BTECs at college - Support thread 2

[TeenAndTween]

Following on from the 2015 thread to inform and support each other through the ups and downs of BTECs. Mainly aimed at y12/13 level, but BTECs alongside GCSEs more than welcome too. Plus anyone just considering BTECs and wanting information.

What I learned last year:

You have to hit the ground running as the very first piece of work may well count towards your final grade

DD's course has 3 options like this.

Subsidiary Diploma - 9 units (1 year, 9 units (5 units, then 4 more))
Diploma - 12 units total (2 year, 6 units each year)
Extended Diploma 18 units total (2 year, 9 units each year, 5 in first half of year, 4 in second half)

DD is doing the Diploma (2 A level equivalent), but the college ensures that they do all the 4 'compulsory' units in the first year so if someone drops out they can still qualify for the Subsidiary Diploma (1 A level equivalent?).

You pretty much have to pass every single unit in order to pass the whole thing. There are limited opportunities to re-submit, but there are some. The Pass criteria for DD's course are quite straightforward (if you can structure things properly which DD struggles with). The Merit criteria are harder, and the Distinction criteria need a good level of analysis (that DD doesn't have).

Each unit is made up of a number of Pass, Merit and Distinction criteria. To reach each level you have to meet all the criteria at that level. So if on your first assignment for a unit you miss a Merit criteria, you can't get higher than a pass for the unit (as far as I understand).

Each unit gives you a number of Points. For DD mainly it is 70 for a pass, 80 for a Merit and 90 for a Distinction. To Pass the whole thing she would need 12x70 points - 840, equivalent to EE A level grades. To get CC equivalent she needs 920 minimum. To get AA she would need 1000 points.

DD has up to 3 teachers at any time, each teaching a unit. They teach a bit, and then set an assignment. For a week or 2 they don't teach in some lessons and they use the time to get on with the assignment. Then more teaching and second assignment. Around 4 assignments per unit.

What you don't have to do is 'extra' exam practice, question practice etc. So all work is pretty much set. The students don't have to work out extras. (However exactly what is required for some criteria is about as clear as mud, and DD seems to get little/no feedback on assignments to help her improve for future ones. Sometimes there seem to be implicit requirements that DD doesn't catch on about.)

Disclaimer. I don't know if all BTECs are like DD's !

A couple of useful tables for reference:

Table showing UCAS points

A level equivalent UCAS

And finally the Pearson BTEC site from where you can find specs, unit descriptions, and pass/merit/distinction criteria.

(Praying for less of a roller-coaster this year).

Mirabelle Things calmish here, thanks for asking. DD is in a panto this month so worked over Christmas to get up to date on assignments. First set of units finish this month so we'll see whether she's ended up with any merits at all.

She is thinking of doing a childcare apprenticeship after college so after the panto I'll need to help her set up a meeting at local nursery to see what it would really involve so she can make an informed decision, as we don't want it to be like this BTEC and surprised at level of written work required. There seem to be quite a few apprenticeships in local area, so should be doable by car / public transport.

HSM Dance v psychology is quite a difference. Hope she gets the applications in on time, after all they don't commit her to anything.

I'll be glad if we survive 2017 really. It's going to be a massive year for DD1.

Yes fully get that about not wanting it to be like the BTEC, they were a shock to our system. That's good that she has come up with something she is interested plus there are some locally. It is a hard time this transitional period to the next step - definitely hard on the parents.

Hope the mocks go well HSM. How do you feel about her not going to Dance College? I did psychology which is interesting, it's just finding a way forward with it.

DD is hoping to get onto the Art Foundation Diploma at her old school. She went out to college to pick up work last week and her tutor was trying to recruit her so I hope that bodes well. But she really doesn't want to do the commute and I drive to her old school each morning si would be much better.

T&T have a look at the pros and cons of doing a childcare apprenticeship, or doing NVQ3 childcare.

