime in June” which isn’t helpful!
Can anyone give rough timings of the end of year assessments / commitments for the first year so we can work out if it’s even going to be an option?
Thanks in advance 😊

Hi.
My dds year 1 course is finished (aside from a trip).
Its only the kids who didnt complete the woek who are still going in (but will be capped at a pass)
This is at an FE college though, 6th form may well be different

If you know the exam board, you should be able to check the dates any external assessments were on this year, which would give you an idea. Or maybe even your school would have those dates on their website (or ask them).
DC did neither of those subjects, but his external exams were all in May, assignments completed early June. His major commitments were up until May half term.
If there is a possibility of resitting maths or English, you would need to check the GCSE dates as well - they definitely go into June.
The nice thing about BTECs is you are working all the way along, which means there's no good time to go away but no terrible time either. I would say June, the later the better, might be an option.

Thanks! He’s moving to a different school for 6th form so we will email them but i think the lack of specific dates makes it slightly tricky.
Unless something really bad happened in the exams that DC hasn’t told us about, they shouldn’t need to resit maths and English!

DD's end of year presentation is on Thursday afternoon in a big marquee.
We're going to boil aren't we!

I'd like to go as they screwed up last year and had her name down under a lesser qualification which stressed us out as there had been some confusion which she was entered for.

At least my car is air conditioned for there and back!

Hope it goes well @TeenToTwenties

Just been cancelled. Probably a good thing in this weather.

Ah. Yes. Probably. Dd thinks her school might close early this week

All my DD's assignments were in by Easter holidays. The entire summer term seems to be dedicated to chasing those who didn't bother and making those who did and didn't get top grades do them again.
So you may find that if he does them on the deadlines that he misses absolutely nothing.

Evening all…. I’m finally back from my Mum’s and playing catch up….🙀😹…. Let’s see what’s been going on….🥳! ...

Evening @Sisublondie
I'm drinking peach iced tea and watching tennis from Eastbourne on iplayer ☺️
The heat is not doing me any good 🫠

Oh no, you too! Oh, it’s so sad, isn’t?! I totally agree, I’d swap in a heartbeat! I adore her, too…. She truly is the daughter I never had! I don’t know what to do as DS19 hadn’t really given much update, and contact is purely about whereabouts he is at the mo, what he’s doing etc. But her and I are still doing the Gen Z insta- thing, swapping our usual 🐩 and 🧘‍♀️ and funny stuff! So… I don’t want to raise it with her whilst she’s travelling, too ( I know she knows she can come to me for anything if she wants…. Ah, young love then un- love. Very sad. I hope your DS has bounced back with the “ talking to” situation!

Hows everything else?!

Helllooooo!!! Oooh, I’m glad to be home! Peach iced tea sounds glorious!!!!! Which tennis?! 🎾 I’ve tried to flick through… Swistek/ Navarro… is one of those a local ( not to me! I meant, UK!) lass??

The heat! Well, it’s a lot hotter in the Peak District here than at my Mums! Her house is near the beach, NW coast and it must be benefiting from sea air! The Motorways were not joyous.. plus, was driving an electric car ( not my beloved diesel Volvo) and I know AC lessens your “ range” so I had windows and sunroof down.. heat was making people cray-cray!!!! My sister lives in Paris …. So I can’t whine about my “ heat”, as she goes .. “ What?! Seriously?!?!” 😹😹😹😹

How are you coping?! Fans with the peach iced tea?! And, your DDs?! Where are we up to?!

Oh!! I forgot to say!!! It looks like DS HAS finished ?! Tho it was meant to be Friday 26th?! He’s certainly not been in this week, and proudly told me that he got a Merit!!! ( but grumbled it, as he is apparently gutted he didn’t get a Distinction! How much did I want to say “ Sweetheart… just look where we are compared to the hellhole of last year”!!! 🌟😹

Oh, no!!!! Both to last years hideous error and the cancellation! I’m so sorry! Is it cancelled, or postponed? Can you inform them of last year and ask them to rectify remotely? Your DD must have been so upset! ( and you, of course!)..

So, is your DD finito?!

Yup, I concur! I think that appears to be the situation nationwide for BTECs…..

Has your DD completely finished attending now?

It's ok. Last year she did end up with the right thing (the Diploma not the Certificate) it was just wrong in the programme/college certificate, but right on the official Pearson one when we got it eventually.
They are thinking of doing thus year's presentation next week, but we will be away.

Her supported internship is done, so no more college. But in Sept she is doing a part time studentship where she did her placement.

Evening @johnbsail! I pretty much agree with the others! Certainly in my experience, my DS was pretty much done by Easter/ May half term. All he did was did was pop in to help out with some 2nd years assignments and redo a couple of his completed assignments, by choice. His official last day of term in this Friday, but he has not had to attend at all this week, nor pretty much last week either.

I would say a huge yay to your DS having such an amazing opportunity! And I would think his college would probably be as supportive as possible in him having the chance to undertake it ( especially if he is going to be on a related course). I can’t see him missing anything at all if relevance! 🌟

No... another two weeks to go.
Me and management are having some interesting chats.
Not sure I will manage to keep her there till the end of next year, she is bored out of her mind with the slow pace and having nothing to do for last 9 weeks.

@TeenToTwentiesAh, gotcha! Yes, that is really confusing. It’s good that the official Pearson one is correct…stressful, tho, in the interim, worrying that a lesser qualification had been awarded in error.

Her part time studentship sounds excellent, she must be excited?!

That is such a shame about the presentation. But, I hope your DD is looking forward to your holiday ( I guess it is!)

Hmmmmmm. I can imagine the chats. Is she still having work set.. as assignments all done, so…..🤷🏼‍♀️.. just attendance for attendance sake?! Yes, I can see how motivating her to shlep into college is going to be hard.

You make a good point re the end of next year. DS’s girlfriend had just finished her second year on the same course. She seemed to be done at Easter, mostly.

I hope management are listening to your concerns. Are they insisting on her attendance, despite being finished assignment wise?

@Sisublondie DD isn't a great fan of holidays, but at least it is next week and not this one.

@Sisublondie
I have a cousin in France so I'm trying not to moan too much on SM!
It was 42 where she is today 😖
Dd has her first driving lesson on monday 😬
Going into college on friday for a tour of somewhere (sorry, brain melting, not working...)
Then another uni open day on Saturday.
She's applying for jobs but not getting anywhere 😒
I'm watching a replay of Mondays games at Eastbourne. The uk chap has just won 2nd set.
Dd is very fed up she finished in May. The summer project is just "busy work" so she's fairly fed up about that, too.
I'm envious of those that love the heat...I feel ill 😕

Full attendance mandatory and she finished everything before Easter with top grades. Ideal situation to stick a bright kid with ADHD with PDA tendencies in... le sigh!
Management are starting to realise that I am persistent and fobbing me off does not make me disappear.
It's taken me a long time to actually even understand that there is nothing planned for Term 3. It's disappointing.

Oh, absolutely! It’s funny, as I always ferl so sorry for people who are getting married, when it’s hideously hot! I can’t begin to imagine how stressful that would be, fancy dress and makeup wise!! ( funny old thing, my DH’s Dad and lovely partner/girlfriend of 40 odd years have decided to get married! Thankfully, also next week!) 😈😹!

I hope she starts getting a little excited. Is it the travelling, or just the “ change/ routine” that she isn’t comfortable with?