Can someone direct me to information about BTecs please? I've tried, but it makes my head go round and round...

[Hakluyt]

Ds will be going into year 9. He has chosen his options, which include 2 BTecs, one of which he will complete in year 9 and in in year 10. I though we would get more information - but all I have is a list of the subjects he will be doing.I am sure they will tell him more at school, but I do like to be ahead of the game! Is there a Guide to BTecs for Idiots anywhere?

What subjects?

Are they engineering based subjects?
Is he going to a college to do them, or at school?

Sport and Performing Arts (pretty complementary subjects if the World Cup is anything to go by!)

No- he'll be doing them at school alongside GCSEs.

I teach BTEC Performing Arts. What do you want to know?

You can find the specifications on the edexcel website here

I can answer any questions you have about PA though.

I'm not sure about the levels, for a start. Will it be the BTec First he'll be doing? And how will he be doing it in a year- they all look like two year courses to me.....

I think BTEC can be regarded by some as an easier option - no exams and chance to have a few goes at the coursework. My son has just finished the Sport BTEC. One college he had an interview at were glad he had done BTEC Sport rather than GCSE as he already had an idea how BTECs worked

Meant to add my son's school there was not the option of GSCE or BTEC for sport, I would imagine that performing arts would work well as BTEC.
Unless things have changed if you go sixth form college to do 'A' levels BTEC grades are taken into account when working out grade average from GCSE results

In DCs comp the BTEC weave seamlessly into the GCSEs
all of the specs are online
the monitoring will guide you over the next two year

Levels - Pass = GCSE Grade C
Merit = GCSE Grade B
Distinction = GCSE Grade A

Level 1 = GCSE Grade D

It will be a New Generation BTEC first - on the website, you want BTEC Firsts and then the ones which specify from 2012.

In terms of the timing, there are specified learning hours - it's possible to do it in a year as long as the school can prove they're giving it the correct number of hours.

The new generation BTECs are more difficult. There is an external assessment (practical exam for Performing Arts, written exam for Sport) which makes it trickier. Edexcel are very keen to get rid of the "Mickey Mouse qualification" label, and have, IMO, gone a bit OTT. Teachers are no longer allowed to show students how to move to the next level of achievement but are only supposed to give generic advice. It's highly frustrating.

There is plenty of info on the edexcel website. If you have specific questions, do feel free to PM me.

Eviltwins - do you teach BTEC? My son is hoping to do level 3 extended in September. Induction evening for parents didn't mention exams?

No exams at Level 3 yet - I think changes are on the cards but not for at least another year so it won't affect students starting in 2014. At Level 2 they've put external assessments in to keep Gove happy.