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.

It's ridiculous - what kid wants more busy work? It's basically punishing them for completing on time. DD's college don't even cap late submissions. Mine is now saying what's the point of doing assignments on time and using weekends and evenings to do them when the others just do them in class time in the summer term.

Great model for uni or the work place - complete on time and be punished with extra busy essays. Don't do anything and staff will handhold you through it in class time.

She doesn't like the travelling, change of routine, going anywhere that might be busy, etc.
We are thus returning to the same place as last 2 or 3 years ...

She doesn't like the travelling, change of routine, going anywhere that might be busy, etc.
We are thus returning to the same place as last 2 or 3 years ...

@Raven08First driving lesson!!! Whoo Hoo ( that always tickles me!!! How is she feeling about it?! My DS has epilepsy ( but well managed and thankfully weaned off meds now, but taking a longtime to get provisional). How exciting for you! ( oh, sorry, I mean terrifying!!!!! 😖! I wish you luck!!🍀)

Tour of…. Somewhere course related, I’m guessing?! In nearby city?! That could be cool! ( well, possibly not! You know what I mean)!
Tennis sounds good! When I win eurosquillions, I’ll be having a tennis court alongside my swimming pool. Well done chappie!
Read again about dearth of jobs out there for them. My DS’s job at my friends place of work has fallen through. His brother was going to ask at the NT place he works at during Uni holidays, but he’s off galivanting 🙀🙄 obvs!
So, how does this “ summer project” work, “ busy work”, what now?!
Yup, I’m with you re heat! Until I win my mansion, in which case I will be in one of my pools, sipping something cold, and knowing my poolside changing rooms are air conditioned.. which lead to my air conditioned pile……..😈😈😈🥳…!

Absolutely! 💯

@Sisublondie
Basically you finish all the assignments and then apparently you are supposed to ask the staff to set you a new one so that you are kept quiet and out of the way while others do the original assignment. But nobody is going to mark it

Ahhhhhhh, yes. I do know what you mean. We did the same for a few years with a place abroad .. the hotel had an “ autism” wing, ( can’t remember the proper translation) with a quiet pool away from the main part… so he could chill there .. It also helped with his knowing where he was going to, what the rooms would be like, and it was fab as one of the receptionists had lived in Surrey for few years, so her English was fab and she remembered him each year. Hopefully once she gets there, she’ll feel a bit more grounded and settled, and you have a lovely time 🙏💖 🤞 x

Oh, well, that’s is just bloody ridiculous!!! So, yes, where is the motivation to stay up late to finish assignments on time?! NONE! What’s the saying, it’s easier to be dragged down, than pulled up! Everyone should have to adhere to the deadlines!!

DS’s course has been quite strict. He has multiple assignments for each unit and if you miss a deadline (either the original or the resubmission deadline), you are capped at a pass for that unit. DS was late for a couple and it brought his mark down from Distinction star to Distinction. Next year he really needs to be a bit more organised. We’ve had far too many midnight finishes this year.

I’ve been surprised in general about how much work he’s had to do this year. It’s been really full on. He’s just finished the first year work but they’ve already been set some second year work to get ahead for next year.

Yes, that seems to be the case with some courses.. I heard of one where the student had access to assignments “ up front” and started completing them, only to be told to stop as they would have run out of work to do…..

I don’t know whether it is the exam boards, colleges or lecturers themselves who insist on sticking to the deadlines… it does all seem rather fluid!

Well done on the Distinction!! 🌟

I got hold of the 'rules' and it seems for our board that it's college dependent on what happens.
Some cap if you miss the deadline
Some allow multiple resubmissions
Some only allow resubmissions if you fail a module, not to be able to increase from a merit to a distinction.
Ours has no cap for late submission, but you can only resubmit once and only if you submit on time. Result seems to be that most don't do the work until after the deadline has passed.

To be fair, the assignments are actually pretty well thought out, although trying to work out what it is that they actually want you to do/answer needs a PhD in advanced cryptography. And they are a LOT of work.

It suits DD who finds exams impossible due to her dyslexia. But we definitely didn't consider that Term 3 wouldn't exist. I just wish they'd been up front with me in the Spring and then I could have packed her off for lots of work experience or something.