Mirabelle, I'm a bit sad about her not doing dance if I'm honest. She loves to perform and I love to watch her. I remember you saying before that you did psychology. Dance college was promising to be a major financial obstacle mind you.

So this apprenticeship would be a Level 3 Early Years Educator.
Is that different from your NVQ L3 Childcare?

I can't get my head round this.

But she would definitely want apprenticeship not a college based course. What I am concerned about is what level of additional writing work would be required, as opposed to showing competency by doing.

T&T maybe they've morphed into the same thing now

I don't know T&T but could the difference be that the Early Years Educator be more aimed at children at Playschool who are doing the nursery curriculum (that thing with stepping stones or was it footsteps, probably all changed) versus childcare being the little ones?

One thing I'm picking up from friends is that there can be quite a difference between different companies as to how they treat their apprentices. I'm not sure though of the questions you can ask to ascertain this .

HSM it does sound a little sad as a lot to be said for following something like dance whilst young but she sounds like she has her head screwed on and will find her way forward.

Well our btec is due to be finished on 1st February apparently. This will give her time to concentrate on her 2 a levels. It's been a long road, but I feel a bit weird that it's coming to an end.

Well, we are half way through the year now, how's it going?

DD is plodding along, helped by a trip to Iceland where they saw the Northern Lights, much to her delight. She can still just get Merit for the year, but there's no slack or wiggle room, so I'm not holding by breath.

Driving Theory retake next week over half-term. Fingers crossed.

T&T DD is borderline distinction for dance, depending on the next 3 pieces of work. It's so hard when you know they can do it if they make the effort. She has fallen out with her dance teacher, which doesn't help.

Did she do a uni application in the end HSM ?

She got her application in at midnight on deadline day and has one offer for a course she is unlikely to achieve the grades for, but it would be fantastic if she did maybe by studying for her exams.

If DD gets distinctions for her last 2 pieces of work, then she had a distinction overall. As her A levels aren't going completely to plan, this would be great.

DD passed her driving theory over half term at the second attempt.
We bought a book with all possible questions in it (963) and my DH worked through every single one with her checking her knowledge and understanding. She just wasn't motivating herself to do due diligence. She knew the stuff that comes up when driving but didn't know more obscure stuff such as red routes, towing, paperwork etc etc.
On the hazard awareness, make sure he clicks enough.

We're just working on trying to get 4 merits out of 9 units this year to get a merit overall. She can get some merit criteria, and some distinction ones, but not consistently on 1 unit which is a real shame.

(Have driving test booked too, but can be cancelled 3 working days before. Only booked to provide motivation really, strong chance of moving it out.)

BSM Theory Test for Car Drivers
ISBN 978-0-7495-7173-3
from our local WHSmiths (other better bookshops are available:-)

Dd used a great theory test app, which she used much more than the book. It was recommended by dvla I think

DD had an app too, but it didn't force her to go through every single topic and check she understood it all - DH did!

Good news
DD heard today that she has got the apprenticeship she was interviewed for last week.
Hopefully that will give her encouragement and focus over the last 3 months. Also more motivation for learning to drive as it is a 30-40min walk versus a 5-10 minute drive (or bus but still a 10min walk to bus stop plus they aren't reliable).

All of a sudden we've started receiving emails from tutors outlining work to be done and assignment dates between now and the end of the college year in June. They all look very helpful, and we could have done with having these for all units since the start of first year of the course.

Now this is either to do with keeping focus for the second years, or perhaps because Ofsted have just been in, so maybe they found defects in the planning & communication. I shall await the report with interest.

Just calculated DD has 8 weeks in college between now and end of teaching. Definitely on the home straight.

Have found the Ofsted report, generally good, but provision for Level 3 vocational courses did have in some areas (not named): not providing students with sufficient information about their progress. As a result, these students do not have a clear understanding of what they have done well or what they need to do to improve. Which just about sums up how DD has felt a lot of the time.